UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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) May 4, 2018
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
|
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-32421
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58-2342021
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718 New York, NY
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10170
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code:
(212) 201-2400
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last
report)
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Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.
below):
☐
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company
as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405
of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
☐
Emerging growth company
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
☐
Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information set forth under Item 2.01, Item 2.03, and Item 3.02
below is incorporated herein by reference.
MegaPath Merger Agreement
On May 4, 2018, Fusion Connect, Inc. (f/k/a Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.), a Delaware corporation
(“Fusion”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, Fusion
MPHC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“MPHC Merger
Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
“MegaPath Merger Agreement”), with MegaPath Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“MegaPath”) and
Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited
liability company, solely in its capacity as the representative of
the stockholders and optionholders of MegaPath (the
“Stockholder Representative”). The MegaPath Merger
Agreement, provides, among other things, that upon the terms and
conditions set forth therein, MPHC Merger Sub will merge with and
into MegaPath (the “MegaPath Merger”), with MegaPath
surviving the MegaPath Merger and continuing as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Fusion (the “Surviving
Company”).
The purchase price for MegaPath is $71,500,000 (the “Purchase
Price”), up to $10,000,000 of which may be paid by Fusion, at
its option, in shares of Fusion’s common stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the “Fusion Common Stock”). The
Purchase Price is subject to a working capital adjustment as well
as a reduction for certain transaction expenses and any outstanding
indebtedness of MegaPath as of the closing of the MegaPath Merger
(the “MegaPath Closing”), in each case, as provided in
the MegaPath Merger Agreement. At the MegaPath Closing, $2,500,000
of the Purchase Price will be deposited in an escrow account held
by Citibank, N.A., as escrow agent (the “Escrow
Agent”), for one (1) year, to secure indemnification
obligations in favor of Fusion under the MegaPath Merger Agreement.
Furthermore, $850,000 of the Purchase Price (the
“Holdback”) will be deposited by the selling
stockholders with the Escrow Agent to cover fees and expenses of
the Stockholder Representative.
The MegaPath Merger Agreement contains customary representations,
warranties and covenants. In addition, the MegaPath Merger is
subject to various closing conditions, including receipt of any
required regulatory approvals and receipt of the approval from
holders of 95% of the MegaPath common stock and preferred stock (on
an as-converted basis) (the “MegaPath Capital Stock”),
which stockholder approval was obtained prior to the date of this
Current Report on Form 8-K.
Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, either Fusion or
MegaPath may terminate the MegaPath Merger Agreement if the
MegaPath Merger is not consummated by June 30, 2018. Fusion may
also terminate the MegaPath Merger Agreement if holders of greater
than one percent of the MegaPath Capital Stock exercise
dissenters’ rights in accordance with Section 262 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
The MegaPath Merger Agreement includes customary indemnification
obligations by (a) each of the holders of MegaPath Capital Stock
and outstanding options to purchase MegaPath common stock
(collectively, the “MegaPath Securityholders”) for the
benefit of Fusion and its affiliates, and (b) Fusion for the
benefit of the MegaPath Securityholders and their
affiliates.
At the MegaPath Closing, the directors and officers of MegaPath and
each of its subsidiaries will resign from such positions, and the
directors and officers of MPHC Merger Sub will become the directors
and officers of the Surviving Company.
As described in Item 2.03 below, Fusion will use $62,000,000 of
borrowings under the
First Lien Credit Agreement (as defined
below) to pay the cash portion of the Purchase Price. In accordance
with the terms of the First Lien Credit Agreement, pending the
MegaPath
Closing, these funds
have been deposited into a segregated bank account.
The foregoing description of the MegaPath Merger Agreement is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of that
document, which is filed hereto as
Exhibit
10.1
, and which is incorporated
by reference herein. The MegaPath Merger Agreement has been
included as an exhibit hereto solely to provide investors and
security holders with information regarding its terms. The
representations, warranties and covenants contained in the MegaPath
Merger Agreement are made only for purposes of the specific
agreement and are made as of specific dates; are solely for the
benefit of the parties to that agreement; may be subject to
qualifications and limitations agreed upon by the parties in
connection with negotiating the terms of the MegaPath Merger
Agreement, including being qualified by confidential disclosures
made for the purpose of allocating contractual risk between the
parties rather than establishing matters as facts; and may be
subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting
parties that differ from those applicable to investors or security
holders. Investors and security holders should not rely on the
representations, warranties and covenants or any description
thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or
condition of Fusion or any subsidiary of Fusion. Moreover,
information concerning the subject matter of the representations,
warranties and covenants may change after the date of the MegaPath
Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be
fully reflected in public disclosures.
On May 10, 2018, Fusion issued a press release announcing its entry
into MegaPath Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed as
Exhibit
99.1
and which is incorporated
by reference herein.
Item 2.01
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
Completion of the Acquisition of Birch Communications
On
May 4, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), Fusion completed the
various transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated August 26, 2017, as amended (the “Birch Merger
Agreement”), by and among Fusion, Fusion BCHI Acquisition
LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fusion (“BCHI Merger
Sub”), and Birch Communications Holdings, Inc.
(“Birch”). As contemplated by the Birch Merger
Agreement, on the Closing Date, Birch merged with and into BCHI
Merger Sub (the “Birch Merger”), with BCHI Merger Sub
surviving the Birch Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fusion.
The Birch Merger and other transactions contemplated by the Birch
Merger Agreement were approved by the stockholders of Fusion at its
annual meeting of stockholders held on February 21, 2018 (the
“Annual Meeting”).
On
the Closing Date, all of the outstanding shares of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of Birch (other than treasury shares or
shares owned of record by any Birch subsidiary) were cancelled and
converted into the right to receive, in the aggregate, 49,896,310
shares (the “Merger Shares”) of Fusion Common Stock.
Pursuant to subscription agreements executed by each of the
shareholders of Birch, the Merger Shares were issued in the name
of, and are now held by, BCHI Holdings, LLC (“BCHI
Holdings”), a Georgia limited liability company owned by the
former shareholders of Birch. In accordance with the Birch Merger
Agreement, the Merger Shares represent three times (3x) the number
of shares of Fusion Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the Closing Date, including the number of shares of Fusion Common
Stock issuable to holders of preferred stock of Fusion converted on
the Closing Date (as described below) and in-the-money warrants to
purchase shares of Fusion Common Stock, but excluding (a) shares of
Fusion Common Stock issued in connection with Fusion’s
January 2018 acquisition of assets of IQmax, Inc., (b) shares of
Fusion Common Stock issued on February 5, 2018 in connection with
Fusion’s public offering of shares of Fusion Common Stock,
and (c) shares of Fusion Common Stock issued on the Closing Date
pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreements (as described in
Item 3.02 below). As of the Closing Date, BCHI Holdings held
approximately 65.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Fusion
Common Stock.
All
share and per share amounts included in this Current Report on Form
8-K give effect to a 1-for-1.5 Reverse Split (as defined below)
that became effective on May 4, 2018 immediately prior to the
closing of the Birch Merger.
As required by the terms of the Birch Merger Agreement, on the
Closing Date all of the issued and outstanding shares of
Fusion’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“Preferred Stock”), including its Series A-1 Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, Series A-4 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
and Series B-2 Senior Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, that
holders thereof elected to convert were converted into an aggregate
of 1,288,974 shares of Fusion Common Stock. Any accrued but unpaid
dividends with respect to such Preferred Stock were included in the
calculation of the number of shares of Fusion Common Stock
delivered to each holder of Preferred Stock on the Closing Date.
Any shares of Preferred Stock that were not submitted for
conversion by the applicable holder prior to the Closing Date
automatically terminated and were cancelled without consideration
in accordance with their terms.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, BCHI Holdings and Fusion entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights
Agreement”) governing the registration rights of BCHI
Holdings in respect of the Merger Shares, pursuant to which Fusion
agreed, among other things, to use its reasonable best efforts to
cause a shelf registration statement (the “Birch Registration
Statement”) covering the resale of up to 25% of the Merger
Shares to be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) within 120 days of the Closing
Date. Under the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (as defined
below), Fusion agreed to file the Birch Registration Statement with
the SEC within five (5) business days after the Closing Date if
certain specified conditions were met.
Fusion has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of the Birch
Registration Statement until the earlier of (a) the sale of all of
the covered Merger Shares, or (b) the fifth anniversary of the
effective date of Birch Registration Statement (the
“Effectiveness End Date”). BCHI Holdings may, subject
to certain limitations, require that distribution of the covered
Merger Shares covered by Birch Registration Statement be made in an
underwritten offering of the covered Merger Shares; provided that
gross proceeds of any such offering are expected to be at least
$10,000,000, and subject to customary cutbacks and
lock-ups.
Under the Registration Rights Agreement, BCHI Holdings has also
been provided with certain customary demand and piggyback
registration rights with respect to the Merger Shares. In addition,
from the Effectiveness End Date, BCHI Holdings may, subject to
certain limitations, require that distribution of the Merger Shares
pursuant to a demand registration right be made in an underwritten
offering, provided that gross proceeds of such offering are
expected to be at least $20,000,000, and subject to customary
cutbacks and lock-ups.
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such
document, which is filed hereto as
Exhibit 10.2
and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
Stockholders’ Agreement
On
the Closing Date, Fusion also entered into a Stockholders’
Agreement (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) with
BCHI Holdings and the pre-closing members of the Fusion Board of
Directors (the “Fusion Committee”). Under the
Stockholders’ Agreement, the parties agreed that immediately
after the closing of the Birch Merger, the new Fusion Board of
Directors (the “Fusion Board”) would initially be set
at seven (7) members, of which (a) three (3) persons (at least one
(1) of whom must be an independent director within the meaning of
the Nasdaq listing standards (the “Nasdaq Listing
Standards”)) would be designated for appointment to the
Fusion Board by BCHI Holdings (the “Birch Designees”);
(b) three (3) persons (at least one (1) of whom must be an
independent director within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing
Standards) (the “Fusion Designees”) would be designated
for appointment to the Fusion Board by the members of the
pre-closing Fusion Board or, subsequently, the Fusion Designees
(the “Fusion Committee”); and (c) one (1) person (who
must also be an independent director within the meaning of the
Nasdaq Listing Standards) would be designated by BCHI Holdings with
the prior written approval (not to be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed) of the Fusion Committee (the
“Independent Designee”).
The
Fusion Designees are Matthew D. Rosen, Marvin S. Rosen and Michael
J. Del Giudice; the Birch Designees are Holcombe T. Green, Jr.,
Holcombe Green, III and Lewis W. Dickey, Jr.; and the Independent
Designee is Rafe de la Gueronniere.
The
Stockholders’ Agreement requires each party to vote its
respective shares of Fusion Common Stock in favor of electing to
the Fusion Board individuals nominated in accordance with the
foregoing provisions. The rights of the Fusion Committee and BCHI
Holdings to nominate directors to the Fusion Board continue (i) as
to the Fusion Committee, until such time as Marvin S. Rosen and
Matthew D. Rosen collectively beneficially own less than one and
one-half percent (1.5%) of the then issued and outstanding shares
of Fusion Common Stock, and (ii) as to BCHI Holdings, until such
time as it and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less
than twenty percent (20%) of the number of shares of Fusion Common
Stock owned by them as of the Closing Date.
The foregoing description of the
Stockholders’ Agreement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of such document, which is filed hereto
as
Exhibit 10.3
and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
Lingo Spin-Off
As
contemplated by the terms of the Birch Merger Agreement,
immediately prior to the closing of the Birch Merger, Birch
distributed to its shareholders all of the shares of its
subsidiary, Lingo Management, LLC, a Georgia limited liability
company (“Lingo”), and certain other subsidiaries of
Birch that provided services to Birch’s U.S.-based consumer
customers, wireless customers and its small business customer-base
(which include those business customers with $111 per month or less
of monthly revenue for purposes of the spin-off) and assets
associated with the support of those customers. In connection with
that spin-off, Fusion entered into a transition services agreement
with Lingo (the “Transition Services Agreement”) on the
Closing Date, pursuant to which each party agreed to provide the
other party with specified services. The types of services covered
by the Transition Services Agreement include, but are not limited
to, network operations center support services, customer care
support services, IT support services, product and marketing
support, human resources and legal support, and finance, tax and
accounting support. The term and pricing of each service covered by
the Transition Services Agreement varies.
In
connection with the spin-off of Lingo, Fusion and Lingo also
entered into a Non-Solicitation and Right of First Refusal
Agreement (the “Non-Solicitation Agreement”) on the
Closing Date, under which each of Lingo and Fusion agreed that it
would not solicit (a) the employees, officers, directors, or
consultants of the other party for a period of three years from the
Closing Date, or (b) the customers of the other party, until two
years after the end of the period during which Lingo and Fusion
share certain customer records under the terms of the Transition
Services Agreement, but in no event ending later than three years
after the Closing Date. In addition, Lingo agreed to grant Fusion a
right of first refusal for a period of three years from the Closing
Date, to acquire any third party provider of communications
services or cloud services to business services, such that Lingo
must first offer Fusion the right to make such a proposed
acquisition, on the same economic terms as Lingo, before Lingo can
effect such a transaction.
The foregoing descriptions of the Transition Services Agreement and
Non-Solicitation Agreement are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the text of such documents, which are filed hereto
as
Exhibit 10.4
and
Exhibit
10.5
, respectively, and which
are incorporated by reference herein.
Carrier Spin-Off
On
the Closing Date, Fusion entered into a Membership Interest
Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Membership Sale
Agreement”) with XComIP, LLC (“XCOM”) pursuant to
which Fusion transferred its sixty percent (60%) membership
interest in Fusion Global Services, LLC (“Fusion
Global”) to XCOM in exchange for a right to receive: (i)
sixty percent (60%) of the Net Profits (as defined in the
Membership Sale Agreement) of Fusion Global; (ii) sixty percent
(60%) of any distributions being made by Fusion Global to its
members only to the extent such amounts are not distributed as part
of the distribution of Net Profits; and (iii) sixty percent (60%)
of the net proceeds received by the members from a sale of Fusion
Global to a third party. The Membership Sale Agreement contains
customary representations and warranties for an agreement of this
type and also includes various covenants by Fusion Global to
deliver to Fusion specified information during the course of each
year. In addition, the Membership Sale Agreement contains a list of
specified actions that may not be taken by Fusion Global and its
manager without the prior approval of Fusion. Further, the
Membership Sale Agreement contains a right of first refusal under
which Fusion has the right to purchase all of the membership
interests in Fusion Global in the event of a proposed sale to a
bona fide third party and also contains an additional revenue share
obligation should Fusion Global expand the scope of its current
business and use the assets and personnel (other than the manager)
in support of that business. In connection with the execution of
the Membership Sale Agreement, Fusion and XCOM also entered into a
non-solicitation agreement.
The foregoing description of the Membership Sale
Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of such document, which is filed hereto as
Exhibit 10.6
and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
Indemnity Agreements
On the Closing Date, BCHI Holdings and Fusion entered into an
amended and restated indemnification letter agreement (the
“Amended Indemnity Letter”), which amended the
indemnity letter delivered by BCHI Holdings to Fusion on August 26,
2017 in connection with the execution of the Birch Merger Agreement
(the “Original Indemnity Letter”). The Amended
Indemnity Letter has substantially the same terms as the Original
Indemnity Letter, except that it adds additional enumerated matters
for which BCHI Holdings has agreed to indemnify Fusion. The
indemnity cap and the terms of indemnification in the Amended
Indemnity Letter are the same as those contained in the Original
Indemnity Letter.
On the Closing Date, BCHI Holdings and Fusion also entered into a
separate indemnification letter agreement (the “Tax Indemnity
Letter”) whereby BCHI Holdings agreed to indemnify and hold
harmless Birch Communications, LLC (“BCLLC”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Fusion, and each of the other
subsidiaries of BCLLC, from and against any and all liabilities for
unpaid state income or franchise taxes, late fees and penalties and
interest owed for 2017 and prior years and paid by BCLLC after the
closing of the Birch Merger. However, Fusion agreed that BCHI
Merger Sub (as successor-in-interest to Birch as a result of the
Birch Merger) would pay the first $1,000,000 of any actual tax
liabilities (but not late fees, penalties, or interest associated
therewith). Amounts owed under the Tax Indemnity Letter may be paid
by BCHI Holdings in Fusion Common Stock at a price per share equal
to the greater of (a) $3.00 and (b) the five-day weighted-average
price.
The foregoing descriptions of the Amended Indemnity Letter and Tax
Indemnity Letter are qualified in their entirety by reference to
the full text of such documents, which are filed hereto as
Exhibit
10.7
and
Exhibit
10.8
, respectively, and which
are incorporated by reference herein.
Fusion Press Release
On May 7, 2018, Fusion issued a press release announcing the
closing of the Birch Merger and certain other items described below
in Items 2.03, 5.01, and 5.03, a copy of which is filed as
Exhibit
99.2
hereto.
Item
2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
On May
4, 2018, Fusion entered into a First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement (the “First Lien Credit Agreement”) with
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent (in such capacities, the “First Lien
Agent”), the lenders party thereto (the “First Lien
Lenders”), and all of the U.S.-based subsidiaries of Fusion,
as guarantors thereunder (the “Guarantors”), pursuant
to which the First Lien Lenders extended (a) term loans to Fusion
in an aggregate principal amount of $555,000,000, consisting of the
“Tranche A Term Loan” and “Tranche B Term
Loan,” in an aggregate principal amount of $45,000,000 and
$510,000,000, respectively (collectively, the “First Lien
Term Loan”), and (b) a revolving facility in an aggregate
principal amount of $40,000,000 (the “Revolving
Facility”, and together with the First Lien Term Loan, the
“First Lien Facility”). Borrowings under the First Lien
Credit Agreement are computed based upon either the then current
“base rate” of interest or “LIBOR” rate of
interest, as selected by Fusion at the time of its borrowings.
Interest on borrowings that Fusion designates as “base
rate” loans bear interest per annum at the greatest of (a)
the prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal, (b) the
federal funds effective rate as published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York plus 0.5%, (c) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (as defined
below) with an interest period of one month plus 1%, or (d)(i) 1%
(for the Revolving Facility) or (ii) 2% (for the First Lien Term
Loan) (collectively, the “Base Rate”);
plus
(x) 4.00%, with respect to
the Tranche A Term Loan, (y) 6.50%, with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loan, or (z) 4.00%, with respect to the Revolving Facility
(which shall be subject to adjustment based upon the net leverage
ratio of Fusion and its subsidiaries after the delivery of
Fusion’s financial statements for fiscal quarter ended June
30, 2018 and related compliance certificate (the “Financial
Statement Delivery Date”)). Interest on borrowings that
Fusion designates as “LIBOR” loans bear interest per
annum at (a) the “LIBOR” rate divided by (b) one minus
the “applicable reserve requirement” of the Federal
Reserve for Eurocurrency liabilities (subject to a floor of 1% for
the First Lien Term Loan) (the “Adjusted LIBOR Rate”);
plus
(x) 5.00%,
with respect to the Tranche A Term Loan, (y) 7.50%, with respect to
the Tranche B Term Loan, or (z) 5.00%, with respect to the
Revolving Facility (which shall be subject to adjustment based upon
the net leverage ratio of the Company and its subsidiaries after
the Financial Statement Delivery Date). The Tranche A Term Loan has
an original issue discount of 0.5%. The Tranche B Term Loan has an
original issue discount of 4%, except for the $170 million portion
of the Tranche B Term Loan made by one lender and certain of its
affiliates, which has an original issue discount of 9%, for a
blended original issue discount of approximately 5.67%. The Tranche
A Term Loan and the Revolving Facility mature on the fourth
anniversary of the Closing Date and the Tranche B Term Loan matures
on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date. The Guarantors
guaranty the obligations of Fusion under the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
In
addition, Fusion simultaneously entered into a Second Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement (the “Second Lien Credit
Agreement”, and with the First Lien Credit Agreement, the
“Credit Agreements”), by and among Fusion, the
Guarantors, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (in such capacities, the
“Second Lien Agent”, and together with the First Lien
Agent, collectively the “Agents”), and the lenders
party thereto (the “Second Lien Lenders”, and together
with the First Lien Lenders, the “Lenders”), pursuant
to which the Second Lien Lenders extended a term loan in the
aggregate principal amount of $85,000,000 (the “Second Lien
Term Loan”, and collectively with the First Lien Term Loan,
the “Term Loans”, and collectively with the First Lien
Facility, the “Credit Facilities”). Borrowings under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement are computed based upon either the
then current “base” rate of interest or
“LIBOR” rate of interest, as selected by Fusion at the
time of its borrowings. Interest on borrowings under the Second
Lien Term Loan that Fusion designates as “base rate”
loans bear interest per annum at Base Rate
plus
9.50%. Interest on
borrowings under the Second Lien Term Loan that Fusion designates
as “LIBOR” loans bear interest per annum at (a) the
“LIBOR” rate divided by (b) one minus the
“applicable reserve requirement” of the Federal Reserve
for Eurocurrency liabilities (subject to a floor of 1% for the
Second Lien Term Loan),
plus
10.50%. The Second Lien
Term Loan has an original issue discount of 4.00%, and it matures
5.5 years from the Closing Date. The Guarantors guaranty the
obligations of Fusion under the Second Lien Credit Agreement. The
Credit Facilities may be prepaid, in whole or in part, subject to
specified prepayment premiums.
As of
the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Credit Facilities
(including the Revolving Facility) bear interest at a
weighted-average rate of approximately LIBOR plus 7.56%. Excluding
the Revolving Facility, the Credit Facilities bear interest at a
weighted-average rate of approximately LIBOR plus
7.72%.
Goldman
Sachs Lending Partners LLC (“Goldman Sachs”), Morgan
Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., served as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, and Goldman Sachs
served as Syndication Agent for each of the Credit
Facilities.
In
connection with the Credit Facilities, Fusion and the Guarantors
entered into (i) a First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement with
the First Lien Agent (the “First Lien Security
Agreement”) and (ii) a Second Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement with the Second Lien Agent (the “Second Lien
Security Agreement” and together with the First Lien Security
Agreement, collectively, the “Security Agreements”),
pursuant to which Fusion and the Guarantors pledged substantially
all of their now owned and hereafter acquired property as security
for the obligations of Fusion under the Credit Agreements,
including the capital stock of the Guarantors and other direct and
indirect subsidiaries of Fusion (subject to certain limitations and
restrictions set forth in the Security Agreements).
Under
the Credit Agreements, Fusion is subject to a number of affirmative
and negative covenants, including but not limited to, restrictions
on paying indebtedness subordinate to its obligations to the
Lenders, incurring additional indebtedness, making capital
expenditures, dividend payments and cash distributions by
subsidiaries. Furthermore, Fusion is required to comply with
various financial covenants, including net leverage ratio, fixed
charge coverage ratio and maximum levels of consolidated capital
expenditures; and its failure to comply with any of the restrictive
or financial covenants could result in an event of default and
accelerated demand for repayment of its indebtedness.
Fusion
and each of the Guarantors acknowledged the Intercreditor
Agreement, by and among Fusion, the First Lien Agent, as collateral
agent for the First Lien Lenders, and the Second Lien Agent, as
collateral agent for the Second Lien Lenders (the
“Intercreditor Agreement”), which sets forth the
priority and other rights of the Lenders with respect to payment
obligations and enforcement rights under the Credit
Facilities.
The
proceeds of the Term Loans have been used, in part, to refinance
all of the existing indebtedness of Fusion and its subsidiaries
(including Birch), under (i) the Credit Agreement, dated as of
November 14, 2016, as amended, among Fusion NBS Acquisition Corp.,
a subsidiary of Fusion (“FNBS”), East West Bank
(“EWB”), as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, an
Issuing Bank and a Lender, and the other lenders party thereto;
(ii) the Fifth Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement
and Security Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2016, as amended,
among FNBS, Fusion, the subsidiaries of Fusion guarantors thereto,
Praesidian Capital Opportunity Fund III, LP, as Agent, and the
lenders party thereto; and (iii) the Credit Agreement, dated as of
July 18, 2014, among Birch, Birch Communications, Inc., Cbeyond,
Inc., the other guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto
and PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. In
addition, the Term Loans were used to repay, in full, approximately
$929,000 of indebtedness under that certain Second Amended and
Restated Unsecured Promissory Note, dated November 14, 2016,
payable by Fusion to Marvin Rosen. The proceeds were also be used
to pay the fees and expenses associated with the Birch Merger and
related transactions, including in connection with the Credit
Facilities.
The
Term Loans were also used to make a prepayment of an aggregate of
approximately $3.0 million of indebtedness of Birch under the
subordinated notes each dated October 28, 2016, in favor of
Holcombe T. Green, Jr., R. Kirby Godsey and the Holcombe T. Green,
Jr. 2013 Five-Year Annuity Trust. The remaining indebtedness
thereunder is evidenced after the closing of the Birch Merger by
Amended and Restated Subordinated Notes, dated as of the Closing
Date, made by BCHI Merger Sub (as successor in interest to Birch
pursuant to the Birch Merger) with an aggregate principal amount of
$3.3 million (the “Bircan Notes”). The Bircan Notes
each have an interest rate of 12% per annum, and are amortized in
three equal installments, to be paid off completely in March 2019,
with interest due in quarterly installments. The indebtedness under
the Bircan Notes is unsecured, and obligations thereunder are
subordinated to the Credit Facilities.
In
addition, $62,000,000 of the Tranche B Term Loan under the First
Lien Credit Agreement has been deposited in a deposit account with
EWB, which account is subject to the terms of a Deposit Account
Control Agreement by and among Fusion, EWB, and the First Lien
Agent (the “DACA”). The amounts deposited in this
account will be used by Fusion to pay the cash portion of the
Purchase Price for MegaPath. If the MegaPath Merger is not
completed by August 4, 2018, such funds must be used to prepay the
Tranche B Term Loan under the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
The
foregoing and following descriptions of the Credit Facilities and
related agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified
in their entirety by reference to the full text of the First Lien
Credit Agreement which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.9
, the Second Lien
Credit Agreement which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.10
, the First Lien
Pledge and Security Agreement which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.11
, the
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement which is attached hereto
as
Exhibit 10.12
,
the Intercreditor Agreement which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.13
, the
DACA which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.14
, and the three
different Bircan Notes, which are attached hereto as
Exhibit 10.15
,
Exhibit 10.16
, and
Exhibit 10.17
, each of which is
incorporated by reference herein. The Credit Agreements have been
included as exhibits hereto solely to provide investors and
security holders with information regarding their respective terms.
They are not intended to be a source of financial, business or
operational information about Fusion, Birch or any other subsidiary
of Fusion. The representations, warranties and covenants contained
in the Credit Agreements and other agreements and instruments
referenced therein are made only for purposes of the specific
agreement and are made as of specific dates; are solely for the
benefit of the parties; may be subject to qualifications and
limitations agreed upon by the parties in connection with
negotiating the terms of each such agreement, including being
qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purpose of
allocating contractual risk between the parties rather than
establishing matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of
materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from
those applicable to investors or security holders. Investors and
security holders should not rely on the representations, warranties
and covenants or any description thereof as characterizations of
the actual state of facts or condition of Fusion, Birch or any
other subsidiary of Fusion. Moreover, information concerning the
subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may
change after the date of the respective agreement, which subsequent
information may or may not be fully reflected in public
disclosures.
Green Subordinated Note
At
Closing, Holcombe T. Green, Jr. made an additional loan to Fusion
in the principal amount of $10,000,000, which is evidenced by a
Subordinated Promissory Note, dated the Closing Date (the
“Green Note”), that Fusion delivered to Mr. Green. The
Green Note has an interest rate of 13% per annum and an original
issue discount of 4%, and it matures on the date which is 91 days
after the maturity date of the Second Lien Term Loan. Until the
maturity date of the Green Note, only interest is due thereunder,
in quarterly payments. The indebtedness under the Green Note is
unsecured, and obligations thereunder are subordinated to the
Credit Facilities.
The foregoing description of the Green Note is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of such document, which is
filed hereto as
Exhibit 10.18
and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
Vector Facility
In
connection with its participation in the Tranche B Term Loan under
the First Lien Credit Agreement, Vector Fusion Holdings (Cayman),
Ltd. (“Vector”) entered into a separate credit
agreement (the “Vector Credit Agreement”) with Goldman
Sachs, as administrative agent and lender, and U.S. Bank National
Association, as collateral agent and collateral custodian, pursuant
to which Vector borrowed funds from Goldman Sachs, the proceeds of
which were used to purchase Tranche B Term Loans under the First
Lien Credit Agreement. In connection therewith, Vector issued to
Fusion, and Fusion bought from Vector using proceeds of
the
various
financing transactions consummated on the Closing Date, a
$25,000,000 unsecured subordinated note (the “Vector
Note”). The Vector Note bears interest at the rate earned by
the bank account in which the proceeds of the Vector Note will be
deposited and matures on May 3, 2024. The Vector Note is
subordinate in right of payment to Vector’s loan from Goldman
Sachs. Other than payments permitted under certain limited
circumstances set forth in the Vector Credit Agreement, Fusion is
not entitled to any distribution on account of the principal,
premium or interest or any other amount in respect of the Vector
Note until all amounts owed by Vector under the Vector Credit
Agreement are paid in full. Similarly, while Fusion has the right
to declare obligations due under the Vector Note to be immediately
due and payable upon the occurrence of an event of default
(including, without limitation, in the event of any insolvency,
bankruptcy or liquidation or Vector), Fusion will not be entitled
to receive any payment on account of the Vector Note until
Vector’s obligations under the Senior Credit Agreement are
paid in full. Fusion pledged the Vector Note as security for its
obligations under the Credit Agreements.
In addition, in connection with its participation in the
Tranche B Term Loan under the First Lien Credit
Agreement
, Vector and certain of its
affiliates entered into a side letter with Fusion dated as of the
Closing Date (the “Vector Letter”) pursuant to which
Vector is entitled to certain non-voting board observation rights,
including the receipt of materials provided to the Fusion Board and
attendance at regularly scheduled quarterly Fusion Board meetings.
Such board observation rights are not transferrable to any assignee
of the
Tranche B Term Loans under the First Lien Credit
Agreement
held by Vector and its
affiliates.
The foregoing descriptions of the Vector Note and Vector Letter are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such
documents, which are filed hereto as
Exhibit
10.19
and
Exhibit 10.20
,
respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein. The form of
the Vector Credit Agreement was filed as
Exhibit 99.1
to Fusion’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018 and
is incorporated by reference herein.
Item
3.02
Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities
The information set forth under Item 2.01 above is incorporated
herein by reference. The Merger Shares were issued to BCHI Holdings
in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”) pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereunder. The issuance of
the Fusion Common Stock at Closing in exchange for Preferred Stock
was made in reliance upon Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Act.
Private Placements of Common Stock
On the Closing Date, Fusion entered into and consummated the sale
of shares of Fusion Common Stock under three separate common stock
purchase agreements (the “Common Stock Purchase
Agreements”). Specifically, Fusion issued and sold (i)
952,382 shares of Fusion Common Stock (the “North Haven
Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of approximately
$5,000,000, to North Haven Credit Partners II L.P., one of the
First Lien Lenders under the Tranche B Term Loan, which is managed
by Morgan Stanley Credit Partners; (ii)
380,953
shares of Common Stock (the “Aetna Shares”), for an
aggregate purchase price of approximately $2,000,000, to Aetna Life
Insurance Company; and (iii) 190,477 shares of Common Stock (the
“Backcast Shares” and with the North Haven Shares and
the Aetna Shares, the “Common Stock Purchase Shares”),
for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,000,000, to
Backcast Credit Opportunities Fund I, L.P. The Common Stock
Purchase Shares were sold in reliance upon the exemption from the
registration requirements under the Securities Act pursuant to
Section 4(a)(2) thereunder. Pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase
Agreements, Fusion has agreed to file a registration statement
under the Securities Act to register the resale of the Common Stock
Purchase Shares as promptly as reasonably practicable following
Closing, and use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such
registration no event later than 120 days following the Closing
Date (or 150 days in the event of a full review of such
registration statement by the SEC). Fusion has agreed to maintain
the effectiveness of such registration statement until the second
anniversary of the Closing Date (unless the Common Stock Purchase
Shares are sold in their entirety or may be sold without
restriction under Rule 144 of the Securities Act). In connection
with the sale of the Common Stock Purchase Shares, Fusion paid an
aggregate of $492,000 of fees.
The foregoing description of the Common Stock Purchase Agreements
are qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
form of Common Stock Purchase Agreement, which is filed hereto
as
Exhibit 10.21
and which is incorporated by reference
herein.
On May 8, 2018, Fusion issued a press release announcing the sale
of an aggregate of approximately $8.0 million of Fusion Common
Stock pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreements, a copy of
which is filed as
Exhibit 99.3
hereto.
Private Placement of Series D Preferred Stock
On the Closing Date, Fusion entered into a preferred stock purchase
agreement with Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (the “Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which it issued and sold to
Mr. Green 15,000 shares (the “Series D Preferred
Shares”) of Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the “Series D Preferred Stock”) of
Fusion, a newly designated series of Fusion Preferred Stock, for an
aggregate purchase price of $14,700,000. The Series D Preferred
Shares have a stated value of $15,000,000, and Fusion agreed to pay
Mr. Green a closing fee of $200,000 in connection with the closing
of such sale. The Series D Preferred Shares were sold in reliance
upon the exemptions from the registration requirements under the
Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereunder.
On the Closing Date, Fusion filed a Certificate of Designations and
Preferences (the “Series D Certificate of
Designations”) of the Series D Preferred Stock with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Series D
Certificate of Designations created, out of the authorized and
unissued shares of preferred stock of Fusion, the Series D
Preferred Stock, consisting of 100,000 shares, and established the
rights, preferences and privileges thereof.
The Series D Preferred Stock accrues dividends when, as and if
declared by the Fusion Board at an annual rate of twelve percent
(12%) per annum regardless of whether declared, payable monthly in
arrears on a cumulative basis. All accrued and unpaid dividends on
each share of Series D Preferred Stock with shares of Series D
Preferred Stock on the last business day of each calendar month,
or, at Fusion’s discretion and after satisfaction in full of
all of Fusion’s obligations under the Credit Agreements, in
cash. The Series D Preferred Stock is redeemable by Fusion at the
stated amount thereof (including any accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon), with the proceeds from a future public offering of equity
securities of Fusion (if any), or upon the sale, merger,
liquidation, or dissolution of Fusion. Series D Preferred Stock
does not have any voting rights, but the consent of the holders
thereof is required to take certain actions by Fusion that would
adversely affect such holders.
The foregoing description of the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
such document, which is filed hereto as
Exhibit 10.22
and which is incorporated by reference
herein. The Series D Certificate of Designations is described under
Item 5.03 below.
The Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and form of Common Stock
Purchase Agreement have been included as exhibits hereto solely to
provide investors and security holders with information regarding
their terms. They are not intended to be sources of financial,
business or operational information about Fusion or any subsidiary
of Fusion. The representations, warranties and covenants contained
in the such agreements are made only for purposes of the specific
agreements and are made as of specific dates; are solely for the
benefit of the parties to those agreements; may be subject to
qualifications and limitations agreed upon by the parties in
connection with negotiating the terms thereof, including being
qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purpose of
allocating contractual risk between the parties rather than
establishing matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of
materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from
those applicable to investors or security holders. Investors and
security holders should not rely on the representations, warranties
and covenants or any description thereof as characterizations of
the actual state of facts or condition of Fusion or any subsidiary
of Fusion. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of
the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the
date of
the respective agreement
, which subsequent information may or may not be
fully reflected in public disclosures.
Item
3.03
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth in Item 5.03 below under the heading
“Reverse Stock Split” is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item
5.01
Changes in Control of Registrant.
The pre-closing Fusion Board determined that the consummation of
the Birch Merger would constitute a change of control, as upon the
closing of the Birch Merger, the majority of the members of the
Fusion Board would change and more than a majority of the shares of
Fusion’s Common Stock outstanding immediately following
completion of the Birch Merger would be owned by BCHI Holdings.
Immediately after the closing of the Birch Merger, BCHI Holdings
held approximately 65.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of
Fusion Common Stock.
The information set forth under Item 2.01 above and Item 5.02 below
is incorporated herein by reference.
Item
5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.
Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement described in Item
2.01 above, upon the closing of the Birch Merger, the size of the
Fusion Board was fixed as of the Closing Date at seven (7)
directors, the post-Birch Merger Fusion Board was selected in
accordance with the terms thereof.
As of the Closing Date, Paul C. O’Brien, Larry Blum, Philip
D. Turits, Jack Rosen and William Rubin resigned as members of the
Fusion Board and the following three individuals, who are the Birch
Designees, were appointed by the Fusion Board to serve as directors
until the next annual meeting of stockholders of Fusion, until
their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or until
their respective earlier resignation or removal in accordance with
Fusion’s Bylaws: Holcombe T. Green, Jr., Holcombe Green, III,
and Lewis W. Dickey, Jr. In addition, Rafe de la Gueronniere was
appointed as the Independent Director under the terms of the
Stockholders’ Agreement. Each of Messrs. Matthew Rosen,
Marvin Rosen and Del Giudice were reappointed to the Fusion Board
as the Fusion Designees.
The Fusion Board, as constituted prior to the consummation of the
Birch Merger, upon recommendation of the Nominating and
Compensation Committee of the Fusion Board, determined that each of
Messrs. Green, III, Dickey, Del Giudice and de la Gueronniere are
“independent” as such term is defined in Rule
5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Standards.
Also as of the Closing Date, Michael R. Bauer was replaced as
Fusion’s Chief Financial Officer by Kevin Dotts. Mr. Dotts
also holds the titles of Executive Vice President and Principal
Accounting Officer.
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
On the Closing Date, Mr. Green, Jr. was appointed as a Director of
Fusion and as Vice Chairman of the Fusion Board. Mr. Green, Jr. is
a co-founder, and has served as a director, of Birch Equity
Partners, LLC since January 2015. Prior to forming Birch Equity
Partners, Mr. Green founded and was a principal at Green Capital
Investors, where he also served as its Chairman, a Director and
Chief Executive Officer at the firm's portfolio companies. Prior to
that, Mr. Green, Jr. served as the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer at Westpoint Stevens Inc. from October 1992 to June 2003.
Prior to that, Mr. Green was a Senior Partner at Hansell &
Post, where he practiced corporate law for more than 20 years. Mr.
Green served as a Trustee of Yale University Board; as a Director
of High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Families First,
Inc., The Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Music
Festival Association and Woodruff Arts Center; and he was also a
Trustee of The Taft School. Previously, Mr. Green served as the
Chairman of HBO & Company; and as a Director of Cumulus Media
Inc. The Fusion Board believes that Mr. Green’s background as
the co-founder of several investment funds, his service as a chief
executive officer of several companies, his background as a
corporate attorney and his service as a director for several other
private and public companies, provides him with the industry,
financial, legal, and leadership experience to advise the Fusion
Board on strategic and tactical matters.
Holcombe Green, III
On the Closing Date, Mr. Green, III was appointed as a Director of
the Company. Mr. Green, III has been a Managing Director at Lazard
Frѐres & Co. LLC (“Lazard”) in New York City
since January 2008. He has served as the global head of the
secondary advisory business at Lazard and a senior member of the
private fund advisory business since January 2007. Mr. Green, III
joined Lazard in January 2004. From January 2002 through January
2003, Mr. Green, III was Director of Corporate Development at IBM
Corporation, with responsibilities including the origination and
execution of strategic transactions with and for IBM Global
Services, then the largest division of IBM. From 1997 until 2002,
Mr. Green, III was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch & Co.
advising clients in the technology, industrial and consumer sectors
with regard to strategic and financing transactions. Prior to
attending the Yale School of Management, Mr. Green, III worked in
the United States Senate in the office of Senator Sam Nunn of
Georgia. The Fusion Board believes that Mr. Green, III’s
background as an investment banker, financial and leadership
experience to advise the Fusion Board on strategic and tactical
matters. He is a trustee of The Taft School and a member of the
Advisory Board of the Yale University International Center for
Finance.
Lewis W. Dickey, Jr.
On the Closing Date, Mr. Dickey was appointed as a Director of the
Company. Since May 2017, Mr. Dickey has served as the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Modern Media Acquisition Corp., a
Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition corporation. Since
September 2010, Mr. Dickey has served as Chairman of the Board of
Modern Luxury Media, a regional magazine publishing company and
since May 2017 he has also served as its Chief Executive Officer.
From March 2000 to September 2015, Mr. Dickey served as Chief
Executive Officer of Cumulus Media, Inc., a leader in the radio
broadcasting industry which owns and operates a nationwide radio
network. Mr. Dickey also served Chairman of the Board of Cumulus
Media Inc. from December 2000 to May 2015. Prior to co-founding
Cumulus in 1997, Mr. Dickey was a nationally regarded consultant on
media strategy. The Fusion Board believes that Mr. Dickey’s
background as the co-founder of a media company, his service as the
chairman and chief executive officer of several companies, provides
him with the industry, financial, and leadership experience to
advise the Fusion Board on strategic and tactical matters. Mr.
Dickey’s qualifications to serve as a member of the Fusion
Board include over thirty years of experience in the media,
entertainment and marketing services industries.
Rafe de la Gueronniere
On the Closing Date, Mr. de la Gueronniere was appointed as a
Director of the Company. Mr. de la Gueronniere has served as a
director of Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. since November 2013. From
March 2014 to March 2017, Mr. de la Gueronniere served as
co-chairman of Continuity Logic, LLC, a software company. From
March 2013 through March 2014, Mr. de la Gueronniere served as Vice
Chairman of New Providence Asset Management, a money management
company that he co-founded in 2003. Prior to co-founding New
Providence Asset Management, Mr. de la Gueronniere was a Principal
at the Mariner Investment Group, Chairman of the Discount
Corporation of New York, and a Member of the Management Committee
and Board at Paine Webber, Inc. Mr. de la Gueronniere began his
career at J.P. Morgan & Co. where he was a Senior Vice
President responsible for the fixed income and precious metals
businesses. Currently, Mr. de la Gueronniere is a member of the
Investment Committee of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation. He formerly served as a Trustee and Investment
Committee Chair for both the Taft School and the Far Hills Country
Day School and was a longstanding member of the U.S. Treasury Debt
Management Advisory Committee. Mr. de la Gueronniere has more than
35 years of experience in fixed income, equity investing, foreign
exchange, and the precious metals business. The Fusion Board
believes that Mr. de la Gueronniere’s experience in the
investment and banking industries gained over a career spanning
more than 30 years, his service as the vice-chairman for several
companies and his service as a director for another public company,
provides him with the financial and leadership experience to be a
valuable advisor to executive management and the Fusion
Board.
Kevin Dotts
On the Closing Date, Mr. Dotts was appointed as Executive Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
of Fusion. Prior to the closing of the Birch Merger, Mr. Dotts
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial officer of
Birch, positions that he assumed in February 2017. Prior to joining
Birch, Mr. Dotts served as a financial consultant to Internap
Corp., a cloud, hosting and colocation company, from December 2016
to January 2017 and from August 2012 to December 2016, as its
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining
Internap, Mr. Dotts served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer at Culligan International Company, from May 2011
to August 2012, as Chief Financial Officer of Gas Turbine
Efficiency, a global energy technology development company, from
November 2009 to April 2010 and from 2004 to 2009 served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at EarthLink,
Inc. Mr. Dotts started his career with financial leadership roles
in various domestic and international divisions of General Electric
Co.
Family Relationships
Marvin S. Rosen, a Director, is the father of Matthew D. Rosen,
Fusion’s Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman of
the Board. Holcombe T. Green, Jr, a Director and Vice Chairman of
the Fusion Board, is the father of Holcombe Green, III, who also
serves as a Director.
Committees of the Board of Directors
On the Closing Date, Messrs. Del Giudice, Dickey and Green, III
were appointed to serve as members of the Audit Committee, and Mr.
Del Giudice was appointed as Chairman of that committee. In
addition, on the Closing Date Messrs. Del Giudice, Dickey and de la
Gueronniere were appointed to serve as members of the Nominating
and Compensation Committee, and Mr. Dickey was appointed as
Chairman of that committee.
The description of the board observation rights provided to Vector,
described in Item 2.03 above, is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item
5.03
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal
Year.
Reverse Stock Split
Fusion filed a Certificate of Amendment (the “Charter
Amendment”) to the Certificate of Incorporation of Fusion
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, to effect a
reverse split of the Fusion Common Stock at an exchange ratio of
1-for-1.5 (the “Reverse Split”), which became effective
on May 4, 2018, immediately prior to the closing of the Birch
Merger. The number of authorized shares of Fusion Common Stock was
not affected by the Reverse Split. Any fractional shares of Fusion
Common Stock resulting from the Reverse Split were rounded up to
the nearest whole share. The Reverse Split was approved by the
stockholders of Fusion at the Annual Meeting.
The Reverse Split was undertaken to ensure that Fusion satisfied
the $4 minimum bid price requirement for the listing the Fusion
Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market, the middle tier of The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). Fusion was required
to file a new listing application with Nasdaq as the Birch Merger
was deemed to be a change of control of Fusion within the meaning
of Nasdaq Rule 5110(a). Prior to the Birch Merger, Fusion’s
Common Stock traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq approved
the listing of Fusion’s Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global
Market effective upon the closing of the Birch Merger. On May 7,
2018, the Fusion Common Stock began trading on The Nasdaq Global
Market. The ticker symbol for Fusion’s Common Stock,
“FSNN”, remains unchanged.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the
Charter Amendment and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the full text of such document, which is filed as
Exhibit
3.1
hereto and which is
incorporated by reference herein.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
On May 4, 2018, Fusion filed the Second Amended and Restated
Certificated of Incorporation (the “Restated Charter”)
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which amended
and restated Fusion’s certificate of incorporation in its
entirety (after giving effect to the Reverse Split, pursuant to the
Charter Amendment). The Restated Charter was approved by the
stockholders of Fusion at the Annual Meeting.
The Restated Charter changed Fusion’s name from “Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.” to “Fusion
Connect, Inc.” and increased the number of authorized shares
of Fusion Common Stock from 90,000,000 to 150,000,000.
The Restated Charter also authorizes the issuance of 10,000,000
shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
While the Series A-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
A-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-4 Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series B-2 Senior Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock are still designated under the Amended
and Restated Charter, no shares of such series of preferred stock
are issued and outstanding following consummation of the Birch
Merger.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the
Restated Charter and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the full text of such document, which is filed as
Exhibit
3.2
hereto and which is
incorporated by reference herein.
Certificate of Designations of Series D Preferred
In order to deliver the required Series D Preferred Stock under the
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, Fusion filed the Series D
Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware on May 4, 2018, which certificate was effective
promptly following the effectiveness of the Restated Charter. The
information set forth in Item 3.02 above under the heading
“Private Placement of Series D Preferred Stock,”
including the description of the Series D Certificate of
Designations and the rights and preferences of the Series D
Preferred Stock, is incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the
Series D Certificate of Designations and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of such document, which is
filed as
Exhibit 3.3
hereto and which is incorporated by
reference herein.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
On May 4, 2018, the new Fusion Board adopted the Amended and
Restated Bylaws of Fusion (the “Restated Bylaws”).
Among other things, the Restated Bylaws expand the disclosure
requirements for the nomination of directors and submission of
other proposals by stockholders, including representation and
agreement with respect to the background and qualifications of any
director nominees. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of
any series of preferred stock, and subject to the
Stockholders’ Agreement (so long as it is in effect),
vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled only by a
vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less
than a quorum, and not by the stockholders. The Restated Bylaws
allow the Fusion Board or the chairman of the meeting to adopt such
rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings as it shall deem
appropriate which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of
certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not
followed. Furthermore, the Restated Bylaws update the descriptions
of the various officer positions so they more closely reflect the
duties and responsibilities of the officers of Fusion.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the
Restated Bylaws and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the full text of such document, which is filed as
Exhibit
3.4
hereto and which is
incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and
Exhibits.
(a)
Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
The
2017 audited financial statements of Birch required by Item
9.01(a)(1) of Form 8-K and Rule 8-04(b) of Regulation S-X are filed
as
Exhibit 99.4
to
this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information.
The pro
forma financial information required by Item 9.01(a)(1) of Form 8-K
and Rule 8-04(b) of Regulation S-X are filed as
Exhibit 99.5
to this Current
Report on Form 8-K.
(c)
Shell Company Transactions.
Not
Applicable.
(d)
Exhibits
.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
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Description of Exhibit
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First Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and
among Fusion Connect, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Fusion Connect,
Inc., Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative
Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders party
thereto.
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Second Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and
among Fusion Connect, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Fusion Connect,
Inc., Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative
Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders party
thereto.
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Intercreditor
Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and among Wilmington Trust,
National Association, as Collateral Agent for the First Lien
Lenders, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Collateral
Agent for the Second Lien Lenders, as acknowledged by Fusion
Connect, Inc. and certain subsidiaries thereof.
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Side Letter,
dated May 4, 2018, by and between Fusion Connect, Inc. and Vector
Capital V, L.P., Vector Entrepreneur Fund V, L.P.,VC4 Debt
Investments (U.S.), L.L.C., Vector Fusion Holdings (Cayman), Ltd.
and Vector Trading (Cayman), L.P.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report on
Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
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FUSION CONNECT
, INC.
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By: /s/ James P. Prenetta, Jr.
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James P. Prenetta, Jr.
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May 10, 2018
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Executive Vice President and General Counsel
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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc., a corporation duly
organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “
Corporation
”), does
hereby certify that:
FIRST:
The name of the corporation is
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
SECOND:
The original certificate of
incorporation of the Corporation was dated September 16, 1997 and
recorded with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
September 17, 1997 (such certificate of incorporation, as amended
and restated and in effect thereafter, the “Certificate of
Incorporation”).
THIRD:
The Certificate of Incorporation
of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting the first
paragraph Article Fourth thereof and inserting in lieu of said
paragraph the following:
“
FOURTH
: The total number of
shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority
to issue is 100,000,000, of which 90,000,000 shall be shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share and 10,000,000 shall be
shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share.”
The
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is further hereby
amended by adding the following as subsection “f” of
Article Fourth:
“
f.
2017 Reverse Stock Split.
(i)
Upon the filing and
effectiveness, pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, of this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, which shall become effective as
of 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on May 4, 2018 (the “Effective
Time”), each one and one-half (1.5) shares of the
Corporation’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
combined into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, without any
further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, subject to
the treatment of fractional share interests as described below (the
“Reverse Stock Split”). The conversion and exercise
prices of outstanding preferred stock, common stock purchase
warrants and options to purchase common stock and the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder shall be proportionately
adjusted to reflect the terms of the Reverse Stock Split consistent
with the terms of such instruments. No fractional shares shall be
issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional
share to which a stockholder may be entitled as a result of the
Reverse Stock Split shall be rounded up to the nearest whole
share.
(ii)
Each certificate
that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of
Common Stock (“Old Certificates”) shall thereafter
represent that number of shares of Common Stock into which the
shares of Common Stock represented by the Old Certificate shall
have been combined, subject to the elimination of fractional share
interests as described above.”
FOURTH:
Pursuant to resolution of the
Corporation’s Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the
Corporation’s stockholders was duly called and held, upon
notice in accordance with Section 222 of the of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which meeting the
necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in
favor of amending the Certificate of Incorporation as provided
herein.
FIFTH:
The foregoing amendment was fully
adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the Corporation has
caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its duly
authorized officer, this 3rd day of May, 2018.
FUSION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
(the “
Corporation
”), a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
FIRST
: The original Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware on September 17, 1997.
SECOND
: This Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Section 242 and Section
245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
THIRD
: This Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective as of 12:00
p.m. (noon), Eastern Time, on May 4, 2018.
FOURTH
: The Certificate of Incorporation
of the Corporation shall be amended and restated in full as
follows:
ARTICLE I
The
name of the Corporation is Fusion Connect, Inc. (the
“
Corporation
”).
ARTICLE II
The
address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State
of Delaware is 9 E. Loockerman Street, Suite 311, Dover, Delaware
19901, in the County of Kent. The name of the Corporation’s
registered agent at such address is Registered Agent Solutions,
Inc.
ARTICLE III
The
purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the
“
DGCL
”).
ARTICLE IV
Section 4.1
Authorized Capital Stock
. The
Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of capital stock,
designated Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The total number of
shares of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue
is 160,000,000 shares, consisting of 150,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Section 4.2
Preferred Stock
. The Preferred
Stock may be issued in one or more series. The Board of Directors
of the Corporation (the “
Board
”) is hereby
authorized to issue the shares of Preferred Stock in such series
and to fix from time to time before issuance the number of shares
to be included in any such series and the designation, powers,
preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights,
if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof. The authority of the Board with respect to each such
series will include, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the determination of any or all of the
following:
the
number of shares of any series and the designation to distinguish
the shares of such series from the shares of all other
series;
the
voting powers, if any, and whether such voting powers are full or
limited in such series;
the
redemption provisions, if any, applicable to such series, including
the redemption price or prices to be paid;
whether
dividends, if any, will be cumulative or noncumulative, the
dividend rate of such series, and the dates and preferences of
dividends on such series;
the
rights of such series upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution
of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the
Corporation;
the
provisions, if any, pursuant to which the shares of such series are
convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or
classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or
classes of stock, or any other security, of the Corporation or any
other corporation or other entity, and the rates or other
determinants of conversion or exchange applicable
thereto;
the
right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of
the Corporation or any other corporation or other
entity;
the
provisions, if any, of a sinking fund applicable to such series;
and
any
other relative, participating, optional, or other special powers,
preferences or rights and qualifications, limitations, or
restrictions thereof;
all as
may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated or
expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the
issuance of such Preferred Stock (collectively, a
“
Preferred Stock
Designation
”).
The
powers, designations and preferences and the relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of
Series A-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, are attached hereto as
Annex A
and
incorporated herein by reference.
The
powers, designations and preferences and the relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of
Series A-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, are attached hereto as
Annex B
and
incorporated herein by reference.
The
powers, designations and preferences and the relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of
Series A-4 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, are attached hereto as
Annex C
and
incorporated herein by reference.
The
powers, designations and preferences and the relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of
Series B-2 Senior Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, are attached hereto as
Annex D
and
incorporated herein by reference.
Section 4.3
Common Stock
. Subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders
of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter
submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders for each share of
Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the record date
for such meeting.
ARTICLE V
The
Board may make, amend, and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation;
provided, that nothing herein will limit the power of the
stockholders of the Corporation to make, amend and repeal Bylaws.
Any Bylaw made by the Board under the powers conferred hereby may
be amended or repealed by the Board (except as specified in any
such Bylaw so made or amended) or by the stockholders in the manner
provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation. The Corporation may in
its Bylaws confer powers upon the Board in addition to the
foregoing and in addition to the powers and authorities expressly
conferred upon the Board by applicable law.
Subject
to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred
Stock:
(a) any
action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation may be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting
of stockholders of the Corporation or without a meeting by means of
any consent in writing of such stockholders; and
(b)
special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called
only (i) by the Chairman of the Board (the “
Chairman
”), (ii) by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (the “
Chief Executive
Officer
”), or (iii) by the Secretary of the
Corporation (the “
Secretary
”) acting at the
request of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, a majority of
the total number of Directors that the Corporation would have if
there were no vacancies on the Board (the “
Whole Board
”), or
stockholders of the Corporation holding at least a majority of
voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock. For the purposes of
this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
“
Voting
Stock
” means stock of the Corporation of any class or
series entitled to vote generally in the election of
Directors.
At any
annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, only such business will be conducted or considered as
has been brought before such meeting in the manner provided in the
Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
Section 6.1
Number, Election, and Terms of
Directors
. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of
any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under
circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, the
number of the Directors of the Corporation will not be less than
one nor more than nine and will be fixed from time to time by, or
in the manner provided in, the Bylaws of the Corporation. Subject
to adjustment per the Bylaws, the number of Directors as of the
date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is
fixed at nine. At each annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation, the successors to the Directors whose term expires at
that meeting will be elected by plurality vote of all votes cast at
such meeting to hold office for a term expiring at the annual
meeting of stockholders held in the year following the year of
their election and until their successors are elected and
qualified. Election of Directors of the Corporation need not be by
written ballot unless requested by the presiding officer or by the
holders of a majority of the Voting Stock present in person or
represented by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders at which
Directors are to be elected. If authorized by the Board, such
requirement of a written ballot shall be satisfied by a ballot
submitted by electronic transmission, provided that any such
electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with
information from which it can be determined that the electronic
transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy
holder.
Section 6.2
Newly Created Directorships and
Vacancies
. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of
any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under
circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of
Directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal, or other cause will be
filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining Directors then in office, even though less than a quorum
of the Board, or by a sole remaining Director. Any Director elected
in accordance with the preceding sentence will hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the Director whose seat is being
filled and until such Director’s successor has been elected
and qualified. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting
the Board may shorten the term of any incumbent
Director.
To the
full extent permitted by the DGCL and any other applicable law
currently or hereafter in effect, no Director of the Corporation
will be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders
for or with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty or other act or
omission as a Director of the Corporation. No repeal or
modification of this Article VI will adversely affect the
protection of any Director of the Corporation provided hereby in
relation to any breach of fiduciary duty or other act or omission
as a Director of the Corporation occurring prior to the
effectiveness of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
Section 7.1
Right to Indemnification
. Each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
party to or is otherwise subject to or involved in any claim,
demand, 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 an officer 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 or other
enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit
plan (an “
Indemnitee
”), whether the
basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity
as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity
while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be
indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted or
required by the DGCL and any other applicable law, as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such
amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law
permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment),
against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’
fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such
Indemnitee in connection therewith (“
Indemnifiable Losses
”);
provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.4 of this
Article VII with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to
indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such
Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 7.1 in connection with a
Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if
such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the
Board.
Section 7.2
Right to Advancement of
Expenses
. The right to indemnification conferred in Section
7.1 of this Article VII shall include the right to advancement by
the Corporation of any and all expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in
defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition
(an “
Advancement of
Expenses
”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL so
requires, an Advancement of Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in
his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other
capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee,
including without limitation service to an employee benefit plan)
shall be made pursuant to this Section 7.2 only upon delivery to
the Corporation of an undertaking (an “
Undertaking
”), by or on
behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay, without interest, all amounts
so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial
decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a
“
Final
Adjudication
”) that such Indemnitee is not entitled to
be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 7.2. An
Indemnitee’s right to an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to
this Section 7.2 is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard
of conduct and is not conditioned upon any prior determination that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under Section 7.1 of this
Article VII with respect to the related Proceeding or the absence
of any prior determination to the contrary.
Section 7.3
Contract Rights
. The rights to
indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in
Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of this Article VII shall be contract rights
and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased
to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the
benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and
administrators.
Section 7.4
Right of Indemnitee to Bring
Suit
. If a claim under Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 of this
Article VII is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60
calendar days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an Advancement of
Expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 calendar
days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against
the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If
successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit
brought by the Corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses
pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the fullest extent permitted or required by the DGCL,
as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of
any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits
the Corporation to provide broader reimbursements of prosecution or
defense expenses than such law permitted the Corporation to provide
prior to such amendment), to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the
Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not
in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an
Advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any
suit brought by the Corporation to recover an Advancement of
Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Corporation
shall be entitled to recover such expenses, without interest, upon
a Final Adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any
applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors or a committee thereof, its stockholders or independent
legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the
commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is
proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors
or a committee thereof, its stockholders or independent legal
counsel) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard
of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not
met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a
suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any
suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification
or to an Advancement of Expenses hereunder, or brought by the
Corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses hereunder
pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the burden of proving that
the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such
Advancement of Expenses, shall be on the Corporation.
Section 7.5
Non-Exclusivity of Rights
. The
rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses
conferred in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other
right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation,
By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors
or otherwise. Nothing contained in this Article VII shall limit or
otherwise affect any such other right or the Corporation’s
power to confer any such other right.
Section 7.6
Insurance
. The Corporation may
maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against
such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
Section 7.7
No Duplication of Payments
. The
Corporation shall not be liable under this Article VII to make any
payment to an Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to
the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received
payment (net of any expenses incurred in connection therewith and
any repayment by the Indemnitee made with respect thereto) under
any insurance policy or from any other source in respect of such
Indemnifiable Losses.
ARTICLE VIII
From
time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of
incorporation may be amended, altered, or repealed and other
provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the
time in force may be added or inserted in the manner and at the
time prescribed by said laws, and all rights at any time conferred
upon the stockholders of the Corporation by this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation are granted subject to the
provisions of this Article VIII.
[remainder
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has
executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
this 4th day of May, 2018.
FUSION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:
James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
_______________
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Annex A
Certificate of Rights and Preferences of
Series A-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock
1.
Number. The number
of shares constituting the Series A-1 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock shall be three thousand eight hundred seventy-five
(3,875).
2.
Definitions. Unless
the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following
terms shall have the meaning indicated.
“Acquiring
Person” is defined in Section 6(G).
“AMEX”
means the American Stock Exchange, provided, however, that if the
American Stock Exchange is not then the principal U.S. trading
market for the Common Stock, then “AMEX” shall be
deemed to mean the principal U.S. national securities exchange (as
defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”) on which the Common Stock is then
traded, or if such Common Stock is not then listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange but is designated as a
Nasdaq Capital Market Security by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), then such market
system, or if such Common Stock is not listed or quoted on any of
the foregoing, then the OTC Bulletin Board.
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business
Day” means any day on which the Common Stock may be traded on
the AMEX, or, if not admitted for trading on the AMEX, any day
other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which banks in New York
City are required or permitted to be closed.
“Call
Notice” is defined in Section 6(C).
“Capital
Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents (however designated) of capital or capital stock of
such Person and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a
corporation, any and all partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company or other equity interests of such
Person.
“Certificate”
means this Certificate of Rights and Preferences of the Series A-1
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Certificate
of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, as amended.
“Change of
Control” is defined in Section 6G.
“Common
Stock” means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, and any Capital Stock for or into which such Common Stock
hereafter is exchanged, converted, reclassified or recapitalized by
the Company or pursuant to a Change of Control to which the Company
is a party (or, at the election of the Acquiring Person, the
capital stock of any Acquiring Person from and after the
consummation of a Change of Control).
“Common Stock
Equivalents” means (without duplication with any other Common
Stock or common stock, as the case may be, or Common Stock
Equivalents) rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or
exchangeable securities, exercisable for or convertible or
exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock, or common
stock, as the case may be, whether at the time of issuance or upon
the passage of time or the occurrence of some future
event.
“Company”
means Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (or, if, as, and when applicable, any Acquiring Person
from and after the consummation of a Change of
Control).
“Company
Conversion” is defined in Section 6(B)(i).
“Company
Conversion Notice” is defined in Section
6(B)(i).
“Conversion
Notice” is defined in Section 6(A)(i).
“Conversion
Price” means $1.67, subject to adjustment for stock splits,
recombinations, stock dividends and the like as provided
herein.
“Conversion
Stock Amount” is defined in Section 6(A)(ii).
“Daily Market
Price” means, on any date, the amount per share of the Common
Stock equal to (i) the daily volume-weighted average price on the
AMEX or, if no sale takes place on such date, the closing bid
prices on the AMEX thereof on such date, in each case as reported
by Bloomberg, L.P. (or by such other Person as the Company may
select), or (ii) if such Common Stock is not then listed or
admitted to trading on the AMEX, the higher of (x) the book value
per share thereof as determined by any firm of independent public
accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board as of the
last calendar day of the most recent month ending before the date
as of which the determination is to be made or (y) the fair value
per share thereof determined in good faith by an independent,
nationally recognized appraisal firm selected by the Board, subject
to adjustment for stock splits, recombinations, stock dividends and
the like.
“Dividend
Payment Date” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Period” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Rate” means a rate equal to the Stated Value multiplied by
eight percent (8%) per annum.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Holder”
shall mean a holder of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date” means with respect to shares of the Series A-1
Preferred Stock the initial date of issuance of any of such shares
of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date Price” means the price of Issuer’s Common Stock
determined on the date of the initial issuance of the shares of the
Series A-1 Preferred Stock.
“Junior
Securities” means Capital Stock that, with respect to
dividends and distributions upon Liquidation, ranks junior to the
Series A Preferred Shares, including but not limited to Common
Stock and any other class or series of Capital Stock issued by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company on or after the Issue
Date, but excluding any Parity Securities and Senior Securities
issued (i) to Holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, (ii) with
the approval of the Holders of a Majority of the Series A-1
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the conversion, redemption or
exercise of securities described in clause (i) or (ii) in
accordance with the terms thereof.
“Liquidation”
means the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company; provided, however, that a consolidation,
merger or share exchange shall not be deemed a Liquidation, nor
shall a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its
assets, which does not involve a substantial distribution by the
Company of cash or other property to the holders of Common Stock,
be deemed to be a Liquidation.
“Liquidation
Preference” is defined in Section 4.
“Majority of
the Series A-1 Preferred Stock” means more than fifty percent
(50%) of the then outstanding shares of the Series A-1 Preferred
Stock.
“Other
Securities” means any stock (other than Common Stock) and
other securities of the Company or any other Person which the
Holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock at any time shall be
entitled to receive, or shall have received, upon conversion or
redemption of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock in lieu of or in
addition to Common Stock, or which at any time shall be issuable or
shall have been issued in exchange for or in replacement of Common
Stock or Other Securities.
“Parity
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, is
pari passu with all Series A-1 Preferred Shares. For the avoidance
of doubt, each series of Series A Preferred Shares is a Parity
Security with respect to each other series of Series A Preferred
Shares.
“Person”
means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
“Prevailing
Price” means, with respect to any reference date, the average
of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the thirty (30)
Business Days ending on and including the third (3rd) Business Day
before such reference date.
“Qualified
Public Company” means a corporation meeting all of the
following criteria: (i) the common stock of the corporation is
registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, (ii) the Prevailing Price shall be an amount greater
than one dollar ($1) per share of Common Stock, and (iii) the
average daily reported volume of trading in such common stock on
all national securities exchanges, markets, services, and/or
reported through the AMEX as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such
other Person as the Company may select) during the ninety (90)
calendar days preceding the reference date exceeds twenty thousand
(20,000) shares of Common Stock.
“Registered
Common Stock” means Common Stock the resale of which has been
registered under the Securities Act and is freely tradable upon
delivery.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Senior
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, ranks
senior to the Series A-1 Preferred Stock.
“Series A-1
Preferred Stock” means the Series A-1 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company or any successor.
“Stated
Value” is an amount equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per share of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends, whether or not declared and whether or not
earnings are available in respect of such dividends. In the event
the Company shall declare a distribution on the Common Stock
payable in securities or property other than cash, the value of
such securities or property will be the fair market value. Any
securities shall be valued as follows: (i) if traded on a national
securities exchange or through a Nasdaq market, the value shall be
deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on
such exchange or system over the thirty (30) Business Day period
ending three (3) calendar days prior to such declaration; (ii) if
actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be
the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is
applicable) over the thirty (30) Business Day period ending three
(3) calendar days prior to such declaration; and (iii) if there is
no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value
thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.
“Subsidiary”
of a Person means (i) a corporation, a majority of whose stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is
at the time of determination, directly or indirectly, owned by such
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any
other entity (other than a corporation) in which such Person or one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination thereof has a least a majority ownership
interest.
The
foregoing definitions will be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
3.
Dividends and
Distributions.
(A)
Holders shall be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company legally
available for that purpose, dividends at the Dividend Rate to be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Section 3. Such dividends
shall be fully cumulative from the Issue Date, shall accumulate
regardless of whether the Company earns a profit and shall be
payable in arrears, when and as declared by the Board (or a duly
appointed committee of directors), on January 1 of each year, (each
such date being herein referred to as a “Dividend Payment
Date”), commencing on January 1, 2008. The period from the
Issue Date to January 1, 2008, and each annual period between
consecutive Dividend Payment Dates shall hereinafter be referred to
as a “Dividend Period.” The dividend for any Dividend
Period for any share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock that is not
outstanding on every calendar day of the Dividend Period shall be
prorated based on the number of calendar days such share was
outstanding during the period. Each such dividend shall be paid to
the Holders of record of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock as their
names appear on the share register of the Company on the Dividend
Payment Date. Dividends on account of arrears for any past Dividend
Periods may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to
any Dividend Payment Date (including, without limitation, for
purposes of computing the Stated Value of any shares of Series A-1
Preferred Stock in connection with the conversion or redemption
thereof or any Liquidation of the Company), to Holders of record on
a date designated by the Board, not exceeding thirty (30) calendar
days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the
Board. For purposes of determining the amount of dividends accrued
as of the first Dividend Payment Date and as of any date that is
not a Dividend Payment Date, such amount shall be calculated on the
basis of the Dividend Rate for the actual number of calendar days
elapsed from and excluding the Issue Date (in case of the first
Dividend Payment Date and any date prior to the first Dividend
Payment Date) or the last preceding Dividend Payment Date (in case
of any other date) to the date as of which such determination is to
be made, based on a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(B)
Subject to the
following proviso, dividends payable on the Series A-1 Preferred
Stock shall be paid, at the option of the Holder, in cash or by the
issuance of Common Stock provided, however, that the Company may
elect to make any payment of dividends by the issuance of
Registered Common Stock on any Dividend Payment Date with 10
days’ prior written notice to the Holder, if the Company is a
Qualified Public Company on the Dividend Payment Date. The number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be
determined by dividing the cash amount of the dividend otherwise
payable by the Prevailing Price calculated as of such Dividend
Payment Date, provided, however, except at the Company’s
option, in no event shall such price be less than the price set on
the Issue Date; provided, further, if the Company shall combine,
subdivide or reclassify its Common Stock, or shall declare any
dividend payable in shares of its Common Stock, or shall take any
other action of a similar nature affecting such shares, the number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be adjusted
to the extent appropriate to reflect such event, including
appropriate adjustments to account for any such event that occurs
during the period used for calculating such Prevailing Price. The
number of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued as a
dividend shall be rounded to the nearest whole share after
aggregating all shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock owned by a
Holder.
(C)
If, on any
Dividend Payment Date, the Company fails to pay dividends, then
until the dividends that were scheduled to be paid on such date are
paid, such dividends shall cumulate, but shall not accrue
additional dividends. Unpaid dividends for any period less than a
full Dividend Period shall cumulate on a day to day basis and shall
be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(D)
So long as any
shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, (i) the
Company, except for the payment of dividends or other cash
distributions under a joint venture agreement or other strategic
alliance with respect to which the Company and/or a Subsidiary is a
party, shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to declare or
pay any dividend whatsoever, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, set aside any cash or property for the payment of
dividends, or make any other distribution on any Parity Securities,
except for dividends paid to the Company or any of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries and dividends paid on the Series A Preferred Shares or
(ii) the Company shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or set aside any
cash or property for the repurchase or redemption of any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities, unless in each such case all
dividends to which the Holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock
shall have been entitled to receive for all previous Dividend
Periods shall have been paid.
(E)
Subject to the
immediately following sentence, the Company shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from any dividend on the Series A-1 Preferred
Stock such amounts as the Company is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to such dividend under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or any other provision of state, local or
foreign tax law. In the event the Company or the Holder elects,
pursuant to Section 3(B), to pay or be paid, as the case may be, a
dividend on the Series A-1 Preferred Stock by issuing Registered
Common Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, to a Holder, (i)
the Company shall deliver the number of shares of Registered Common
Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, that would be delivered
to a Holder pursuant to Section 3(B) in the absence of any
requirement under applicable law to deduct and withhold any amount
with respect to such dividend and (ii) on the Business Day
following the Dividend Payment Date, Holder shall transfer to the
Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount
equal to what the Company is required under applicable law to
deduct and withhold with respect to such dividend. For purposes of
determining the withholding amount, the dividend value shall be
determined under Section 3(B) hereof.
4.
Liquidation
Preference. In the event of any Liquidation, after payment or
provision for payment by the Company of the debts and other
liabilities of the Company and the liquidation preference of any
Senior Securities that rank senior to the Series A-1 Preferred
Stock with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, each Holder
shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash for each share of
the then outstanding Series A-1 Preferred Stock held by such Holder
equal to the greater of (a) the Stated Value per share to and
including the date full payment is tendered to the Holders with
respect to such Liquidation, and (b) the amount the Holders would
have received if the Holders had converted all outstanding shares
of Series A-1 Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6(A) hereof, in each case as of the
Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Liquidation
(the “Liquidation Preference”), before any distribution
shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities (and any
Senior Securities or Parity Securities that, with respect to
distributions upon Liquidation, rank junior to the Series A-1
Preferred Stock) upon the Liquidation of the Company. In case the
assets of the Company available for payment to the Holders are
insufficient to pay the full Liquidation Preference on all
outstanding shares of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and all
outstanding shares of Parity Securities and Senior Securities that,
with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, are pari passu with
the Series A-1 Preferred Stock in the amounts to which the holders
of such shares are entitled, then the entire assets of the Company
available for payment to the Holders and to the holders of such
Parity Securities and Senior Securities shall be distributed
ratably among the Holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the
holders of such Parity Securities and Senior Securities, based upon
the aggregate amount due on such shares upon Liquidation. Written
notice of any Liquidation of the Company, stating a payment date
and the place where the distributable amounts shall be payable,
shall be given by facsimile and overnight delivery not less than
ten (10) calendar days prior to the payment date stated therein, to
the Holders of record of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, if any, at
their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of
the Company.
5.
Voting Rights. The
Holders shall have the following voting rights with respect to the
Series A-1 Preferred Stock:
(A)
Each share of
Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to the
voting rights specified in Section 5(B) and no other voting rights
except as required by law.
(B)
The consent of the
Holders of at least a Majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a single class with one vote per share, in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at an
annual or a special meeting of such Holders called for the purpose,
shall be necessary to:
(i)
amend, alter or
repeal, by way of merger or otherwise, any of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, including this Certificate, or Bylaws
of the Company so as to:
A.
change any of the
rights, preferences or privileges of Holders. Without limiting the
generality of the preceding sentence, such change includes any
action that would:
1.
reduce the Dividend
Rate on the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, or make such dividends
non-cumulative, or defer the date from which dividends will accrue,
or cancel accrued and unpaid dividends, or change the relative
seniority rights of the holders of Series A-1 Preferred Stock as to
the payment of dividends in relation to the holders of any other
capital stock of the Company;
2.
reduce the amount
payable to the holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock upon the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of
the Company, or change the relative seniority of the liquidation
preferences of the holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock to the
rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other capital stock
of the Company;
3.
make the Series A-1
Preferred Stock redeemable at the option of the Company other than
in accordance with the terms of this Certificate.
B.
authorize, create
or issue any shares of Parity Securities or Senior Securities (or
amend the provisions of any existing class of Capital Stock to make
such class of Capital Stock a class of Parity Securities or Senior
Securities).
(ii)
permit any
Subsidiary of the Company to issue or sell, or obligate itself to
issue or sell, except to the Company or any wholly owned
Subsidiary, any security of such Subsidiaries or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary other than sales
of assets on an arm's-length, fair market value basis;
or
(iii)
increase or
decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the total number
of authorized shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock or amend any
provisions of any Capital Stock so as to make such Capital Stock
redeemable by the Company.
6.
Conversion and Call
Rights.
(A)
Procedure for
Conversion.
(i)
General. Shares of
Series A-1 Preferred Stock are convertible at the option of the
Holder thereof at any time, from time to time, in whole or in part,
as follows:
A.
The conversion of
shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock may be effected by delivering
a duly executed written Series A-1 Preferred Stock Conversion
Notice, in form and substance as provided by the Company (the
“Conversion Notice”), to the Company, at its principal
office specifying the number of shares of Series A-1 Preferred
Stock to be converted and surrendering the certificate representing
the shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock to be
converted.
B.
As soon as
practicable after each such conversion of Series A-1 Preferred
Stock, but not later than five (5) Business Days from the receipt
of the Conversion Notice, the Company shall deliver to such Holder
at the address specified in the Conversion Notice the Conversion
Stock Amount of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Registered Common Stock (or Other
Securities or, with such Holder's express written consent,
unregistered Common Stock).
C.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Certificate to the contrary, if such Holder does
not consent to accept unregistered Common Stock, then such
Holder’s Notice of Conversion shall be deemed, without any
further action, to have been withdrawn. Moreover, in no event,
shall any conversion under the Certificate be settled in
cash.
(ii)
Conversion for
stock. Subject to the previous sub-paragraph, such shares of stock
shall be converted into that number of shares of Registered Common
Stock (or at the sole election of the Holder, unregistered Common
Stock) equal to (A) the aggregate Stated Value of such shares
divided by (B) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Stock
Amount”). It shall be a condition of either the Company or
the converting Holder's obligation to close the conversion of the
Series A-1 Preferred Stock that such conversion be in accordance
with applicable federal and state securities laws and any
applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended,
shall have expired or been terminated without litigation having
been commenced that is continuing, or threat of litigation having
been made that remains unresolved, by the United States Department
of Justice or the United States Federal Trade
Commission.
(iii)
Holder of record.
Each conversion of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to
have been effected immediately before the close of business on the
Business Day on which the Conversion Notice is delivered, and at
such time the Person or Persons in whose name or names any
certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock (or Other
Securities) shall be issuable upon such conversion as provided
herein shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders of
record thereof.
(iv)
Partial conversion.
If any conversion is for only part of the shares represented by the
certificate surrendered, the Company shall send a new Series A-1
Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor via certified or
registered mail RRR or reputable overnight courier to such address
specified by the Holder, calling in the aggregate on the face or
faces thereof for the number of shares of Series A-1 Preferred
Stock which have not been converted.
(B)
Procedure for
Conversion by the Company.
(i)
Conversion by the
Company. Shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock may be converted by
the Company (a “Company Conversion”) in whole or in
part for Common Stock as follows
A.
From and after the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company may require the
Holders to convert, on a pro rata basis as among the holders of
Series A-1 Preferred Shares, shares of Series A-1 Preferred Shares
held by such holders on any of March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year by delivering a conversion notice to the
Holders, at least ten (10) days prior to such conversion and
substantially in the form as provided by the Company (a
“Company Conversion Notice”), provided that (x) the
average of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the
ninety (90) calendar days ended immediately prior to such
Conversion Notice is an amount greater than two hundred twenty
percent (220%) of the Conversion Price or (y) after the fifth
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Prevailing Price shall be an
amount greater than the Issue Date Price. The number of Series A
Preferred Shares so converted under clause (x) may not exceed the
number that would be converted for a quantity of shares of Common
Stock greater than eight (8) times the average daily reported
volume of trading in the Common Stock on all national securities
exchanges, Nasdaq market, service, and/or reported through the AMEX
as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such other Person as the
Company may select) during the ninety (90) calendar days ending one
day prior to the Conversion Notice Date concerning a conversion
under clause (x). The Conversion Price and the Conversion Stock
Amount under clause (x) shall be determined in accordance with
Section 6(A)(ii). The conversion price under clause (y) shall be
the Prevailing Price, if the Prevailing Price is greater than the
Conversion Price and shall be the Conversion Price if the
Conversion Price is greater than the Prevailing Price. The
Conversion Stock Amount under clause (y) shall be determined in
accordance with Section 6(A)(ii), using the conversion price as
determined in accordance with the immediately preceding
sentence.
(C)
Five Year Call
Right. From and after the fifth anniversary of the date on which
the Registration Requirement has been satisfied, the Company may
from time-to-time issue a call notice to the holders of the Series
A-1 Preferred Shares (the “Call Notice”). Such Call
Notice, at the Company’s discretion, may be for all or a
portion of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares. On or before the tenth
(10th) Business Day following the date of the Call Notice, the
holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares shall deliver to the
Company, all, or, in the case of a Call Notice concerning a portion
of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares, on a pro rata basis as provided
in the Call Notice, based on the number of shares of Series A-1
Preferred Shares held by each holder, Series A-1 Preferred Shares
with an aggregate Stated Value equal to the amount designated in
the Call Notice. The Company shall promptly thereafter pay, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, an amount to each such
holder equal to the aggregate Stated Value of all such Series A-1
Preferred Shares delivered by such holder.
(D)
The Company
shall at all times reserve for issuance such number of its shares
of Common Stock as shall be required hereunder.
(E)
The Company will
use its best efforts to procure, at its sole expense, the listing
of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of the
Series A-1 Preferred Stock and shares issuable as dividends
hereunder, subject to issuance or notice of issuance, on all stock
exchanges, markets, and quotation service on which the Common Stock
is then listed or quoted, no later than the date on which such
Series A-1 Preferred Stock is issued to the Holder and thereafter
shall use its best efforts to prevent delisting or removal from
quotation of such shares. The Company will pay any and all
documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common
Stock on conversion or redemption of shares of the Series A-1
Preferred Stock. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involving
the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other
than that in which the shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock so
converted or redeemed were registered, and no such issue and
delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such
issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has
established, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, that
such tax has been paid.
(F)
No fractional
shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon
the conversion or redemption of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock. If
any such conversion or redemption would otherwise require the
issuance of a fractional share of Common Stock, an amount equal to
such fraction multiplied by the current Daily Market Price per
share of Common Stock on the date of conversion or redemption shall
be paid to the Holder in cash by the Company. If more than one
share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for
conversion or redemption at one time by or for the same Holder, the
number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or
redemption thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate
number of shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock so
surrendered.
(G)
Change of Control.
In case the Company on or after the Issue Date is party to any (a)
acquisition of the Company by means of merger or other form of
corporate reorganization in which outstanding shares of the Company
are exchanged for securities or other consideration issued, or
caused to be issued, by the Acquiring Person, herein defined, or
its Parent, herein defined, Subsidiary, herein defined, or
affiliate, (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (on a consolidated basis) in a single transaction or
series of related transactions, (c) any other transaction or series
of related transactions by the Company or relating to the Common
Stock (including without limitation, any stock purchase or tender
or exchange offer) in which the power to cast the majority of the
eligible votes at a meeting of the Company's stockholders at which
directors are elected is transferred to a single entity or group
acting in concert, or (d) a capital reorganization or
reclassification of the Common Stock or other securities (other
than a reorganization or reclassification in which the Common Stock
or other securities are not converted into or exchanged for cash or
other property, and, immediately after consummation of such
transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to
such transaction own the Common Stock, other securities or other
voting stock of the Company in substantially the same proportions
relative to each other as such stockholders owned immediately prior
to such transaction), then, and in the case of each such
transaction (each of which is referred to herein as “Change
in Control”), proper provision shall be made so that, at the
option of the Acquiring Person and upon fifteen days’ notice
to the Company and the Holder prior to the consummation of the
Change of Control, either (i) the Acquiring Person expressly agrees
to assume all of the Company’s obligations under the Series
A-1 Preferred Stock or (ii) the Holder has fifteen (15) days in
which to exercise its conversion rights under the Series A-1
Preferred Stock. If Holder does not exercise its rights during such
fifteen (15) day period, all rights under the Series A-1 Preferred
Stock shall terminate and the Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be
deemed cancelled. The Company, to the extent feasible, shall
provide the Holder with thirty (30) days’ notice of the
consummation of any Change of Control. Subject to the foregoing, on
or before the closing date under the agreement entered into with an
Acquiring Person resulting in a Change in Control, the Company, if
applicable, shall deliver to the Holder written notice that the
Acquiring Person has assumed such obligations. “Acquiring
Person” means, in connection with any Change in Control, (i)
the continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or
merger with the Company (if other than the Company), (ii) the
transferee of all or substantially all of the properties or assets
of the Company, (iii) the corporation consolidating with or merging
into the Company in a consolidation or merger in connection with
which the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property,
(iv) the entity or group (other than Holder or any of its
affiliates) acting in concert acquiring or possessing the power to
cast the majority of the eligible votes at a meeting of the Company
's stockholders at which directors are elected, or, (v) in the case
of a capital reorganization or reclassification, the Company, or
(vi) at the Holder's election, any Person that (A) controls the
Acquiring Person directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, (B) is required to include the Acquiring Person in
the consolidated financial statements contained in such Parent's
Annual Report on Form 10-K (if such Person is required to file such
a report) or would be required to so include the Acquiring Person
in such Person's consolidated financial statements if they were
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (C) is not itself
included in the consolidated financial statements of any other
Person (other than its consolidated subsidiaries).
“Parent” shall mean any corporation (other than the
Acquiring Person) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with
the Acquiring Person, provided each corporation in the unbroken
chain (other than the Acquiring Person) owns, at the time of the
determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain. “Subsidiary” shall
mean any corporation at least 50% of whose outstanding voting stock
shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by the Acquiring
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries.
(i)
If the Corporation,
at any time while the Series A-1 Preferred Stock is outstanding:
(a) shall pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or
distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or
equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock
(which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of
Common Stock issued by the Corporation pursuant to this Series A-1
Preferred Stock), (b) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a larger number of shares, (c) combine (including by way of
reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (d) issue by reclassification of
shares of the Common Stock any shares of Capital Stock of the
Corporation, then the Preferred Conversion Price shall be adjusted
by multiplying the then Preferred Conversion Price by a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the event and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the event. Any adjustment made
pursuant to this Section shall become effective immediately after
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective
immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision,
combination or reclassification.
(ii)
Calculations. All
calculations under this Section 6(H) shall be made to the nearest
cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. The
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time
shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the
Corporation, and the description of any such shares of Common Stock
shall be considered on issue or sale of Common Stock. For purposes
of this Section 6(H), the number of shares of Common Stock deemed
to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of
the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if
any) actually issued and outstanding.
7.
Status of Converted
and Redeemed Shares; Limitations on Series A-1 Preferred Stock. The
Company shall return to the status of unauthorized and undesignated
shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock each share of Series A-1
Preferred Stock which shall be converted, redeemed or for any other
reason acquired by the Company, and such shares thereafter may have
such characteristics and designations as the Board may determine.
Without the consent of Majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock,
the Company will not issue any further shares of Series A-1
Preferred Stock.
Annex B
Certificate of Rights and Preferences of
Series A-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock
1.
Number. The number
of shares constituting the Series A-2 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock shall be three thousand three hundred seventy-five
(3,375).
2.
Definitions. Unless
the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following
terms shall have the meaning indicated.
“Acquiring
Person” is defined in 6(G).
“AMEX”
means the American Stock Exchange, provided, however, that if the
American Stock Exchange is not then the principal U.S. trading
market for the Common Stock, then “AMEX” shall be
deemed to mean the principal U.S. national securities exchange (as
defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”) on which the Common Stock is then
traded, or if such Common Stock is not then listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange but is designated as a
Nasdaq Capital Market Security by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), then such market
system, or if such Common Stock is not listed or quoted on any of
the foregoing, then the OTC Bulletin Board.
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business
Day” means any day on which the Common Stock may be traded on
the AMEX, or, if not admitted for trading on the AMEX, any day
other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which banks in New York
City are required or permitted to be closed.
“Call
Notice” is defined in 6(C).
“Capital
Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents (however designated) of capital or capital stock of
such Person and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a
corporation, any and all partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company or other equity interests of such
Person.
“Certificate”
means this Certificate of Rights and Preferences of the Series A-2
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Certificate
of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, as amended.
“Change of
Control” is defined in 6G.
“Common
Stock” means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, and any Capital Stock for or into which such Common Stock
hereafter is exchanged, converted, reclassified or recapitalized by
the Company or pursuant to a Change of Control to which the Company
is a party (or, at the election of the Acquiring Person, the
capital stock of any Acquiring Person from and after the
consummation of a Change of Control).
“Common Stock
Equivalents” means (without duplication with any other Common
Stock or common stock, as the case may be, or Common Stock
Equivalents) rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or
exchangeable securities, exercisable for or convertible or
exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock, or common
stock, as the case may be, whether at the time of issuance or upon
the passage of time or the occurrence of some future
event.
“Company”
means Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (or, if, as, and when applicable, any Acquiring Person
from and after the consummation of a Change of
Control).
“Company
Conversion” is defined in Section 6(B)(i).
“Company
Conversion Notice” is defined in Section
6(B)(i).
“Conversion
Notice” is defined in Section 6(A)(i).
“Conversion
Price” means $.83, subject to adjustment for stock splits,
recombinations, stock dividends and the like as provided
herein.
“Conversion
Stock Amount” is defined in Section 6(A)(ii).
“Daily Market
Price” means, on any date, the amount per share of the Common
Stock equal to (i) the daily volume-weighted average price on the
AMEX or, if no sale takes place on such date, the closing bid
prices on the AMEX thereof on such date, in each case as reported
by Bloomberg, L.P. (or by such other Person as the Company may
select), or (ii) if such Common Stock is not then listed or
admitted to trading on the AMEX, the higher of (x) the book value
per share thereof as determined by any firm of independent public
accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board as of the
last calendar day of the most recent month ending before the date
as of which the determination is to be made or (y) the fair value
per share thereof determined in good faith by an independent,
nationally recognized appraisal firm selected by the Board, subject
to adjustment for stock splits, recombinations, stock dividends and
the like.
“Dividend
Payment Date” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Period” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Rate” means a rate equal to the Stated Value multiplied by
eight percent (8%) per annum.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Holder”
shall mean a holder of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date” means with respect to shares of the Series A-2
Preferred Stock the initial date of issuance of any of such shares
of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date Price” means the price of Issuer’s Common Stock
determined on the date of the initial issuance of the shares of the
Series A-2 Preferred Stock.
“Junior
Securities” means Capital Stock that, with respect to
dividends and distributions upon Liquidation, ranks junior to the
Series A Preferred Shares, including but not limited to Common
Stock and any other class or series of Capital Stock issued by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company on or after the Issue
Date, but excluding any Parity Securities and Senior Securities
issued (i) to Holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, (ii) with
the approval of the Holders of a Majority of the Series A-2
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the conversion, redemption or
exercise of securities described in clause (i) or (ii) in
accordance with the terms thereof.
“Liquidation”
means the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company; provided, however, that a consolidation,
merger or share exchange shall not be deemed a Liquidation, nor
shall a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its
assets, which does not involve a substantial distribution by the
Company of cash or other property to the holders of Common Stock,
be deemed to be a Liquidation.
“Liquidation
Preference” is defined in Section 4.
“Majority of
the Series A-2 Preferred Stock” means more than fifty percent
(50%) of the then outstanding shares of the Series A-2 Preferred
Stock.
“Other
Securities” means any stock (other than Common Stock) and
other securities of the Company or any other Person which the
Holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock at any time shall be
entitled to receive, or shall have received, upon conversion or
redemption of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock in lieu of or in
addition to Common Stock, or which at any time shall be issuable or
shall have been issued in exchange for or in replacement of Common
Stock or Other Securities.
“Parity
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, is
pari passu with all Series A-2 Preferred Shares. For the avoidance
of doubt, each series of Series A Preferred Shares is a Parity
Security with respect to each other series of Series A Preferred
Shares.
“Person”
means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
“Prevailing
Price” means, with respect to any reference date, the average
of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the thirty (30)
Business Days ending on and including the third (3rd) Business Day
before such reference date.
“Qualified
Public Company” means a corporation meeting all of the
following criteria: (i) the common stock of the corporation is
registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, (ii) the Prevailing Price shall be an amount greater
than one dollar ($1) per share of Common Stock, and (iii) the
average daily reported volume of trading in such common stock on
all national securities exchanges, markets, services, and/or
reported through the AMEX as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such
other Person as the Company may select) during the ninety (90)
calendar days preceding the reference date exceeds twenty thousand
(20,000) shares of Common Stock.
“Registered
Common Stock” means Common Stock the resale of which has been
registered under the Securities Act and is freely tradable upon
delivery.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Senior
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, ranks
senior to the Series A-2 Preferred Stock.
“Series A-2
Preferred Stock” means the Series A-2 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company or any successor.
“Stated
Value” is an amount equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per share of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends, whether or not declared and whether or not
earnings are available in respect of such dividends. In the event
the Company shall declare a distribution on the Common Stock
payable in securities or property other than cash, the value of
such securities or property will be the fair market value. Any
securities shall be valued as follows: (i) if traded on a national
securities exchange or through a Nasdaq market, the value shall be
deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on
such exchange or system over the thirty (30) Business Day period
ending three (3) calendar days prior to such declaration; (ii) if
actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be
the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is
applicable) over the thirty (30) Business Day period ending three
(3) calendar days prior to such declaration; and (iii) if there is
no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value
thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.
“Subsidiary”
of a Person means (i) a corporation, a majority of whose stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is
at the time of determination, directly or indirectly, owned by such
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any
other entity (other than a corporation) in which such Person or one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination thereof has a least a majority ownership
interest.
The
foregoing definitions will be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
3.
Dividends and
Distributions.
(A)
Holders shall be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company legally
available for that purpose, dividends at the Dividend Rate to be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Section 3. Such dividends
shall be fully cumulative from the Issue Date, shall accumulate
regardless of whether the Company earns a profit and shall be
payable in arrears, when and as declared by the Board (or a duly
appointed committee of directors), on January 1 of each year, (each
such date being herein referred to as a “Dividend Payment
Date”), commencing on January 1, 2008. The period from the
Issue Date to January 1, 2008, and each annual period between
consecutive Dividend Payment Dates shall hereinafter be referred to
as a “Dividend Period.” The dividend for any Dividend
Period for any share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock that is not
outstanding on every calendar day of the Dividend Period shall be
prorated based on the number of calendar days such share was
outstanding during the period. Each such dividend shall be paid to
the Holders of record of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock as their
names appear on the share register of the Company on the Dividend
Payment Date. Dividends on account of arrears for any past Dividend
Periods may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to
any Dividend Payment Date (including, without limitation, for
purposes of computing the Stated Value of any shares of Series A-2
Preferred Stock in connection with the conversion or redemption
thereof or any Liquidation of the Company), to Holders of record on
a date designated by the Board, not exceeding thirty (30) calendar
days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the
Board. For purposes of determining the amount of dividends accrued
as of the first Dividend Payment Date and as of any date that is
not a Dividend Payment Date, such amount shall be calculated on the
basis of the Dividend Rate for the actual number of calendar days
elapsed from and excluding the Issue Date (in case of the first
Dividend Payment Date and any date prior to the first Dividend
Payment Date) or the last preceding Dividend Payment Date (in case
of any other date) to the date as of which such determination is to
be made, based on a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(B)
Subject to the
following proviso, dividends payable on the Series A-2 Preferred
Stock shall be paid, at the option of the Holder, in cash or by the
issuance of Common Stock provided, however, that the Company may
elect to make any payment of dividends by the issuance of
Registered Common Stock on any Dividend Payment Date with 10
days’ prior written notice to the Holder, if the Company is a
Qualified Public Company on the Dividend Payment Date. The number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be
determined by dividing the cash amount of the dividend otherwise
payable by the Prevailing Price calculated as of such Dividend
Payment Date, provided, however, except at the Company’s
option, in no event shall such price be less than the price set on
the Issue Date; provided, further, if the Company shall combine,
subdivide or reclassify its Common Stock, or shall declare any
dividend payable in shares of its Common Stock, or shall take any
other action of a similar nature affecting such shares, the number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be adjusted
to the extent appropriate to reflect such event, including
appropriate adjustments to account for any such event that occurs
during the period used for calculating such Prevailing Price. The
number of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued as a
dividend shall be rounded to the nearest whole share after
aggregating all shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock owned by a
Holder.
(C)
If, on any
Dividend Payment Date, the Company fails to pay dividends, then
until the dividends that were scheduled to be paid on such date are
paid, such dividends shall cumulate, but shall not accrue
additional dividends. Unpaid dividends for any period less than a
full Dividend Period shall cumulate on a day to day basis and shall
be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(D)
So long as any
shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, (i) the
Company, except for the payment of dividends or other cash
distributions under a joint venture agreement or other strategic
alliance with respect to which the Company and/or a Subsidiary is a
party, shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to declare or
pay any dividend whatsoever, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, set aside any cash or property for the payment of
dividends, or make any other distribution on any Parity Securities,
except for dividends paid to the Company or any of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries and dividends paid on the Series A Preferred Shares or
(ii) the Company shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or set aside any
cash or property for the repurchase or redemption of any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities, unless in each such case all
dividends to which the Holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock
shall have been entitled to receive for all previous Dividend
Periods shall have been paid.
(E)
Subject to the
immediately following sentence, the Company shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from any dividend on the Series A-2 Preferred
Stock such amounts as the Company is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to such dividend under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or any other provision of state, local or
foreign tax law. In the event the Company or the Holder elects,
pursuant to Section 3(B), to pay or be paid, as the case may be, a
dividend on the Series A-2 Preferred Stock by issuing Registered
Common Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, to a Holder, (i)
the Company shall deliver the number of shares of Registered Common
Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, that would be delivered
to a Holder pursuant to Section 3(B) in the absence of any
requirement under applicable law to deduct and withhold any amount
with respect to such dividend and (ii) on the Business Day
following the Dividend Payment Date, Holder shall transfer to the
Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount
equal to what the Company is required under applicable law to
deduct and withhold with respect to such dividend. For purposes of
determining the withholding amount, the dividend value shall be
determined under Section 3(B) hereof.
4.
Liquidation
Preference. In the event of any Liquidation, after payment or
provision for payment by the Company of the debts and other
liabilities of the Company and the liquidation preference of any
Senior Securities that rank senior to the Series A-2 Preferred
Stock with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, each Holder
shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash for each share of
the then outstanding Series A-2 Preferred Stock held by such Holder
equal to the greater of (a) the Stated Value per share to and
including the date full payment is tendered to the Holders with
respect to such Liquidation, and (b) the amount the Holders would
have received if the Holders had converted all outstanding shares
of Series A-2 Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6(A) hereof, in each case as of the
Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Liquidation
(the “Liquidation Preference”), before any distribution
shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities (and any
Senior Securities or Parity Securities that, with respect to
distributions upon Liquidation, rank junior to the Series A-2
Preferred Stock) upon the Liquidation of the Company. In case the
assets of the Company available for payment to the Holders are
insufficient to pay the full Liquidation Preference on all
outstanding shares of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and all
outstanding shares of Parity Securities and Senior Securities that,
with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, are pari passu with
the Series A-2 Preferred Stock in the amounts to which the holders
of such shares are entitled, then the entire assets of the Company
available for payment to the Holders and to the holders of such
Parity Securities and Senior Securities shall be distributed
ratably among the Holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and the
holders of such Parity Securities and Senior Securities, based upon
the aggregate amount due on such shares upon Liquidation. Written
notice of any Liquidation of the Company, stating a payment date
and the place where the distributable amounts shall be payable,
shall be given by facsimile and overnight delivery not less than
ten (10) calendar days prior to the payment date stated therein, to
the Holders of record of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, if any, at
their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of
the Company.
5.
Voting Rights. The
Holders shall have the following voting rights with respect to the
Series A-2 Preferred Stock:
(A)
Each share of
Series A-2 Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to the
voting rights specified in Section 5(B) and no other voting rights
except as required by law.
(B)
The consent of the
Holders of at least a Majority of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a single class with one vote per share, in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at an
annual or a special meeting of such Holders called for the purpose,
shall be necessary to:
(i)
amend, alter or
repeal, by way of merger or otherwise, any of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, including this Certificate, or Bylaws
of the Company so as to:
A.
change any of the
rights, preferences or privileges of Holders. Without limiting the
generality of the preceding sentence, such change includes any
action that would:
1.
reduce the Dividend
Rate on the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, or make such dividends
non-cumulative, or defer the date from which dividends will accrue,
or cancel accrued and unpaid dividends, or change the relative
seniority rights of the holders of Series A-2 Preferred Stock as to
the payment of dividends in relation to the holders of any other
capital stock of the Company;
2.
reduce the amount
payable to the holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock upon the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of
the Company, or change the relative seniority of the liquidation
preferences of the holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock to the
rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other capital stock
of the Company;
3.
make the Series A-2
Preferred Stock redeemable at the option of the Company other than
in accordance with the terms of this Certificate.
B.
authorize, create
or issue any shares of Parity Securities or Senior Securities (or
amend the provisions of any existing class of Capital Stock to make
such class of Capital Stock a class of Parity Securities or Senior
Securities).
(ii)
permit any
Subsidiary of the Company to issue or sell, or obligate itself to
issue or sell, except to the Company or any wholly owned
Subsidiary, any security of such Subsidiaries or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary other than sales
of assets on an arm's-length, fair market value basis;
or
(iii)
increase or
decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the total number
of authorized shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock or amend any
provisions of any Capital Stock so as to make such Capital Stock
redeemable by the Company.
6.
Conversion and Call
Rights.
(A)
Procedure for
Conversion.
(i)
General. Shares of
Series A-2 Preferred Stock are convertible at the option of the
Holder thereof at any time, from time to time, in whole or in part,
as follows:
A.
The conversion of
shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock may be effected by delivering
a duly executed written Series A-2 Preferred Stock Conversion
Notice, in form and substance as provided by the Company (the
“Conversion Notice”), to the Company, at its principal
office specifying the number of shares of Series A-2 Preferred
Stock to be converted and surrendering the certificate representing
the shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock to be
converted.
B.
As soon as
practicable after each such conversion of Series A-2 Preferred
Stock, but not later than five (5) Business Days from the receipt
of the Conversion Notice, the Company shall deliver to such Holder
at the address specified in the Conversion Notice the Conversion
Stock Amount of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Registered Common Stock (or Other
Securities or, with such Holder's express written consent,
unregistered Common Stock).
C.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Certificate to the contrary, if such Holder does
not consent to accept unregistered Common Stock, then such
Holder’s Notice of Conversion shall be deemed, without any
further action, to have been withdrawn. Moreover, in no event,
shall any conversion under the Certificate be settled in
cash.
(ii)
Conversion for
stock. Subject to the previous sub-paragraph, such shares of stock
shall be converted into that number of shares of Registered Common
Stock (or at the sole election of the Holder, unregistered Common
Stock) equal to (A) the aggregate Stated Value of such shares
divided by (B) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Stock
Amount”). It shall be a condition of either the Company or
the converting Holder's obligation to close the conversion of the
Series A-2 Preferred Stock that such conversion be in accordance
with applicable federal and state securities laws and any
applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended,
shall have expired or been terminated without litigation having
been commenced that is continuing, or threat of litigation having
been made that remains unresolved, by the United States Department
of Justice or the United States Federal Trade
Commission.
(iii)
Holder of record.
Each conversion of Series A-2 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to
have been effected immediately before the close of business on the
Business Day on which the Conversion Notice is delivered, and at
such time the Person or Persons in whose name or names any
certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock (or Other
Securities) shall be issuable upon such conversion as provided
herein shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders of
record thereof.
(iv)
Partial conversion.
If any conversion is for only part of the shares represented by the
certificate surrendered, the Company shall send a new Series A-2
Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor via certified or
registered mail RRR or reputable overnight courier to such address
specified by the Holder, calling in the aggregate on the face or
faces thereof for the number of shares of Series A-2 Preferred
Stock which have not been converted.
(B)
Procedure for
Conversion by the Company.
(i)
Conversion by the
Company. Shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock may be converted by
the Company (a “Company Conversion”) in whole or in
part for Common Stock as follows
A.
From and after the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company may require the
Holders to convert, on a pro rata basis as among the holders of
Series A-2 Preferred Shares, shares of Series A-2 Preferred Shares
held by such holders on any of March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year by delivering a conversion notice to the
Holders, at least ten (10) days prior to such conversion and
substantially in the form as provided by the Company (a
“Company Conversion Notice”), provided that (x) the
average of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the
ninety (90) calendar days ended immediately prior to such
Conversion Notice is an amount greater than two hundred twenty
percent (220%) of the Conversion Price or (y) after the fifth
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Prevailing Price shall be an
amount greater than the Issue Date Price. The number of Series A
Preferred Shares so converted under clause (x) may not exceed the
number that would be converted for a quantity of shares of Common
Stock greater than eight (8) times the average daily reported
volume of trading in the Common Stock on all national securities
exchanges, Nasdaq market, service, and/or reported through the AMEX
as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such other Person as the
Company may select) during the ninety (90) calendar days ending one
day prior to the Conversion Notice Date concerning a conversion
under clause (x). The conversion price under clause (x) shall be
determined in accordance with Section 6(A)(ii). The conversion
price under clause (y) shall be the Prevailing Price, provided,
that the Prevailing Price is greater than the Conversion Price. In
the event that the Conversion Price is greater than the Prevailing
Price, then the conversion price shall be the Conversion
Price.
(C)
Five Year Call
Right. From and after the fifth anniversary of the date on which
the Registration Requirement has been satisfied, the Company may
from time-to-time issue a call notice to the holders of the Series
A-2 Preferred Shares (the “Call Notice”). Such Call
Notice, at the Company’s discretion, may be for all or a
portion of the Series A-2 Preferred Shares. On or before the tenth
(10th) Business Day following the date of the Call Notice, the
holders of the Series A-2 Preferred Shares shall deliver to the
Company, all, or, in the case of a Call Notice concerning a portion
of the Series A-2 Preferred Shares, on a pro rata basis as provided
in the Call Notice, based on the number of shares of Series A-2
Preferred Shares held by each holder, Series A-2 Preferred Shares
with an aggregate Stated Value equal to the amount designated in
the Call Notice. The Company shall promptly thereafter pay, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, an amount to each such
holder equal to the aggregate Stated Value of all such Series A-2
Preferred Shares delivered by such holder.
(D)
The Company
shall at all times reserve for issuance such number of its shares
of Common Stock as shall be required hereunder.
(E)
The Company will
use its best efforts to procure, at its sole expense, the listing
of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of the
Series A-2 Preferred Stock and shares issuable as dividends
hereunder, subject to issuance or notice of issuance, on all stock
exchanges, markets, and quotation service on which the Common Stock
is then listed or quoted, no later than the date on which such
Series A-2 Preferred Stock is issued to the Holder and thereafter
shall use its best efforts to prevent delisting or removal from
quotation of such shares. The Company will pay any and all
documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common
Stock on conversion or redemption of shares of the Series A-2
Preferred Stock. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involving
the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other
than that in which the shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock so
converted or redeemed were registered, and no such issue and
delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such
issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has
established, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, that
such tax has been paid.
(F)
No fractional
shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon
the conversion or redemption of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock. If
any such conversion or redemption would otherwise require the
issuance of a fractional share of Common Stock, an amount equal to
such fraction multiplied by the current Daily Market Price per
share of Common Stock on the date of conversion or redemption shall
be paid to the Holder in cash by the Company. If more than one
share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for
conversion or redemption at one time by or for the same Holder, the
number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or
redemption thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate
number of shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock so
surrendered.
(G)
Change of Control.
In case the Company on or after the Issue Date is party to any (a)
acquisition of the Company by means of merger or other form of
corporate reorganization in which outstanding shares of the Company
are exchanged for securities or other consideration issued, or
caused to be issued, by the Acquiring Person, herein defined, or
its Parent, herein defined, Subsidiary, herein defined, or
affiliate, (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (on a consolidated basis) in a single transaction or
series of related transactions, (c) any other transaction or series
of related transactions by the Company or relating to the Common
Stock (including without limitation, any stock purchase or tender
or exchange offer) in which the power to cast the majority of the
eligible votes at a meeting of the Company's stockholders at which
directors are elected is transferred to a single entity or group
acting in concert, or (d) a capital reorganization or
reclassification of the Common Stock or other securities (other
than a reorganization or reclassification in which the Common Stock
or other securities are not converted into or exchanged for cash or
other property, and, immediately after consummation of such
transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to
such transaction own the Common Stock, other securities or other
voting stock of the Company in substantially the same proportions
relative to each other as such stockholders owned immediately prior
to such transaction), then, and in the case of each such
transaction (each of which is referred to herein as “Change
in Control”), proper provision shall be made so that, at the
option of the Acquiring Person and upon fifteen days’ notice
to the Company and the Holder prior to the consummation of the
Change of Control, either (i) the Acquiring Person expressly agrees
to assume all of the Company’s obligations under the Series
A-2 Preferred Stock or (ii) the Holder has fifteen (15) days in
which to exercise its conversion rights under the Series A-2
Preferred Stock. If Holder does not exercise its rights during such
fifteen (15) day period, all rights under the Series A-2 Preferred
Stock shall terminate and the Series A-2 Preferred Stock shall be
deemed cancelled. The Company, to the extent feasible, shall
provide the Holder with thirty (30) days’ notice of the
consummation of any Change of Control. Subject to the foregoing, on
or before the closing date under the agreement entered into with an
Acquiring Person resulting in a Change in Control, the Company, if
applicable, shall deliver to the Holder written notice that the
Acquiring Person has assumed such obligations. “Acquiring
Person” means, in connection with any Change in Control, (i)
the continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or
merger with the Company (if other than the Company), (ii) the
transferee of all or substantially all of the properties or assets
of the Company, (iii) the corporation consolidating with or merging
into the Company in a consolidation or merger in connection with
which the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property,
(iv) the entity or group (other than Holder or any of its
affiliates) acting in concert acquiring or possessing the power to
cast the majority of the eligible votes at a meeting of the
Company's stockholders at which directors are elected, or, (v) in
the case of a capital reorganization or reclassification, the
Company, or (vi) at the Holder's election, any Person that (A)
controls the Acquiring Person directly or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, (B) is required to include the Acquiring
Person in the consolidated financial statements contained in such
Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K (if such Person is required to
file such a report) or would be required to so include the
Acquiring Person in such Person's consolidated financial statements
if they were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (C) is not
itself included in the consolidated financial statements of any
other Person (other than its consolidated subsidiaries).
“Parent” shall mean any corporation (other than the
Acquiring Person) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with
the Acquiring Person, provided each corporation in the unbroken
chain (other than the Acquiring Person) owns, at the time of the
determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain. “Subsidiary” shall
mean any corporation at least 50% of whose outstanding voting stock
shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by the Acquiring
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries.
(i)
If the Corporation,
at any time while the Series A-2 Preferred Stock is outstanding:
(a) shall pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or
distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or
equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock
(which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of
Common Stock issued by the Corporation pursuant to this Series A-2
Preferred Stock), (b) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a larger number of shares, (c) combine (including by way of
reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (d) issue by reclassification of
shares of the Common Stock any shares of Capital Stock of the
Corporation, then the Preferred Conversion Price shall be adjusted
by multiplying the then Preferred Conversion Price by a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the event and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the event. Any adjustment made
pursuant to this Section shall become effective immediately after
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective
immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision,
combination or reclassification.
(ii)
Calculations. All
calculations under this Section 6(H) shall be made to the nearest
cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. The
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time
shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the
Corporation, and the description of any such shares of Common Stock
shall be considered on issue or sale of Common Stock. For purposes
of this Section 6(H), the number of shares of Common Stock deemed
to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of
the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if
any) actually issued and outstanding.
7.
Status
of Converted and Redeemed Shares; Limitations on Series A-2
Preferred Stock. The Company shall return to the status of
unauthorized and undesignated shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock
each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock which shall be converted,
redeemed or for any other reason acquired by the Company, and such
shares thereafter may have such characteristics and designations as
the Board may determine. Without the consent of Majority of the
Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Company will not issue any further
shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock.
Annex C
Certificate of Rights and Preferences of
Series A-4 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
1.
Number. The number
of shares constituting the Series A-4 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock shall be forty-five (45).
2.
Definitions. Unless
the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following
terms shall have the meaning indicated.
“Acquiring
Person” is defined in 6(G).
“AMEX”
means the American Stock Exchange, provided, however, that if the
American Stock Exchange is not then the principal U.S. trading
market for the Common Stock, then “AMEX” shall be
deemed to mean the principal U.S. national securities exchange (as
defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”) on which the Common Stock is then
traded, or if such Common Stock is not then listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange but is designated as a
Nasdaq Capital Market Security by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), then such market
system, or if such Common Stock is not listed or quoted on any of
the foregoing, then the OTC Bulletin Board.
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business
Day” means any day on which the Common Stock may be traded on
the AMEX, or, if not admitted for trading on the AMEX, any day
other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which banks in New York
City are required or permitted to be closed.
“Call
Notice” is defined in 6(C).
“Capital
Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents (however designated) of capital or capital stock of
such Person and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a
corporation, any and all partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company or other equity interests of such
Person.
“Certificate”
means this Certificate of Rights and Preferences of the Series A-4
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Certificate
of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, as amended.
“Change of
Control” is defined in 6G.
“Common
Stock” means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, and any Capital Stock for or into which such Common Stock
hereafter is exchanged, converted, reclassified or recapitalized by
the Company or pursuant to a Change of Control to which the Company
is a party (or, at the election of the Acquiring Person, the
capital stock of any Acquiring Person from and after the
consummation of a Change of Control).
“Common Stock
Equivalents” means (without duplication with any other Common
Stock or common stock, as the case may be, or Common Stock
Equivalents) rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or
exchangeable securities, exercisable for or convertible or
exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock, or common
stock, as the case may be, whether at the time of issuance or upon
the passage of time or the occurrence of some future
event.
“Company”
means Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (or, if, as, and when applicable, any Acquiring Person
from and after the consummation of a Change of
Control).
“Company
Conversion” is defined in Section 6(B)(i).
“Company
Conversion Notice” is defined in Section
6(B)(i).
“Conversion
Notice” is defined in Section 6(A)(i).
“Conversion
Price” means $.79, subject to adjustment for stock splits,
recombinations, stock dividends and the like as provided
herein.
“Conversion
Stock Amount” is defined in Section 6(A)(ii).
“Daily Market
Price” means, on any date, the amount per share of the Common
Stock equal to (i) the daily volume-weighted average price on the
AMEX or, if no sale takes place on such date, the closing bid
prices on the AMEX thereof on such date, in each case as reported
by Bloomberg, L.P. (or by such other Person as the Company may
select), or (ii) if such Common Stock is not then listed or
admitted to trading on the AMEX, the higher of (x) the book value
per share thereof as determined by any firm of independent public
accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board as of the
last calendar day of the most recent month ending before the date
as of which the determination is to be made or (y) the fair value
per share thereof determined in good faith by an independent,
nationally recognized appraisal firm selected by the Board, subject
to adjustment for stock splits, recombinations, stock dividends and
the like.
“Dividend
Payment Date” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Period” is defined in Section 3(A).
“Dividend
Rate” means a rate equal to the Stated Value multiplied by
eight percent (8%) per annum.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Holder”
shall mean a holder of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date” means with respect to shares of the Series A-4
Preferred Stock the initial date of issuance of any of such shares
of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock.
“Issue
Date Price” means the price of Issuer’s Common Stock
determined on the date of the initial issuance of the shares of the
Series A-4 Preferred Stock.
“Junior
Securities” means Capital Stock that, with respect to
dividends and distributions upon Liquidation, ranks junior to the
Series A Preferred Shares, including but not limited to Common
Stock and any other class or series of Capital Stock issued by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company on or after the Issue
Date, but excluding any Parity Securities and Senior Securities
issued (i) to Holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, (ii) with
the approval of the Holders of a Majority of the Series A-4
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the conversion, redemption or
exercise of securities described in clause (i) or (ii) in
accordance with the terms thereof.
“Liquidation”
means the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company; provided, however, that a consolidation,
merger or share exchange shall not be deemed a Liquidation, nor
shall a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its
assets, which does not involve a substantial distribution by the
Company of cash or other property to the holders of Common Stock,
be deemed to be a Liquidation.
“Liquidation
Preference” is defined in Section 4.
“Majority of
the Series A-4 Preferred Stock” means more than fifty percent
(50%) of the then outstanding shares of the Series A-4 Preferred
Stock.
“Other
Securities” means any stock (other than Common Stock) and
other securities of the Company or any other Person which the
Holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock at any time shall be
entitled to receive, or shall have received, upon conversion or
redemption of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock in lieu of or in
addition to Common Stock, or which at any time shall be issuable or
shall have been issued in exchange for or in replacement of Common
Stock or Other Securities.
“Parity
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, is
pari passu with all Series A-4 Preferred Shares. For the avoidance
of doubt, each series of Series A Preferred Shares is a Parity
Security with respect to each other series of Series A Preferred
Shares.
“Person”
means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
“Prevailing
Price” means, with respect to any reference date, the average
of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the thirty (30)
Business Days ending on and including the third (3rd) Business Day
before such reference date.
“Qualified
Public Company” means a corporation meeting all of the
following criteria: (i) the common stock of the corporation is
registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, (ii) the Prevailing Price shall be an amount greater
than one dollar ($1) per share of Common Stock, and (iii) the
average daily reported volume of trading in such common stock on
all national securities exchanges, markets, services, and/or
reported through the AMEX as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such
other Person as the Company may select) during the ninety (90)
calendar days preceding the reference date exceeds twenty thousand
(20,000) shares of Common Stock.
“Registered
Common Stock” means Common Stock the resale of which has been
registered under the Securities Act and is freely tradable upon
delivery.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Senior
Securities” means any class or series of Capital Stock that,
with respect to dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, ranks
senior to the Series A-4 Preferred Stock.
“Series A-4
Preferred Stock” means the Series A-4 Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company or any successor.
“Stated
Value” is an amount equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
per share of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends, whether or not declared and whether or not
earnings are available in respect of such dividends. In the event
the Company shall declare a distribution on the Common Stock
payable in securities or property other than cash, the value of
such securities or property will be the fair market value. Any
securities shall be valued as follows: (i) if traded on a national
securities exchange or through a Nasdaq market, the value shall be
deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on
such exchange or system over the thirty (30) Business Day period
ending three (3) calendar days prior to such declaration; (ii) if
actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be
the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is
applicable) over the thirty (30) Business Day period ending three
(3) calendar days prior to such declaration; and (iii) if there is
no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value
thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.
“Subsidiary”
of a Person means (i) a corporation, a majority of whose stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is
at the time of determination, directly or indirectly, owned by such
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any
other entity (other than a corporation) in which such Person or one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination thereof has a least a majority ownership
interest.
The
foregoing definitions will be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
3.
Dividends and
Distributions.
(A)
Holders shall be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company legally
available for that purpose, dividends at the Dividend Rate to be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Section 3. Such dividends
shall be fully cumulative from the Issue Date, shall accumulate
regardless of whether the Company earns a profit and shall be
payable in arrears, when and as declared by the Board (or a duly
appointed committee of directors), on January 1 of each year, (each
such date being herein referred to as a “Dividend Payment
Date”), commencing on January 1, 2008. The period from the
Issue Date to January 1, 2008, and each annual period between
consecutive Dividend Payment Dates shall hereinafter be referred to
as a “Dividend Period.” The dividend for any Dividend
Period for any share of Series A-4 Preferred Stock that is not
outstanding on every calendar day of the Dividend Period shall be
prorated based on the number of calendar days such share was
outstanding during the period. Each such dividend shall be paid to
the Holders of record of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock as their
names appear on the share register of the Company on the Dividend
Payment Date. Dividends on account of arrears for any past Dividend
Periods may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to
any Dividend Payment Date (including, without limitation, for
purposes of computing the Stated Value of any shares of Series A-4
Preferred Stock in connection with the conversion or redemption
thereof or any Liquidation of the Company), to Holders of record on
a date designated by the Board, not exceeding thirty (30) calendar
days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the
Board. For purposes of determining the amount of dividends accrued
as of the first Dividend Payment Date and as of any date that is
not a Dividend Payment Date, such amount shall be calculated on the
basis of the Dividend Rate for the actual number of calendar days
elapsed from and excluding the Issue Date (in case of the first
Dividend Payment Date and any date prior to the first Dividend
Payment Date) or the last preceding Dividend Payment Date (in case
of any other date) to the date as of which such determination is to
be made, based on a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(B)
Subject to the
following proviso, dividends payable on the Series A-4 Preferred
Stock shall be paid, at the option of the Holder, in cash or by the
issuance of Common Stock provided, however, that the Company may
elect to make any payment of dividends by the issuance of
Registered Common Stock on any Dividend Payment Date with 10
days’ prior written notice to the Holder, if the Company is a
Qualified Public Company on the Dividend Payment Date. The number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be
determined by dividing the cash amount of the dividend otherwise
payable by the Prevailing Price calculated as of such Dividend
Payment Date, provided, however, except at the Company’s
option, in no event shall such price be less than the price set on
the Issue Date; provided, further, if the Company shall combine,
subdivide or reclassify its Common Stock, or shall declare any
dividend payable in shares of its Common Stock, or shall take any
other action of a similar nature affecting such shares, the number
of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued shall be adjusted
to the extent appropriate to reflect such event, including
appropriate adjustments to account for any such event that occurs
during the period used for calculating such Prevailing Price. The
number of shares of Registered Common Stock to be issued as a
dividend shall be rounded to the nearest whole share after
aggregating all shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock owned by a
Holder.
(C)
If, on any
Dividend Payment Date, the Company fails to pay dividends, then
until the dividends that were scheduled to be paid on such date are
paid, such dividends shall cumulate, but shall not accrue
additional dividends. Unpaid dividends for any period less than a
full Dividend Period shall cumulate on a day to day basis and shall
be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty-five (365) day
year.
(D)
So long as any
shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, (i) the
Company, except for the payment of dividends or other cash
distributions under a joint venture agreement or other strategic
alliance with respect to which the Company and/or a Subsidiary is a
party, shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to declare or
pay any dividend whatsoever, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, set aside any cash or property for the payment of
dividends, or make any other distribution on any Parity Securities,
except for dividends paid to the Company or any of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries and dividends paid on the Series A Preferred Shares or
(ii) the Company shall not and shall not allow its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or set aside any
cash or property for the repurchase or redemption of any Junior
Securities or Parity Securities, unless in each such case all
dividends to which the Holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock
shall have been entitled to receive for all previous Dividend
Periods shall have been paid.
(E)
Subject to the
immediately following sentence, the Company shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from any dividend on the Series A-4 Preferred
Stock such amounts as the Company is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to such dividend under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or any other provision of state, local or
foreign tax law. In the event the Company or the Holder elects,
pursuant to Section 3(B), to pay or be paid, as the case may be, a
dividend on the Series A-4 Preferred Stock by issuing Registered
Common Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, to a Holder, (i)
the Company shall deliver the number of shares of Registered Common
Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, that would be delivered
to a Holder pursuant to Section 3(B) in the absence of any
requirement under applicable law to deduct and withhold any amount
with respect to such dividend and (ii) on the Business Day
following the Dividend Payment Date, Holder shall transfer to the
Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount
equal to what the Company is required under applicable law to
deduct and withhold with respect to such dividend. For purposes of
determining the withholding amount, the dividend value shall be
determined under Section 3(B) hereof.
4.
Liquidation
Preference. In the event of any Liquidation, after payment or
provision for payment by the Company of the debts and other
liabilities of the Company and the liquidation preference of any
Senior Securities that rank senior to the Series A-4 Preferred
Stock with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, each Holder
shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash for each share of
the then outstanding Series A-4 Preferred Stock held by such Holder
equal to the greater of (a) the Stated Value per share to and
including the date full payment is tendered to the Holders with
respect to such Liquidation, and (b) the amount the Holders would
have received if the Holders had converted all outstanding shares
of Series A-4 Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6(A) hereof, in each case as of the
Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Liquidation
(the “Liquidation Preference”), before any distribution
shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities (and any
Senior Securities or Parity Securities that, with respect to
distributions upon Liquidation, rank junior to the Series A-4
Preferred Stock) upon the Liquidation of the Company. In case the
assets of the Company available for payment to the Holders are
insufficient to pay the full Liquidation Preference on all
outstanding shares of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and all
outstanding shares of Parity Securities and Senior Securities that,
with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, are pari passu with
the Series A-4 Preferred Stock in the amounts to which the holders
of such shares are entitled, then the entire assets of the Company
available for payment to the Holders and to the holders of such
Parity Securities and Senior Securities shall be distributed
ratably among the Holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and the
holders of such Parity Securities and Senior Securities, based upon
the aggregate amount due on such shares upon Liquidation. Written
notice of any Liquidation of the Company, stating a payment date
and the place where the distributable amounts shall be payable,
shall be given by facsimile and overnight delivery not less than
ten (10) calendar days prior to the payment date stated therein, to
the Holders of record of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, if any, at
their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of
the Company.
5.
Voting Rights. The
Holders shall have the following voting rights with respect to the
Series A-4 Preferred Stock:
(A)
Each share of
Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to the
voting rights specified in Section 5(B) and no other voting rights
except as required by law.
(B)
The consent of the
Holders of at least a Majority of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a single class with one vote per share, in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at an
annual or a special meeting of such Holders called for the purpose,
shall be necessary to:
(i)
amend, alter or
repeal, by way of merger or otherwise, any of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, including this Certificate, or Bylaws
of the Company so as to:
A.
change any of the
rights, preferences or privileges of Holders. Without limiting the
generality of the preceding sentence, such change includes any
action that would:
1.
reduce the Dividend
Rate on the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, or make such dividends
non-cumulative, or defer the date from which dividends will accrue,
or cancel accrued and unpaid dividends, or change the relative
seniority rights of the holders of Series A-4 Preferred Stock as to
the payment of dividends in relation to the holders of any other
capital stock of the Company;
2.
reduce the amount
payable to the holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock upon the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of
the Company, or change the relative seniority of the liquidation
preferences of the holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock to the
rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other capital stock
of the Company;
3.
make the Series A-4
Preferred Stock redeemable at the option of the Company other than
in accordance with the terms of this Certificate.
B.
authorize, create
or issue any shares of Parity Securities or Senior Securities (or
amend the provisions of any existing class of Capital Stock to make
such class of Capital Stock a class of Parity Securities or Senior
Securities).
(ii)
permit any
Subsidiary of the Company to issue or sell, or obligate itself to
issue or sell, except to the Company or any wholly owned
Subsidiary, any security of such Subsidiaries or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary other than sales
of assets on an arm's-length, fair market value basis;
or
(iii)
increase or
decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the total number
of authorized shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock or amend any
provisions of any Capital Stock so as to make such Capital Stock
redeemable by the Company.
6.
Conversion and Call
Rights.
(A)
Procedure for
Conversion.
(i)
General. Shares of
Series A-4 Preferred Stock are convertible at the option of the
Holder thereof at any time, from time to time, in whole or in part,
as follows:
A.
The conversion of
shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock may be effected by delivering
a duly executed written Series A-4 Preferred Stock Conversion
Notice, in form and substance as provided by the Company (the
“Conversion Notice”), to the Company, at its principal
office specifying the number of shares of Series A-4 Preferred
Stock to be converted and surrendering the certificate representing
the shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock to be
converted.
B.
As soon as
practicable after each such conversion of Series A-4 Preferred
Stock, but not later than five (5) Business Days from the receipt
of the Conversion Notice, the Company shall deliver to such Holder
at the address specified in the Conversion Notice the Conversion
Stock Amount of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Registered Common Stock (or Other
Securities or, with such Holder's express written consent,
unregistered Common Stock).
C.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Certificate to the contrary, if such Holder does
not consent to accept unregistered Common Stock, then such
Holder’s Notice of Conversion shall be deemed, without any
further action, to have been withdrawn. Moreover, in no event,
shall any conversion under the Certificate be settled in
cash.
(ii)
Conversion for
stock. Subject to the previous sub-paragraph, such shares of stock
shall be converted into that number of shares of Registered Common
Stock (or at the sole election of the Holder, unregistered Common
Stock) equal to (A) the aggregate Stated Value of such shares
divided by (B) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Stock
Amount”). It shall be a condition of either the Company or
the converting Holder's obligation to close the conversion of the
Series A-4 Preferred Stock that such conversion be in accordance
with applicable federal and state securities laws and any
applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended,
shall have expired or been terminated without litigation having
been commenced that is continuing, or threat of litigation having
been made that remains unresolved, by the United States Department
of Justice or the United States Federal Trade
Commission.
(iii)
Holder of record.
Each conversion of Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to
have been effected immediately before the close of business on the
Business Day on which the Conversion Notice is delivered, and at
such time the Person or Persons in whose name or names any
certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock (or Other
Securities) shall be issuable upon such conversion as provided
herein shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders of
record thereof.
(iv)
Partial conversion.
If any conversion is for only part of the shares represented by the
certificate surrendered, the Company shall send a new Series A-4
Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor via certified or
registered mail RRR or reputable overnight courier to such address
specified by the Holder, calling in the aggregate on the face or
faces thereof for the number of shares of Series A-4 Preferred
Stock which have not been converted.
(B)
Procedure for
Conversion by the Company.
(i)
Conversion by the
Company. Shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock may be converted by
the Company (a “Company Conversion”) in whole or in
part for Common Stock as follows
A.
From and after the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company may require the
Holders to convert, on a pro rata basis as among the holders of
Series A-4 Preferred Shares, shares of Series A-4 Preferred Shares
held by such holders on any of March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year by delivering a conversion notice to the
Holders, at least ten (10) days prior to such conversion and
substantially in the form as provided by the Company (a
“Company Conversion Notice”), provided that (x) the
average of the Daily Market Prices of the Common Stock for the
ninety (90) calendar days ended immediately prior to such
Conversion Notice is an amount greater than two hundred twenty
percent (220%) of the Conversion Price or (y) after the fifth
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Prevailing Price shall be an
amount greater than the Issue Date Price. The number of Series A
Preferred Shares so converted under clause (x) may not exceed the
number that would be converted for a quantity of shares of Common
Stock greater than eight (8) times the average daily reported
volume of trading in the Common Stock on all national securities
exchanges, Nasdaq market, service, and/or reported through the AMEX
as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or by such other Person as the
Company may select) during the ninety (90) calendar days ending one
day prior to the Conversion Notice Date concerning a conversion
under clause (x). The Conversion Price and the Conversion Stock
Amount under clause (x) shall be determined in accordance with
Section 6(A)(ii). The conversion price under clause (y) shall be
the Prevailing Price, if the Prevailing Price is greater than the
Conversion Price and shall be the Conversion Price if the
Conversion Price is greater than the Prevailing Price. The
Conversion Stock Amount under clause (y) shall be determined in
accordance with Section 6(A)(ii), using the conversion price as
determined in accordance with the immediately preceding
sentence.
(C)
Five Year Call
Right. From and after the fifth anniversary of the date on which
the Registration Requirement has been satisfied, the Company may
from time-to-time issue a call notice to the holders of the Series
A-4 Preferred Shares (the “Call Notice”). Such Call
Notice, at the Company’s discretion, may be for all or a
portion of the Series A-4 Preferred Shares. On or before the tenth
(10th) Business Day following the date of the Call Notice, the
holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Shares shall deliver to the
Company, all, or, in the case of a Call Notice concerning a portion
of the Series A-4 Preferred Shares, on a pro rata basis as provided
in the Call Notice, based on the number of shares of Series A-4
Preferred Shares held by each holder, Series A-4 Preferred Shares
with an aggregate Stated Value equal to the amount designated in
the Call Notice. The Company shall promptly thereafter pay, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, an amount to each such
holder equal to the aggregate Stated Value of all such Series A-4
Preferred Shares delivered by such holder.
(D)
The Company
shall at all times reserve for issuance such number of its shares
of Common Stock as shall be required hereunder.
(E)
The Company will
use its best efforts to procure, at its sole expense, the listing
of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of the
Series A-4 Preferred Stock and shares issuable as dividends
hereunder, subject to issuance or notice of issuance, on all stock
exchanges, markets, and quotation service on which the Common Stock
is then listed or quoted, no later than the date on which such
Series A-4 Preferred Stock is issued to the Holder and thereafter
shall use its best efforts to prevent delisting or removal from
quotation of such shares. The Company will pay any and all
documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common
Stock on conversion or redemption of shares of the Series A-4
Preferred Stock. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involving
the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other
than that in which the shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock so
converted or redeemed were registered, and no such issue and
delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such
issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has
established, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, that
such tax has been paid.
(F)
No fractional
shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon
the conversion or redemption of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock. If
any such conversion or redemption would otherwise require the
issuance of a fractional share of Common Stock, an amount equal to
such fraction multiplied by the current Daily Market Price per
share of Common Stock on the date of conversion or redemption shall
be paid to the Holder in cash by the Company. If more than one
share of Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for
conversion or redemption at one time by or for the same Holder, the
number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or
redemption thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate
number of shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock so
surrendered.
(G)
Change of Control.
In case the Company on or after the Issue Date is party to any (a)
acquisition of the Company by means of merger or other form of
corporate reorganization in which outstanding shares of the Company
are exchanged for securities or other consideration issued, or
caused to be issued, by the Acquiring Person, herein defined, or
its Parent, herein defined, Subsidiary, herein defined, or
affiliate, (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (on a consolidated basis) in a single transaction or
series of related transactions, (c) any other transaction or series
of related transactions by the Company or relating to the Common
Stock (including without limitation, any stock purchase or tender
or exchange offer) in which the power to cast the majority of the
eligible votes at a meeting of the Company's stockholders at which
directors are elected is transferred to a single entity or group
acting in concert, or (d) a capital reorganization or
reclassification of the Common Stock or other securities (other
than a reorganization or reclassification in which the Common Stock
or other securities are not converted into or exchanged for cash or
other property, and, immediately after consummation of such
transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to
such transaction own the Common Stock, other securities or other
voting stock of the Company in substantially the same proportions
relative to each other as such stockholders owned immediately prior
to such transaction), then, and in the case of each such
transaction (each of which is referred to herein as “Change
in Control”), proper provision shall be made so that, at the
option of the Acquiring Person and upon fifteen days’ notice
to the Company and the Holder prior to the consummation of the
Change of Control, either (i) the Acquiring Person expressly agrees
to assume all of the Company’s obligations under the Series
A-4 Preferred Stock or (ii) the Holder has fifteen (15) days in
which to exercise its conversion rights under the Series A-4
Preferred Stock. If Holder does not exercise its rights during such
fifteen (15) day period, all rights under the Series A-4 Preferred
Stock shall terminate and the Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be
deemed cancelled. The Company, to the extent feasible, shall
provide the Holder with thirty (30) days’ notice of the
consummation of any Change of Control. Subject to the foregoing, on
or before the closing date under the agreement entered into with an
Acquiring Person resulting in a Change in Control, the Company, if
applicable, shall deliver to the Holder written notice that the
Acquiring Person has assumed such obligations. “Acquiring
Person” means, in connection with any Change in Control, (i)
the continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or
merger with the Company (if other than the Company), (ii) the
transferee of all or substantially all of the properties or assets
of the Company, (iii) the corporation consolidating with or merging
into the Company in a consolidation or merger in connection with
which the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property,
(iv) the entity or group (other than Holder or any of its
affiliates) acting in concert acquiring or possessing the power to
cast the majority of the eligible votes at a meeting of the Company
's stockholders at which directors are elected, or, (v) in the case
of a capital reorganization or reclassification, the Company, or
(vi) at the Holder's election, any Person that (A) controls the
Acquiring Person directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, (B) is required to include the Acquiring Person in
the consolidated financial statements contained in such Parent's
Annual Report on Form 10-K (if such Person is required to file such
a report) or would be required to so include the Acquiring Person
in such Person's consolidated financial statements if they were
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (C) is not itself
included in the consolidated financial statements of any other
Person (other than its consolidated subsidiaries).
“Parent” shall mean any corporation (other than the
Acquiring Person) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with
the Acquiring Person, provided each corporation in the unbroken
chain (other than the Acquiring Person) owns, at the time of the
determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain. “Subsidiary” shall
mean any corporation at least 50% of whose outstanding voting stock
shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by the Acquiring
Person or by one or more Subsidiaries.
(i)
If the Corporation,
at any time while the Series A-4 Preferred Stock is outstanding:
(a) shall pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or
distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or
equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock
(which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of
Common Stock issued by the Corporation pursuant to this Series A-4
Preferred Stock), (b) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a larger number of shares, (c) combine (including by way of
reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (d) issue by reclassification of
shares of the Common Stock any shares of Capital Stock of the
Corporation, then the Preferred Conversion Price shall be adjusted
by multiplying the then Preferred Conversion Price by a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the event and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the event. Any adjustment made
pursuant to this Section shall become effective immediately after
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective
immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision,
combination or reclassification.
(ii)
Calculations. All
calculations under this Section 6(H) shall be made to the nearest
cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. The
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time
shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the
Corporation, and the description of any such shares of Common Stock
shall be considered on issue or sale of Common Stock. For purposes
of this Section 6(H), the number of shares of Common Stock deemed
to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of
the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if
any) actually issued and outstanding.
7.
Status of Converted
and Redeemed Shares; Limitations on Series A-4 Preferred Stock. The
Company shall return to the status of unauthorized and undesignated
shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock each share of Series A-4
Preferred Stock which shall be converted, redeemed or for any other
reason acquired by the Company, and such shares thereafter may have
such characteristics and designations as the Board may determine.
Without the consent of Majority of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock,
the Company will not issue any further shares of Series A-4
Preferred Stock.
Annex D
Certificate of Designations of Preferences, Rights and Limitations
of
Series B-2 Senior Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock
[see
attached]
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF PREFERENCES,
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
OF
SERIES B-2 SENIOR CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
STOCK
Pursuant to Section
151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and Article Fourth
Section 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the
“
Certificate of
Incorporation
” of Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc. (the “
Corporation
”), a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby certifies that the following resolution was duly
adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the
“
Board
”) effective as of
December 26, 2013, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board
by the Certificate of Incorporation, which authorizes the issuance
of up to ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share.
RESOLVED, that
pursuant to authority expressly granted to and vested in the Board
and pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation,
the Board hereby creates a series of preferred stock, herein
designated and authorized as the Series B-2 Senior Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, which shall
consist of Twenty Four Thousand (24,000) of the ten million
(10,000,000) shares of preferred stock (the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock”) which the Corporation now has authority to issue, and
the Board hereby fixes the powers, designations and preferences and
the relative, participating, optional and other special rights of
the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof as follows:
Section
1.
Definitions
. For the purposes
hereof, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“
Acquiring Person
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 7(c) hereof.
“
Board
” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble hereof.
“
Business Day
” means any
day on which the Common Stock may trade on a Trading Market, or, if
not admitted for trading, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
holiday on which banks in New York City are required or permitted
to be closed.
“
Capital Stock”
means (i)
with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however
designated) of capital or capital stock of such Person and (ii)
with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or
other equity interests of such Person.
“
Certificate of
Incorporation
” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble hereof.
“
Change In Control
” has
the meaning set forth in Section 7(c) hereof.
“
Closing Date
” means any
day on which a closing of the Offering is conducted as and the
proceeds from such closing are disbursed.
“
Commission
” means the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“
Common Stock
” means
the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
and any Capital Stock for or into which such Common Stock hereafter
is exchanged, converted, reclassified or recapitalized by the
Corporation or pursuant to a Change of Control to which the
Corporation is a party (or, at the election of the Acquiring
Person, the Capital Stock of any Acquiring Person from and after
the consummation of a Change of Control).
“
Corporation
” means Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or,
if, as, and when applicable, any Acquiring Person from and after
the consummation of a Change of Control).
“
Company Conversion
Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section
6(d).
“
Company Conversion Right
”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
“
Conversion Date
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“
Conversion Shares
” means,
collectively, the shares of Common Stock into which the shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock are convertible in accordance with the
terms hereof.
“
Conversion Shares Registration
Statement
” means a registration statement that meets
the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement and registers
the resale of all Conversion Shares by the Holder, who shall be
named as a “selling stockholder” thereunder, all as
provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“
Effective Date
” means the
date that the Conversion Shares Registration Statement, if any, is
declared effective by the Commission.
“
Escrow Agent
” means Bank
of New York or any successor escrow agent for the
Offering.
“
Exchange Act
” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“
Final Closing
” means the
Closing Date after which the Corporation ceases to offer for sale
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock.
“
Holder
” has the meaning
set forth in Section 2 hereof.
“
Junior Securities
” means
Capital Stock that, with respect to dividends and distributions
upon Liquidation, ranks junior to the Series B-2 Preferred Stock,
including but not limited to Common Stock and any other class or
series of Capital Stock issued by the Corporation or any Subsidiary
of the Corporation on or after the Original Issue Date, but
excluding any Parity Securities and Senior Securities issued (i) to
Holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, (ii) with the approval
of the Holders of a Majority of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock or
(iii) upon the conversion, redemption or exercise of securities
described in clause (i) or (ii) in accordance with the terms
thereof.
“
Liquidation
” means the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation;
provided
,
however
, that a consolidation,
merger or share exchange shall not be deemed a Liquidation, nor
shall a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other
disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of its
assets, which does not involve a substantial distribution by the
Corporation of cash or other property to the holders of Common
Stock, be deemed to be a Liquidation.
“
Majority of the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock
” means more than fifty (50%) percent of the then
outstanding shares of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock.
“
Memorandum
” means the
Corporation’s Private Placement Memorandum dated December 11,
2013
“
Offering
” means the
Corporation’s private offering of up to $20,000,000 in units
of the Corporation consisting of Series B-2 Preferred Stock and
Warrants, pursuant to the Memorandum, with an over-allotment option
of up to $4,000,000.
“
Original Issue Date
”
shall mean the date of the first issuance of any shares of the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock regardless of the number of transfers of
any particular shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock and regardless
of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such
Series B-2 Preferred Stock.
“
Parity Securities
” means
any class or series of Capital Stock that, with respect to
dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, is
pari
passu
with all Series B-2
Preferred Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, each series of Series
B-2 Preferred Shares is a Parity Security with respect to each
other series of Series B-2 Preferred Shares.
“
Person
” means a
corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability
company, a business association, an individual, a government or
political subdivision thereof or a governmental
agency.
“
Parent
” shall mean any
corporation (other than the Acquiring Person) in an unbroken chain
of corporations ending with the Acquiring Person, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Acquiring Person)
owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
(50%) percent or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such
chain.
“
Preferred Conversion
Rate
” has the meaning set forth in Section
6(a).
“
Registration Rights
Agreement
” means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of the Closing Date, to which the Corporation and the
original Holders are parties, as amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“
Securities Act
” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Senior Securities
”
means any class or series of Capital Stock that, with respect to
dividends or distributions upon Liquidation, ranks senior to the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock.
“
Series B-2 Preferred
Stock
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.
“
Share Authorization Date
”
shall mean the effective date of the amendment to the
Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation filed with
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware increasing the number
of authorized shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock to
such amount as shall permit all of the outstanding shares of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock to be converted and all outstanding Warrants to
be exercised into the Corporation’s Common
Stock.
“
Stated Value
” is an
amount equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per share of the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock plus any accrued and unpaid dividends,
whether or not declared and whether or not earnings are available
in respect of such dividends. In the event the
Corporation shall declare a distribution on the Common Stock
payable in securities or property other than cash, the value of
such securities or property will be the fair market value. Any
securities shall be valued as follows: (i) if traded on a Trading
Market, the value shall be deemed to be the VWAP over the ten (10)
Trading Days immediately prior to the period ending three (3)
calendar days prior to such declaration; or (ii) if the
Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and
if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “OTC
Markets Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets (or a similar
organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting
prices), the VWAP of the five most recent bid prices per share of
the Common Stock so reported; or (ii) in all other cases, the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith
by the Corporation’s Board.
“
Subsidiary
” shall mean
any corporation at least fifty (50%) percent of whose outstanding
voting stock shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by
the Acquiring Person or by one or more Subsidiaries.
“
Subscription Agreement
”
shall mean the subscription agreement by which the initial Holders
agreed to purchase the Units from the Company and the Company
agreed to sell the Units to the Holders pursuant to the
Offering.
“
Trading Day
” means a day
on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading
Market.
“
Trading Market
” means the
principal U.S. national securities exchange (as defined in the
Exchange Act) on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted
for trading on the date in question, including, without limitation,
the NASDAQ/OMX, NYSE/Euronext, BATS, or if such Common stock is not
listed or quoted on any of the foregoing, then the OTCBB, OTCQB or
such other over the counter market in which such Common Stock is
principally traded.
“
Transaction Documents
”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription
Agreement.
“
Unit
” means the unit
consisting of one share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock and one
Warrant.
“
VWAP
” means, means, for
any date, the price determined by the first of the following
clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or
quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price
of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date)
on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or
quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from
9:30 a.m. New York City time to 4:00 p.m. New York City time); (b)
if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading
Market and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the
“OTC Markets Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets (or
a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of
reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the
Common Stock so reported; or (c) in all other cases, the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith
by the Corporation’s Board.
“
Warrant(s)
” means the
warrants included in the Units being sold in the
Offering.
“
Warrant Shares
” means the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants.
Section
2.
Designation, Amount and Par
Value
. The series of preferred stock created hereby shall be
designated as the Corporation’s Series B-2 Senior Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock (the “
Series B-2 Preferred
Stock
”) and the number of shares so designated shall
be Twenty Four Thousand (24,000) shares (which shall not be subject
to increase without the consent of the registered holders of a
Majority of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock (each a
“
Holder
” and collectively,
the “
Holders
”)). Each
share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $.01
per share and a Stated Value of $1,000 per share.
Section
3.
Dividends
. The
Holders shall be entitled to receive and the Corporation shall pay,
cumulative dividends at the rate per share (as a percentage of the
Stated Value per share) of 6% per annum, payable quarterly on March
30, June 30, September 30 and December 31, beginning with March 31,
2014 and on any Conversion Date or redemption date pursuant to the
terms hereunder (except that, if such date is not a Trading Day,
the payment date shall be the next succeeding Trading Day)
(“Dividend Payment Date”). The form of
dividend payments to each Holder shall be made at the option of the
Corporation in cash or shares of Common Stock which shall be valued
solely for such purpose at the average of the VWAP for the ten
Trading Days immediately prior to the Dividend Payment
Date.
Section
4.
Voting Rights
. The
Holders shall have the following voting rights with respect to the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock as set forth in this Section 4 and no
other voting rights except as required by law:
(A)
The Holders shall
be entitled to vote along with holders of Common Stock on each
matter submitted to a vote of stockholders (at a meeting of
stockholders or by written consent in lieu of meeting). The number
of votes that each Holder of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to cast as a result of such Holder’s
ownership of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock into which the outstanding shares
of Series B-2 Preferred Stock may be converted by the Holder in
accordance with the provision of Section 6(a) hereof on the record
date for determining those security holders of the Corporation
entitled to notice of and to vote on the matter submitted to
stockholders.
(B)
The consent of the
Holders of at least a Majority of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a single class with one vote per share, in
person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at an
annual or a special meeting of such Holders called for the purpose,
shall be necessary to:
(i)
amend, alter or
repeal, by way of merger or otherwise, any of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, including this Certificate, or Bylaws
of the Corporation so as to:
A.
Change any of the
rights, preferences or privileges of Holders. Without limiting the
generality of the preceding sentence, such change includes any
action that would:
1.
Reduce the Dividend
Rate on the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, or make such dividends
non-cumulative, or defer the date from which dividends will accrue,
or cancel accrued and unpaid dividends, or change the relative
seniority rights of the Holders of Series B-2 Preferred Stock as to
the payment of dividends in relation to the holders of any other
Capital Stock of the Corporation;
2.
Reduce the amount
payable to the Holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock upon the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of
the Corporation, or change the relative seniority of the
liquidation preferences of the Holders of the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock to the rights upon Liquidation of the holders of any other
Capital Stock of the Corporation;
3.
Make the Series B-2
Preferred Stock redeemable at the option of the Corporation other
than in accordance with the terms of this Certificate.
B.
Authorize, create
or issue any shares of Parity Securities or Senior Securities (or
amend the provisions of any existing class of Capital Stock to make
such class of Capital Stock a class of Parity Securities or Senior
Securities).
(ii)
increase
or decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the total
number of authorized shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock or amend
any provisions of any Capital Stock so as to make such Capital
Stock redeemable by the Corporation except as provided on the date
hereof.
Section
5.
Liquidation
. In the event of
any Liquidation, after payment or provision for payment by the
Corporation of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation
and the liquidation preference for any Senior Securities that rank
senior to the Series B-2 Preferred Stock with respect to
distributions upon Liquidation, each Holder shall be entitled to
receive an amount in cash for each share of the then outstanding
Series B-2 Preferred Stock held by such Holder equal to the greater
of (a) the Stated Value per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends
to and including the date full payment is tendered to the Holders
with respect to such Liquidation, and (b) the amount the Holders
would have received if the Holders had converted all outstanding
shares of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock into Common Stock plus
accrued and unpaid dividends in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6(a) hereof, in each case as of the Business Day
immediately preceding the date of such Liquidation (the
“
Liquidation
Preference
”)
before any distribution shall be made to the holders of any Junior
Securities (and any Senior Securities or Parity Securities that,
with respect to distributions upon Liquidation, rank junior to the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock) upon the Liquidation of the
Corporation. In case the assets of the Corporation available for
payment to the Holders are insufficient to pay the full outstanding
shares of Parity Securities and Senior Securities that, with
respect to distribution upon Liquidation, are
pari
passu
with the Series B-2
Preferred Stock in the amounts to which the holders of such shares
are entitled, then the entire assets of the Company available for
payment to the Holders and to the holders of such Parity Securities
and Senior Securities shall be distributed ratably among the
Holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock and the holders of such
Parity Securities and Senior Securities, based upon the aggregate
amount due on such shares upon Liquidation. Written notice of any
Liquidation of the Corporation, stating a payment date and the
place where the distributable amounts shall be payable, shall be
given by facsimile and overnight delivery not less than ten (10)
calendar days prior to the payment date stated therein, to the
Holders of record of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, if any, at
their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of
the Corporation. Upon any Liquidation the Holders of the Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall have liquidation rights senior to the holders
of the Corporation’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2
Preferred Stock and Series A-4 Preferred Stock.
Section
6.
Conversion
.
(a)
Conversions at Option of
Holder
. On or after the Share Authorization Date, each share
of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be, convertible by the Holder
thereof into a number of Conversion Shares of the Corporation equal
to the Stated Value of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be
converted divided by $0.10, as adjusted for stock splits,
combinations, and reclassifications (“
Preferred Conversion
Price
”). Holders shall effect conversions by providing
the Corporation at its principal office conversion notice in the
form attached hereto as
Annex A
(a “
Notice of Conversion
”) as
fully and originally executed by the Holder, together with the
delivery by the Holder to the Corporation of the stock
certificate(s) representing the number of shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock so converted, with such stock certificates being
duly endorsed in full for transfer to the Corporation or with an
applicable stock power duly executed by the Holder in the manner
and form as deemed reasonable by the transfer agent of the Common
Stock. Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares
of Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares
of Series B-2 Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at
issue, the number of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock owned
subsequent to the conversion at issue, the stock certificate number
and the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock represented thereby
which are accompanying the Notice of Conversion, and the date on
which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be
prior to three (3) Trading Days after the date the Holder delivers
such Notice of Conversion and the applicable stock certificates to
the Corporation (the “
Conversion Date
”). If no
Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the
Conversion Date shall be three (3) Trading Days immediately
following the date that such Notice of Conversion and applicable
stock certificates are delivered to the Corporation.
(b)
Beneficial Ownership
Limitation
.
The
Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Series B-2
Preferred Stock, and the Holder shall not have the right to convert
any portion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock to the extent that
after giving effect to such conversion, the Holder (together with
the Holder’s affiliates), as set forth on the applicable
Notice of Conversion, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of
the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of
the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates shall include
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock with respect to which the
determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the
number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A)
conversion of the remaining, non-converted shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its
affiliates, so long as such shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
are not convertible within sixty (60) days from the date of such
determination, and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or
non-converted portion of any other securities of the Corporation
(including the Warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or
exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially
owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates, so long as such other
securities of the Corporation are not exercisable nor convertible
within sixty (60) days from the date of such
determination. For purposes of this Section 6(b),
beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section 6(b), in
determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the
Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock
as reflected in the most recent of the following: (A) the
Corporation’s most recent annual or quarterly periodic report
filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act; (B) a more recent
public announcement by the Corporation; or (C) any other written
notice by the Corporation or the Corporation’s transfer agent
setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the
conversion or exercise of securities of the Corporation, including
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, by the Holder or its affiliates
since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock was publicly reported by the
Corporation. The provisions of this Section 6(b) may be
waived by the Holder upon, at the election of the Holder, not less
than sixty one (61) days’ prior notice to the Corporation,
and the provisions of this Section 6(b) shall continue to apply
until such 61st day (or such later date, as determined by the
Holder, as may be specified in such notice of waiver).
(c)
Mechanics
of Conversion
(A)
Delivery of
Certificate Upon Conversion. At all times after the Share
Authorization Date, the Corporation shall deliver to the Holder,
not later than three (3) Trading Days after each Conversion Date
(the “Share Delivery Date”): (1) a certificate or
certificates representing the number of Conversion Shares being
acquired upon the conversion of shares of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock, and (2) either (1) a bank check in the amount of accrued and
unpaid dividends (if the Corporation has elected or is required to
pay accrued dividends in cash) or (2) such number of additional
shares of Common Stock equal to (W) the amount of accrued and
unpaid dividends divided by (X) the Preferred Conversion Price. At
the option of the Holder, with such Holder’s express written
consent, the Company shall deliver unregistered Common Stock after
the Share Authorization Date but prior to the Effective Date of the
Registration Statement. At any time after the
Effective Date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall
deliver the Conversion Shares to Holder electronically to
Holder’s applicable account at the Depository Trust
Company.
(B)
Reservation of
Shares Issuable Upon Conversion.
1.
At all times after
the Share Authorization Date, the Corporation covenants that it
will reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued
shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuance upon
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, each as herein
provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual
contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holders, not
less than such number of shares of the Common Stock as shall
(subject to any additional requirements of the Corporation as to
reservation of such shares set forth in the Subscription Agreement)
be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions
of Section 7) upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants
that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall,
upon issue, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid,
and nonassessable.
2.
The Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall not be converted at any time prior to the
Share Authorization Date.
(C)
Fractional Shares
. Upon a
conversion hereunder, the Corporation shall not be required to
issue stock certificates representing fractions of shares of the
Common Stock. The number of Conversion Shares to be issued upon
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be rounded up or
down to the nearest whole Conversion Share.
(D)
Transfer Taxes
. The
issuance of certificates for shares of the Common Stock on
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be made without
charge to the Holders thereof for any documentary stamp or similar
taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of
such certificate, provided that the Corporation shall not be
required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any
transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such
certificate upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holder
of such shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock so converted and the
Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such
certificates unless or until the person or persons requesting the
issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of
such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the
Corporation that such tax has been paid.
(E)
Holder of Record
. Each
conversion of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have
been effected immediately before the close of business on the
Business Day on which the Conversion Notice is delivered, and at
such time the Person or Persons in whose name or names any
certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be
issuable upon such conversion as provided herein shall be deemed to
have become the holder or holders of record thereof.
(F)
Partial Conversion
. If any
conversion is for only part of the shares represented by the
certificate surrendered, the Corporation shall send a new Series
B-2 Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor via certified or
registered mail or reputable overnight courier to such address
specified by the Holder, calling in the aggregate on the face or
faces thereof for the number of shares of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock which have not been converted.
(d)
Conversion by the
Corporation
. At any time on or after (i)
the Share Authorization Date and (ii) the shares of Common Stock
have traded at an average VWAP for ten (10) Trading Days at a level
at least equal to 250% of the Preferred Conversion Price, the
Corporation shall have the right, without the consent of or any
action by or on behalf of the Holder, to cause all but not a
portion of the then outstanding Series B-2 Preferred Stock, to be
converted into Common Stock at the applicable Preferred Conversion
Price (the “
Company
Conversion Right
”). In the event the Corporation
elects to exercise the Company Conversion Right, the Corporation
shall provide each Holder of the then outstanding Series B-2
Preferred Stock with written notice of its intention to cause the
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock into Common Stock,
along with (i) the effective date of the Company Conversion Right,
(ii) the applicable Preferred Conversion Price and (iii) the number
of Conversion Shares into which the Holder’s Series B-2
Preferred Stock is to be converted (the “
Company Conversion
Notice
”). Upon delivery to the Holder of a certificate
evidencing the number of Conversion Shares set forth in the Company
Conversion Notice, the Holder’s Series B-2 Preferred Stock
shall be automatically cancelled and shall thereafter cease to
represent any entitlement or equity interest in the Corporation.
The certificates evidencing the Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall
contain a legend referencing the Company Conversion Right described
in this Section.
Section
7.
Certain
Adjustments
.
(a)
Stock Dividends and Stock
Splits
. If the Corporation, at any time while the
Series B-2 Preferred Stock is outstanding: (A) shall pay a stock
dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions on
shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent
securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance
of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by
the Corporation pursuant to this Series B-2 Preferred Stock), (B)
subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number
of shares, (C) combine (including by way of reverse stock split)
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
or (D) issue by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any
shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation, then the Preferred
Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the then
Preferred Conversion Price by a fraction the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the event and the denominator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the event. Any adjustment made pursuant to
this Section shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately
after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination
or reclassification.
(b)
Calculations
. All
calculations under this Section 7 shall be made to the nearest cent
or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may
be. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at
any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the
account of the Corporation, and the description of any such shares
of Common Stock shall be considered on issue or sale of Common
Stock. For purposes of this Section 7, the number of
shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a
given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock
(excluding treasury shares, if any) actually issued and
outstanding.
(c)
Change of Control
. In case the
Corporation on or after the Original Issue Date is party to any (a)
acquisition of the Corporation by means of merger or other form of
corporate reorganization in which outstanding shares of the
Corporation are exchanged for securities or other consideration
issued, or caused to be issued, by the Acquiring Person, or its
Parent, Subsidiary, herein defined, or affiliate, (b) a sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (on a
consolidated basis) in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, (c) any other transaction or series of related
transactions by the Corporation or relating to the Common Stock
(including, without limitation, any stock purchase or tender or
exchange offer) in which the power to cast the majority of the
eligible votes at a meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders
at which directors are elected is transferred to a single entity or
group acting in concert, or (d) a capital reorganization or
reclassification of the Common Stock or other securities (other
than a reorganization or reclassification in which the Common Stock
or other securities are not converted into or exchanged for cash or
other property, and, immediately after consummation of such
transaction, the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior
to such transaction own the Common Stock, other securities or other
voting stock of the Corporation in substantially the same
proportions relative to each other as such stockholders owned
immediately prior to such transaction), then, and in the case of
each such transaction (each of which is referred to herein as
“
Change in
Control
”), proper provision shall be made so that, at
the option of the Acquiring Person and upon fifteen (15)
days’ notice to the Corporation and the Holder prior to the
consummation of the Change of Control, either (i) the Acquiring
Person expressly agrees to assume all of the Corporation’s
obligations under the Series B-2 Preferred Stock or (ii) the Holder
has fifteen (15) days in which to exercise its conversion rights
under the Series B-2 Preferred Stock. If Holder does not exercise
its rights during such fifteen (15) day period, all rights under
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall terminate and the Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be deemed cancelled. The Corporation, to the
extent feasible, shall provide the Holder with thirty (30)
days’ notice of the consummation of any Change of Control.
Subject to the foregoing, on or before the closing date under the
agreement entered into with an Acquiring Person resulting in a
Change in Control, the Corporation, if applicable, shall deliver to
the Holder written notice that the Acquiring Person has assumed
such obligations. “
Acquiring Person
” means,
in connection with any Change in Control, (i) the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with the
Corporation (if other than the Corporation), (ii) the transferee of
all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the
Corporation, (iii) the corporation consolidating with or merging
into the Corporation in a consolidation or merger in connection
with which the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other
property, (iv) the entity or group (other than Holder or any of its
affiliates) acting in concert acquiring or possessing the power to
cast the majority of the eligible votes at a meeting of the
Corporation ‘s stockholders at which directors are elected,
or, (v) in the case of a capital reorganization or
reclassification, the Corporation, or (vi) at the Holder’s
election, any Person that (A) controls the Acquiring Person
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, (B) is
required to include the Acquiring Person in the consolidated
financial statements contained in such Parent’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K (if such Person is required to file such a report) or
would be required to so include the Acquiring Person in such
Person’s consolidated financial statements if they were
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (C) is not itself
included in the consolidated financial statements of any other
Person (other than its consolidated subsidiaries).
Section
8.
Redemption
.
(a)
Automatic
Redemption
. In addition to all other rights of
the Holders, in the event the Corporation, directly or through any
subsidiary, does not complete the acquisition of assets from
BroadvoxGo! LLC and Cypress Communications, LLC within 10 days
after the Final Closing of the Offering (“
Acquisition Failure
”),
the Corporation shall automatically redeem all but not a portion of
the Holder’s shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock at a price
per share equal to the Stated Value (the “
Redemption Price
”),
unless the Holder, at such Holder’s option, notifies the
Corporation within 30 days after the Acquisition Failure that the
Holder elects to receive the Units rather than the Redemption
Price.
(b)
Mechanics of Refusal of Redemption at
Option of Holder
. Upon an Acquisition Failure and
for a period 30 days thereafter, the Holder may require the
Corporation to issue to the Holder all of the Holder’s Series
B-2 Preferred Stock subscribed for by such Holder by delivering
written notice thereof by-hand, via facsimile or overnight courier
(“
Notice of Refusal
of Redemption
”) to the Company. The Company
shall then be obligated to issue the Series B-2 Preferred Shares to
the Holder within 10 business days from the date of delivery of the
Notice of Refusal of Redemption.
Section
9.
Miscellaneous
.
(a)
Notices
. Any and all
notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the
Holders hereunder, including, without limitation, any Notice of
Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, sent by a
nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the
Corporation, at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718, New York, NY
101070, Attn: President or such other address or facsimile number
as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the
Holders delivered in accordance with this Section. Any
and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be
provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and
delivered personally, sent by a nationally recognized overnight
courier service addressed to each Holder at the address of such
Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such
address appears, at the principal place of business of the Holder.
Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be
deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the second
Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally
recognized overnight courier service, or (ii) upon actual receipt
by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given.
(b)
Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock
Certificate
. If a Holder’s Series B-2
Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange
and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated
certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed but
only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of
such certificate, and of the ownership thereof, and indemnity, if
requested, all reasonably satisfactory to the
Corporation.
(c)
Next Business
Day
. Whenever any payment or other obligation
hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day.
(d)
Headings
. The
headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Certificate of Designations and shall not
be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
ANNEX A
NOTICE
OF CONVERSION
(TO BE
EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO CONVERT SHARES OF
SERIES A SENIOR CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
STOCK)
The
undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series
B-2 Senior Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
(“
Series B-2
Preferred Stock
”) indicated below, into shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “
Common Stock
”), of Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Corporation
”), according
to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares
are to be issued in the name of a person other than undersigned,
the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect
thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions
as reasonably requested by the Corporation in accordance therewith.
No fee will be charged to the Holder for any conversion, except for
such transfer taxes, if any.
Conversion
calculations:
Date to
Effect Conversion:
_______________________________________________________
Number
of shares of Common Stock owned prior to Conversion:
_________________________
Number
of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be
Converted: ________________________
Value
of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be
Converted: __________________________
Number
of shares of Common Stock to be Issued:
_____________________________________
Certificate
Number of Series B-2 Preferred Stock attached
hereto: _______________________
Number
of Shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock represented by attached
certificate: _________
Number
of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion:
_________________
[HOLDER]
By:
__________________________________
Name:
Title:
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
OF
SERIES D CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to Section
151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and Article IV of the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
“
Certificate of
Incorporation
”) of Fusion Connect, Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
“
Corporation
”),
the Corporation hereby certifies that the following resolution was
duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the
“
Board
”)
effective as of May 4, 2018, pursuant to the authority conferred
upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation, which
authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share:
RESOLVED, that the
designation of 100
,000 shares
of
a new series of preferred stock of the Corporation,
designated as the Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, out of the
authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Corporation, with the rights and preferences set
forth herein, be, and hereby is, approved:
I.
Designation and Amount
Of the
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized pursuant to Article
IV of the Certificate of Incorporation, 100,000 are hereby
designated as Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the “
Series D Preferred
Stock
”). Each share of Series D Preferred Stock shall
have a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “
Stated
Value
”). Subject to
Article IV
, such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board and
by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such
reduction or increase has been so authorized;
provided
,
however
, that no decrease will
reduce the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the
number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of
any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible
into Series D Preferred Stock.
Dividends on each
share of Series D Preferred Stock shall accrue on a monthly basis
at the rate of 12% per annum of the sum of the Stated Value plus
all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon from and including the
date of issuance of such share to and including the date on which
the Stated Value of such share (plus all accrued and unpaid
dividends thereon) is paid to the holder thereof in connection with
a Liquidation Event (as defined herein) or the redemption of such
share by the Corporation. Such dividends shall accrue whether or
not they have been declared and whether or not there are profits,
surplus or other funds of the Corporation legally available for the
payment of dividends. All accrued and unpaid dividends on each
share of Series D Preferred Stock shall be paid, at the option of
the Corporation, in cash or in kind with shares of Series D
Preferred Stock on the last business day of each calendar month;
provided
that
dividends may only be paid in cash after all obligations of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries under each of the New Credit
Facilities (excluding contingent obligations as to which no claim
has been made) have been paid in full in cash, all commitments to
extend credit thereunder have been terminated and no letter of
credit shall be outstanding thereunder. For purposes of dividends
paid in kind, (i) the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock
payable in respect thereof shall be determined using a per share
price of $1,000 (adjusted appropriately for stock splits, stock
dividends, recapitalizations, consolidations, mergers and the like
with respect to the Series D Preferred Stock) and (ii) in lieu of a
fractional share of Series D Preferred Stock as a dividend, the
Corporation shall issue a whole share of Series D Preferred Stock
(rounded up to the nearest whole share).
(a)
Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (whether
voluntary or involuntary) (a “
Liquidation
Event
”), each holder of Series D Preferred Stock shall
be entitled to be paid, before any distribution or payment is made
upon any shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, an amount in
cash equal to the aggregate Stated Value of all shares of Series D
Preferred Stock held by such holder (plus all accrued and unpaid
dividends thereon), and the holders of Series D Preferred Stock
shall thereafter not be entitled to any further payment. If upon
any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
the Corporation’s assets to be distributed among the holders
of the Series D Preferred Stock are insufficient to permit payment
to such holders of the aggregate amount that they are entitled to
be paid under this
Article
III
, then the assets available to be distributed to the
holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be distributed pro rata
among such holders based upon the aggregate Stated Value (plus all
accrued and unpaid dividends) of the Series D Preferred Stock held
by each such holder.
(b)
For purposes of
this
Article III
, a
“Liquidation Event” shall be deemed to include, (i) the
acquisition of the Corporation by another entity by means of any
transaction or series of related transactions to which the
Corporation is party (including, without limitation, any stock
transaction, reorganization, merger or consolidation) other than a
transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders
of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately
prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain,
immediately after such transaction or series of related
transactions, as a result of shares in the Corporation held by such
holders prior to such transaction or series of related
transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power
represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation
or such other surviving or resulting entity (or if the Corporation
or such other surviving or resulting entity is a wholly-owned
subsidiary immediately following such acquisition, its parent); and
(ii) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole by means of any transaction or series of related
transactions, except where such sale, lease or other disposition is
to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(a)
The Corporation may
at any time and from time to time, on a pro rata basis, but only
after the payment in full in cash of the Deferred Fees, redeem all
or any portion of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock then
outstanding. Upon any such redemption, the Corporation shall pay a
price per share equal to the Stated Value thereof (plus all accrued
and unpaid dividends thereon). Such redemption shall take place on
a date fixed by the Corporation.
(b)
At any time after
the date that the first share of Series D Preferred Stock is issued
and at such time as any share of Series D Preferred Stock is issued
and outstanding, but only after the payment in full in cash of the
Deferred Fees, upon the sale by the Corporation of any of its
equity securities for cash, the Corporation shall use the net cash
proceeds of such sale to redeem all the shares of Series D
Preferred Stock then issued and outstanding or, if such proceeds
are less than the amount required to redeem all such issued and
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the maximum amount
of shares of Series D Preferred Stock that can be redeemed using
such proceeds, in each case, at a price per share equal to the
Stated Value thereof (plus all accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon).
(c)
The Corporation
shall provide written notice of each redemption of shares of Series
D Preferred Stock to each record holder thereof not more than 30
nor less than five days prior to the date on which such redemption
is to be made.
(d)
If less than all
the shares of Series D Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the
number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed from
each holder thereof shall be the number of shares determined by
multiplying the total number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock
to be redeemed by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
total number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock then held by
such holder and the denominator of which shall be the total number
of shares of Series D Preferred Stock then
outstanding.
Except
as otherwise provided by law or under Article VI hereof, holders of
shares of Series D Preferred Stock will have no voting
rights.
(a)
Whenever dividends
payable on the Series D Preferred Stock are in arrears, thereafter
and until all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not
declared, on shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding have
been paid in full, the Corporation will not, without the written
consent of holders of a majority of the then issued and outstanding
shares of Series D Preferred Stock:
(i)
declare or pay
dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of Junior
Stock (either as to dividends or upon a Liquidation
Event);
(ii)
declare
or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of
stock of the Corporation ranking
pari passu
(either as to dividends or
upon a Liquidation Event) with the shares of Series D Preferred
Stock;
(iii)
redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any
Junior Stock; or
(iv)
redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock
of the Corporation ranking
pari
passu
with the shares of Series D Preferred
Stock.
(b)
The Corporation
will not, without the prior written consent of holders of a
majority of the then issued and outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock:
(i)
amend, alter or
repeal the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series D
Preferred Stock (including by way of amendment of the Certificate
of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation, including in
connection with a merger);
(ii)
increase
or decrease the authorized number of shares of the Series D
Preferred Stock;
(iii)
authorize,
create (by reclassification or otherwise) or issue shares of any
class or series of equity securities of the Corporation that is
senior or
pari passu
to the
Series D Preferred Stock;
(iv)
take
any action that results in the redemption of any shares of Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation, other than the
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock;
(v)
issue additional
shares of Series D Preferred Stock (except in respect of in kind
dividends or distributions pursuant to this Certificate of
Designation);
(vi)
authorize,
enter into an agreement with respect to, or effect any Liquidation
Event that does not result in the redemption in full of the Series
D Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of
Designation;
(vii)
amend
or waive any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the
bylaws of the Corporation or this Certificate of Designation in a
manner that is adverse in any respect to the holders of the Series
D Preferred Stock; or
(viii)
enter
into any commitment to do any of the foregoing.
Any
shares of Series D Preferred Stock redeemed or otherwise acquired
by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever will be retired and
canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
will upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares
of preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
preferred stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or
in any other preferred stock Certificate of Designation creating a
series of preferred stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
The
Series D Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all other
series of the Corporation’s preferred stock existing on the
date that the first share of Series D Preferred Stock is
issued.
For
purposes hereof, the following terms will have the following
meanings:
“
Deferred Fees”
means $4.0 million in aggregate of fees that are (i) owed by the
Corporation to Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC in connection
with the New Credit Facilities and/or (ii) owed by BCHI to Moelis
& Company in connection with financial advisory services
provided by it to BCHI in connection with the Merger
Agreement.
“
Junior Stock
”
shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock
of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series D Preferred Stock
in respect of the right to receive dividends and distributions or
in respect of the right to receive assets upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
“
Merger
Agreement
” shall mean the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated August 26, 2017, as amended, by and among the
Corporation, Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Corporation (“BCHI”), and Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc.
“
New Credit
Facilities
” shall mean the First Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement and the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement, each dated as of the date hereof, among the Corporation,
as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Corporation party thereto,
as guarantor subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington
Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral
agent.
“
Senior Stock
”
shall mean any class or series of stock of the Corporation issued
after the date on which the first share of Series D Preferred Stock
is issued ranking senior to the Series D Preferred Stock in respect
of the right to receive dividends and distributions and in respect
of the right to receive assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
This
Certificate of Designation shall be effective on May 4, 2018 at
3:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
[Signature Page
Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Executive Vice President and
General Counsel this 4th day of May 2018.
|
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name: James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title: Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
ARTICLE I
Offices
SECTION
1.01
Registered
Office
. The registered office and registered agent of Fusion
Connect, Inc. (the
“
Corporation
”
)
in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate
of Incorporation (as defined below). The Corporation may also have
offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere (and
may change the Corporation
’
s registered agent) as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may, from
time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may
require as determined by any officer of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Stockholders
SECTION
2.01
Annual
Meetings
. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at
such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware,
and at such time and date as the Board shall determine and state in
the notice of meeting. The Board may, in its sole discretion,
determine that meetings of the stockholders shall not be held at
any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote
communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws in
accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware (the
“
DGCL
”
).
The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of
stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.
SECTION
2.02
Special
Meetings
. Subject to any rights of holders, if any, of any
series of preferred stock, special meetings of the stockholders may
only be called in the manner provided in the
Corporation
’
s certificate
of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended
and/or restated from time to time, the
“
Certificate of
Incorporation
”
),
and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the
State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board, the
Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall
determine and state in the notice of such meeting. The Board may
postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders
previously scheduled by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the
Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION
2.03
Notice of Stockholder
Business and Nominations
.
(A)
Annual
Meetings of Stockholders
.
(1) Nominations
of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other
business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an
annual meeting of stockholders only (a) so long as it remains in
effect, as provided in the Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as
of May 4, 2018, among the Corporation, BCHI Holdings, LLC, the
Initial FTI Stockholders (as defined therein) and any other person
that becomes a party thereto (as amended and/or restated from time
to time, the “
Stockholders’
Agreement
”) (with respect to nominations of persons
for election to the Board only), (b) pursuant to the
Corporation
’
s notice of
meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section
2.04 of Article II of these Bylaws, (c) by or at the direction of
the Board or any authorized committee thereof or (d) by any
stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the
meeting, who, except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this
Section 2.03, complied with the notice procedures set forth in
paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a
stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the
Secretary of the Corporation.
(2) For
nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and,
in the case of business other than nominations of persons for
election to the Board, such other business must constitute a proper
matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a
stockholder
’
s notice
shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety
(90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to
the first anniversary of the preceding year
’
s annual meeting;
provided, however
, that
in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by
more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70)
days, from the anniversary date of the previous year
’
s meeting, or if no annual meeting
was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be
timely must be so delivered not earlier than one hundred and twenty
(120) days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to
such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on
which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first
made. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an
annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any
time period) for the giving of a stockholder
’
s notice. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of
directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is
increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation
naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of
the increased Board at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior
to the first anniversary of the prior year
’
s annual meeting of stockholders,
then a stockholder
’
s
notice required by this Section shall be considered timely, but
only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such
increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation not
later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day
following the day on which such public announcement of the increase
in the number of directors is first made by the Corporation.
(3) Such
stockholder
’
s notice
shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes
to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all
information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in
an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case
pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the
“
Exchange
Act
”
), and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such
person
’
s written consent
to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving
as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the
stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the
meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text
of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event
that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the
language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting and any material interest in such
business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on
whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving
the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such
stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation
’
s books and records, and of such
beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of
capital stock of the Corporation which are owned, directly or
indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such
beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a
holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the
giving of the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and
will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such
business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the
stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of
a group which will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of
proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of
the Corporation
’
s
outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal
or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or
votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination,
(v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and
beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable
federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the
stockholder
’
s and/or
beneficial owner
’
s
acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the
Corporation and/or the stockholder
’
s and/or beneficial
owner
’
s acts or omissions
as a stockholder of the Corporation and (vi) any other information
relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required
to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to
be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as
applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an
election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a)
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the
voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation
between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made,
any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others
acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively,
“
proponent
persons
”
); and (e)
a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(including without limitation any contract to purchase or sell,
acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or
sell, swap or other instrument) to which any proponent person is a
party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or
from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii)
to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person
with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the
Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly
or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any
profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any
increase or decrease in the value of any security of the
Corporation. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed
nomination for election to the Board or other business proposed to
be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this
paragraph (A)(3) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 of these
Bylaws) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time
to the extent necessary so that the information provided or
required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct
(x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled
to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen
(15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than fifteen
(15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of
such later date. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered
in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days
after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to
notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement
required to be made as of the record date for determining the
stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than ten
(10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement
required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or
adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5)
days after the record date for determining the stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the date prior
to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the
case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date
less than fifteen (15) days prior the date of the meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require
any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may
reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed
nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine
the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules
and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange
rules.
(B)
Special
Meetings of Stockholders
. Only such business (including the
election of specific individuals to fill vacancies or newly created
directorships on the Board) shall be conducted at a special meeting
of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting
pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. At any
time that stockholders are not prohibited from filling vacancies or
newly created directorships on the Board, nominations of persons
for the election to the Board to fill any vacancy or unfilled newly
created directorship may be made at a special meeting of
stockholders at which any proposal to fill any vacancy or unfilled
newly created directorship is to be presented to the stockholders
(1) so long as in effect, as provided in the
Stockholders’ Agreement, (2) by or at the direction of
the Board or any committee thereof or (3) by any stockholder
of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting on such
matters, who (subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this
Section 2.03) complies with the notice procedures set forth in
this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the
time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special
meeting of stockholders for the purpose of submitting a proposal to
stockholders for the election of one or more directors to fill any
vacancy or newly created directorship on the Board, any such
stockholder entitled to vote on such matter may nominate a person
or persons (as the case may be) for election to such
position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of
meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph
(A)(2) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the
Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one
hundred and twentieth (120
th
) day prior to such
special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the ninetieth (90
th)
day prior to such
special meeting or the tenth (10
th
) day following the
day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the
special meeting at which directors are to be elected. In no
event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or
postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or
extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s
notice as described above.
(C)
General
.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03,
only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 or, so long as in effect,
the Stockholders’ Agreement shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or
special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall,
in addition to making any other determination that may be
appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty
to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may
be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws
and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance
with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or
nomination shall be disregarded. 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 chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt by
resolution such rules and regulations 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 chairman of the meeting shall have the right and
authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or
adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and
procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.
Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board
or prescribed by the chairman 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;
(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
chairman 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 and on stockholder approvals. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise
required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative
of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination
or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed
business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in
respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For
purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified
representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly
authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must
be 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
the meeting of stockholders. Unless and to the extent determined by
the Board or the chairman of the meeting, the meeting of
stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with
the rules of parliamentary procedure.
(2) Whenever
used in these Bylaws,
“
public announcement
”
shall mean disclosure (a) in a
press release released by the Corporation, provided such press
release is released by the Corporation following its customary
procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated
Press or comparable national news service, or is generally
available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly
filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(3) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect
to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03;
provided, however
,
that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in
these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any
requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other
business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including
paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) hereof), and compliance with
paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03 of these Bylaws
shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations
or submit other business. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed
to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock
having a preference over the Corporation’s common stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified
circumstances.
(4) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.03, for as
long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, any
nomination of directors pursuant to and in accordance with the
Stockholders’ Agreement shall not be subject to the notice
procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2), (A)(3) or (B) of this
Section 2.03 with respect to any annual or special meeting of
stockholders.
SECTION
2.04
Notice of
Meetings
. Whenever stockholders are required or
permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in
writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in
Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the
place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote
communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may
be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the
record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at
the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in
the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting
is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the
Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the
stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise
provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor
more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date
for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the
meeting.
SECTION
2.05
Quorum
.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation
or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the
Corporation
’
s securities
are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business at all meetings of stockholders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or
series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding
shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled
to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. Once a
quorum is present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by
the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.
SECTION
2.06
Voting
. Except
as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at
any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each
share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon
the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a
meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action
in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or
persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided
by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon
after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a
longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is
irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an
interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A
stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by
attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the
Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new
proxy bearing a later date. Unless required by the Certificate of
Incorporation or applicable law, or determined by the chairman of
the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be
by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the
stockholder voting, or by such stockholder
’
s proxy, if there be such proxy.
When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of
the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of
stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before
such meeting, unless the matter is one upon which, by express
provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any
stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation
applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Certificate
of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a minimum or different vote is
required, in which case such minimum or different vote shall be the
applicable vote on such matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, all
elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the
votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
election of directors.
SECTION
2.07
C
hairman of
Meetings
. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or,
in his or her absence or disability, the Vice Chairman of the
Board, if one is appointed, or in his or her absence of disability,
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or in the absence
of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board and
the Chief Executive Officer, a person designated by the Board shall
be the chairman of the meeting and, as such, preside at all
meetings of the stockholders.
SECTION
2.08
Secretary of
Meetings
. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as
Secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or
disability of the Secretary,
an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation shall act as Secretary at all meetings of the
Stockholders. In the absence of the Secretary and all Assistant
Secretaries of the Corporation, the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint
a person to act as Secretary at such meetings.
SECTION
2.09
Consent of
Stockholders in Lieu of 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.
SECTION
2.10
Adjournment
. At
any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a
quorum be present, the chairman of the meeting or stockholders upon
the vote of a majority of the votes cast, shall have the power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than
announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present. Any
business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have
been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty (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 as the record
date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such
adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for
determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned
meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as
of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned
meeting.
SECTION
2.11
Remote
Communication
. If authorized by the Board in its sole
discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the
Board may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically
present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote
communication:
(a) participate
in a meeting of stockholders; and
(b) be
deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders
whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely
by means of remote communication,
provided
,
that
(i) the
Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each
person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means
of remote communication is a stockholder or
proxyholder;
(ii)
the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such
stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to
participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the
stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the
proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such
proceedings; and
(iii)
if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at
the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote
or other action shall be maintained by the
Corporation.
SECTION
2.12
Inspectors of
Election
. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law,
in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more
inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to
act at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof and
to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one
or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector
who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or
designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the
chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge
of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute
faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and
according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or
inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the
number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding
and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares
of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and
the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and
ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record
of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by
the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number
of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the
meeting and such inspectors
’
count of all votes and ballots.
Such certification and report shall specify such other information
as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting
of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is
permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an
office at an election may serve as an inspector at such
election.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
SECTION
3.01
Powers
. Except
as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the
DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed
by or under the direction of its Board. The Board may exercise all
such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful
acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Certificate of
Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the
stockholders.
SECTION
3.02
Number and Term;
Chairman
. Subject to the rights, if any, of holders of any
series of preferred stock, and subject to the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Stockholders’ Agreement
(so long as it is in effect), the number of directors shall be
fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board. Directors shall be
elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and the term
of each director so elected shall be as set forth in the
Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
The Board shall elect a Chairman of the Board, who shall have the
powers and perform such duties as provided in these Bylaws and as
the Board may from time to time prescribe. The Chairman of the
Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he or she
is present. The Board may also appoint a Vice Chairman of the
Board. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of
the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if one has been
appointed, shall preside at such meeting. If neither the Chairman
of the Board nor the Vice Chairman of the Board is present at a
meeting of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief
Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the
Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive
Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a
majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one
(1) of their members to preside. The Board may remove and/or
replace the Chairman of the Board or the Vice Chairman of the Board
at any time.
SECTION
3.03
Resignations
.
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or
by electronic transmission to the Board, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation.
The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein,
and if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt. The
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the
resignation.
SECTION
3.04
Removal
.
Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided
by applicable law.
SECTION
3.05
Vacancies and Newly
Created Directorships
. Subject to the rights, if any, of the
holders of any series of preferred stock, and subject to the
Stockholders’ Agreement (so long as it is in effect), newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of
directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal, or other cause will be
filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum
of the Board, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected
in accordance with the preceding sentence will hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the director whose seat is being
filled and until such director’s successor has been elected
and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors constituting
the Board may shorten the term of any incumbent
director.
SECTION
3.06
Meetings
.
Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places and times
as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. Special
meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation or the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board,
and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary
of the Corporation if directed by the Board and shall be at such
places and times as they or he or she shall fix. Notice need not be
given of regular meetings of the Board. At least twenty four (24)
hours before each special meeting of the Board, either written
notice, notice by electronic transmission or oral notice (either in
person or by telephone) notice of the time, date and place of the
meeting shall be given to each director. Unless otherwise indicated
in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a
special meeting.
SECTION
3.07
Quorum, Voting and
Adjournment
. A majority of the total number of directors
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except
as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present
thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice
of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place
of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so
adjourned.
SECTION
3.08
Committees; Committee
Rules
. The Board may designate one or more committees,
including but not limited to an Audit Committee and a Nominations
and Compensation Committee, each such committee to consist of one
or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any
committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent
provided in the resolution of the Board establishing such
committee, 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 which may require it; but no such committee
shall have the power or authority in reference to the following
matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the
stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or
removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be
submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or
repealing any Bylaw or the Bylaws of the Corporation. All
committees of the Board shall keep minutes of their meetings and
shall report their proceedings to the Board when requested or
required by the Board. Each committee of the Board may fix its own
rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such
rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the
Board designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such
a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of
the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the
committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one
member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be
determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting
of the committee at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise
provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that
member
’
s alternate, if
alternates are designated by the Board, of such committee is or are
absent or disqualified, 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 place of any
such absent or disqualified member.
SECTION
3.09
Action Without a
Meeting
. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation, 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 any committee
thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by
electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic
transmission or transmissions are filed in the minutes of
proceedings of the Board or committee, as applicable. Such filing
shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form
or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in
electronic form.
SECTION
3.10
Remote Meeting
.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation,
members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may
participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other
communications equipment in which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of
conference telephone or other communications equipment shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION
3.11
Compensation.
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.
SECTION
3.12
Reliance on Books and
Records.
A member of the Board, or a member of any committee
designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such
person
’
s duties, be fully
protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation
and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements
presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation
’
s officers or employees, or
committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the
member reasonably believes are within such other person
’
s professional or expert competence
and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of
the Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
SECTION
4.01
Number.
The
officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive
Officer, a President and a Secretary, each of whom shall be elected
by the Board and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be
determined by the Board and until their successors are elected and
qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. In addition,
the Board may elect one or more Vice Presidents, including one or
more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Chief
Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and one
or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries,
who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such
powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person. The Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board
shall not be officers of the Corporation unless the Board by
resolution determines otherwise.
SECTION
4.02
Other Officers and
Agents
. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents
as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms
and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be
determined from time to time by the Board.
SECTION
4.03
Chief Executive
Officer
. The Chief Executive Officer, subject to the control
of the Board, shall have general responsibility for the business
and affairs of the Corporation and shall be the chief policy making
officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders, and in the absence of
the Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman of the Board, shall
preside at all meetings of the Board and he or she shall have such
other powers and duties as may be assigned to, or required of, such
officer from time to time by the Board or these
Bylaws.
SECTION
4.04
President
. The President,
subject to the powers of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer,
shall have the general powers and duties incident to the office of
the president of a corporation, shall perform such duties and
services and shall have such other powers and duties as may be
assigned to, or required of, such officer from time to time by the
Chief Executive Officer or these Bylaws. In the absence of the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board and the Chief
Executive Officer, he shall preside at all meetings of the
Board.
SECTION 4.05
Chief Operating
Officer
. The Chief Operating
Officer, subject to the powers of the Board and the Chief Executive
Officer, shall have direct responsibility for the business and
affairs of the Corporation, including supervisory responsibility
for the officers, agents, employees and properties of the
Corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be
assigned to or required of such officer from time to time by the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer or these Bylaws. In the absence
of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer and the President, he shall preside at all
meetings of the Board.
SECTION 4.06
Vice
Presidents
. Each Vice President, including any Executive
Vice President and any Senior Vice President, shall have such
powers and perform such duties incident to the office of the vice
president of a corporation, and shall have such other powers and
duties as may be assigned to or required of such officer from time
to time by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or these
Bylaws.
SECTION
4.07
Chief Financial
Officer
. The Chief Financial Officer shall have
responsibility for all financial and accounting matters, including
supervisory responsibilities for the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer or any Vice President of Finance of the Corporation. The
Chief Financial Officer shall have the general powers and duties
incident to the office of the chief financial officer of a
corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be
assigned to, or required of, such officer from time to time by the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer or these Bylaws.
SECTION
4.08
Treasurer
. The Treasurer shall
have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of
indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep
full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books
belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall deposit all
moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the
Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board
or its designees selected for such purposes. The Treasurer shall
disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers
therefor. The Treasurer shall render to the Chief Executive
Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Board, upon their
request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation.
The Treasurer shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief
Financial Officer, act with all of the powers and have the
responsibilities assigned to the Chief Financial Officer. In
addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform
such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time
to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer or the Board. If required by the Board,
the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful
discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety
as the Board shall prescribe.
SECTION
4.09
Secretary
. The
Secretary shall (a) record the proceedings of the meetings of the
stockholders and the Board in a minute book to be kept for that
purpose; (b) cause notices to be duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws and as required by law; (c) be the
custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix
and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation
(unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a
facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal
to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation
under its seal; (d) cause the books, reports, statements,
certificates and other documents and records required by law to be
kept and filed to be properly kept and filed; and (e) in general,
have all the powers and perform all the duties incident to the
office of secretary of a corporation and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be assigned to or required of such officer
from time to time by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or
these Bylaws.
SECTION
4.10
Assistant Treasurers
and Assistant Secretaries
. Each Assistant Treasurer and each
Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all
the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and
Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such
officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board
shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and
Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such
duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer,
the President or the Board.
SECTION
4.11
Corporate Funds and
Checks
. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such
depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board
or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other
orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief
Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and such other
persons as may from time to time be authorized by the
Board.
SECTION
4.12
Contracts and Other
Documents
. The Chief Executive Officer, the President, the
Chief Operating Officer and any such other officer or officers as
may from time to time be authorized by the Board, shall have power
to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances
and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution
by the Corporation.
SECTION
4.13
Ownership of Stock of
Another Corporation
. Unless otherwise directed by the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating
Officer, and any such other person as shall be authorized by the
Board, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the
Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of
securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds
securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the
Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the
ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such
meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and
consents on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION
4.14
Delegation of
Duties
. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer
to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board may delegate
to another officer such powers or duties.
SECTION
4.15
Resignation and
Removal
. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from
office for or without cause at any time by the Board. Any officer
may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section
3.03 of these Bylaws.
SECTION
4.16
Vacancies
. The
Board shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any
office.
ARTICLE V
Stock
SECTION
5.01
Shares With
Certificates
. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall
be represented by certificates,
provided
that the Board
may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or
all classes or series of the Corporation
’
s stock shall be uncertificated
shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented
by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented
by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by,
or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of
the Corporation, certifying the number and class of shares of stock
of the Corporation owned by such holder. Any or all of the
signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The Board shall
have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or
registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of
stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be
countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents
and/or registrars.
SECTION
5.02
Shares Without
Certificates
. If the Board chooses to issue shares of stock
without certificates, notice of the information required by the
DGCL shall be furnished in accordance with the DGCL within a
reasonable time after the issue or transfer of 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.
SECTION
5.03
Transfer of
Shares
. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be
transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by
their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon
surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof (to the extent
evidenced by a physical stock certificate) to the person in charge
of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Certificates
representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new
certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon
be issued. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not
represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance
with applicable law. A record shall be made of each transfer.
Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral
security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry
of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented, both the
transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so. The
Board shall have power and authority to make such rules and
regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the
issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of
stock of the Corporation.
SECTION
5.04
Lost, Stolen,
Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates
. A new certificate of
stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any
certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in its
discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the
Corporation a bond or an agreement of indemnity, in such sum as the
Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation
against any claims that may be made against it in connection
therewith. A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may
be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the
Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such
owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the
Corporation, the posting of a bond or delivering an agreement of
indemnity by such owner to indemnify the Corporation against any
claim that may be made against it in connection
therewith.
SECTION
5.05
List of Stockholders
Entitled To Vote
. The Corporation shall prepare, at least
ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list
of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (
provided, however
, if
the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote
is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list
shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth 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. Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to
the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a
reasonably accessible electronic network;
provided
that the
information required to gain access to such list is provided with
the notice of meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours at the
principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that
the Corporation determines to make the list available on an
electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to
ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of
the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a
list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the
whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is
present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote
communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination
of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a
reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information
required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of
the meeting. Except as otherwise 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 5.05
or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
stockholders.
SECTION
5.06
Fixing Date for
Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(A) In
order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
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 sixty (60) nor less
than ten (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 or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice
is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to
vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of
the meeting;
provided, however
, that
the Board may fix a new record date for determination of
stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such
case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to
notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as
that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in
accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(B) In
order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the
purpose of any other lawful action, the Board 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 not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no
such record date is fixed, the record date for determining
stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating
thereto.
(C)
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in
order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to express consent to corporate action in writing 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 ten (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 in writing 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 written 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.
SECTION
5.07
Registered
Stockholders
. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of
the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or
notification to the Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated
shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or
shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such
share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to
vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the
rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares. To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound
to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such
share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it
shall have express or other notice thereof.
ARTICLE VI
Notice and Waiver of Notice
SECTION
6.01
Notice
. Notice
may be given in any manner permitted by law. If mailed, notice to
stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such
stockholder
’
s address as
it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the
manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to
stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic
transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the
DGCL.
SECTION
6.02
Waiver of
Notice
. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a
stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by
such person, whether given before or after the time of the event
for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the
notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business
nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication)
shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance 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.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnification and Advancement
SECTION
7.01
Right to
Indemnification
. The rights, if any, of directors, officers,
employees and agents of the Corporation with respect to
indemnification shall be as set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION
7.02
Right to Advancement
of Expenses
. The rights, if any, of directors, officers,
employees and agents of the Corporation with respect to advancement
of expenses shall be as set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
SECTION
8.01
Electronic
Transmission
. For purposes of these Bylaws,
“
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 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.
SECTION
8.02
Corporate Seal
.
The Board may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the
Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If
and when so directed by the Board or a committee thereof,
duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Chief Financial
Officer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant
Treasurer.
SECTION
8.03
F
iscal Year
. The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31, or such
other day as the Board may designate.
SECTION
8.04
Section
Headings
. Section headings in these Bylaws are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any
substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any
provision herein.
SECTION
8.05
I
nconsistent
Provisions
. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws
is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, the DGCL any other applicable law, or the
Stockholders’ Agreement (so long as it is in effect), such
provision of these Bylaws shall not be given effect to the extent
of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and
effect.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
SECTION
9.01
Amendments
.
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation,
these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws
adopted or enacted, by the Board or by the stockholders by, in the
case of the stockholders, the affirmative vote of shares
representing a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled
to vote on such matter.
ARTICLE X
Forum Selection
SECTION
10.01
Forum
Selection Bylaw
. Unless the Corporation consents in writing
to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action
or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any action
asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current
or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the
Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders,
(3) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision
of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or as
to which the DGLC confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware, or (4) any action asserting a claim governed
by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing
or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital
stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and
consented to the provisions of this Section 10.01.
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY
AND
AMONG
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION CORP.,
MEGAPATH HOLDING CORPORATION
AND
SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES LLC, AS STOCKHOLDER
REPRESENTATIVE
DATED MAY 4, 2018
ARTICLE I
|
THE MERGER
|
1
|
|
The Merger
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Closing
|
2
|
Section
1.3
|
Effective Time
|
2
|
Section
1.4
|
Effects
|
2
|
Section
1.5
|
Conversion of Securities
|
3
|
Section
1.6
|
Certificates of Incorporation; Bylaws
|
4
|
Section
1.7
|
Directors
|
4
|
Section
1.8
|
Officers
|
4
|
ARTICLE II
|
DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION
|
4
|
Section
2.1
|
Exchange of Shares
|
4
|
Section
2.2
|
Stock Transfer Books
|
7
|
Section
2.3
|
Treatment of Options
|
7
|
Section
2.4
|
Appraisal Rights
|
7
|
Section
2.5
|
Closing Statement
|
8
|
Section
2.6
|
Transactions to Be Effected at the Closing
|
8
|
Section
2.7
|
Merger Consideration Adjustment
|
8
|
Section
2.8
|
Payments from the Holdback Account
|
10
|
ARTICLE III
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
10
|
Section
3.1
|
Corporate Organization
|
11
|
Section
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
12
|
Section
3.3
|
Authority; No Violation
|
13
|
Section
3.4
|
Consents and Approvals
|
14
|
Section
3.5
|
Financial Statements
|
14
|
Section
3.6
|
Absence of Company Material Adverse Effect
|
15
|
Section
3.7
|
Legal Proceedings
|
15
|
Section
3.8
|
Taxes and Tax Returns
|
16
|
Section
3.9
|
Employee Benefit Plans; Labor
|
17
|
Section
3.10
|
Compliance with Law
|
20
|
Section
3.11
|
Environmental Matters
|
20
|
Section
3.12
|
Material Contracts
|
21
|
Section
3.13
|
Intellectual Property; Data Privacy
|
22
|
Section
3.14
|
Title to Properties; Assets
|
25
|
Section
3.15
|
Real Property
|
25
|
Section
3.16
|
Regulatory Matters
|
25
|
Section
3.17
|
Interconnection Agreements
|
27
|
Section
3.18
|
Network Facilities
|
27
|
Section
3.19
|
Insurance
|
28
|
Section
3.20
|
Application of Takeover Laws
|
28
|
Section
3.21
|
Affiliate Transactions
|
29
|
Section
3.22
|
Customers and Suppliers
|
29
|
Section
3.23
|
Directors, Officers, Managers
|
29
|
Section
3.24
|
Books and Records
|
29
|
Section
3.25
|
Broker’s Fees
|
30
|
ARTICLE IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER
SUB
|
30
|
Section
4.1
|
Parent Corporate Organization
|
30
|
Section
4.2
|
Merger Sub Corporate Organization
|
30
|
Section
4.3
|
Authority; No Violation
|
30
|
Section
4.4
|
Consents and Approvals
|
31
|
Section
4.5
|
Financing
|
31
|
Section
4.6
|
Legal Proceedings
|
31
|
Section
4.7
|
SEC Reports
|
31
|
Section
4.8
|
Parent Common Stock
|
31
|
Section
4.9
|
Investment Intent
|
32
|
Section
4.10
|
Broker’s Fees
|
32
|
ARTICLE V
|
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
|
32
|
Section
5.1
|
Conduct of Businesses by the Company Prior to the Effective
Time
|
32
|
Section
5.2
|
Company Forbearances
|
32
|
ARTICLE VI
|
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
35
|
Section
6.1
|
Filings; Other Actions; Notification
|
35
|
Section
6.2
|
Written Consent
|
37
|
Section
6.3
|
No Solicitation of Other Bids
|
37
|
Section
6.4
|
Access to Information
|
38
|
Section
6.5
|
Employee Matters
|
39
|
Section
6.6
|
Advice of Changes
|
40
|
Section
6.7
|
Transaction Litigation
|
40
|
Section
6.8
|
Control of the Other Party’s Business
|
40
|
Section
6.9
|
Subsidiary Compliance
|
41
|
Section
6.10
|
Publicity
|
41
|
Section
6.11
|
Takeover Laws
|
41
|
Section
6.12
|
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
|
41
|
Section
6.13
|
Related Party Agreements
|
42
|
Section
6.14
|
Organizational Integration
|
42
|
Section
6.15
|
Resignations
|
43
|
Section
6.16
|
Rule 144 Reporting
|
43
|
ARTICLE VII
|
CLOSING CONDITIONS
|
43
|
Section
7.1
|
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the
Merger
|
43
|
Section
7.2
|
Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
|
43
|
Section
7.3
|
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
|
45
|
Section
7.4
|
Frustration of Closing Conditions
|
45
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
|
45
|
Section
8.1
|
Termination
|
45
|
Section
8.2
|
Effect of Termination
|
46
|
ARTICLE IX
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
46
|
Section
9.1
|
Survival
|
46
|
Section
9.2
|
Indemnification By Stockholders and Optionholders
|
46
|
Section
9.3
|
Indemnification By Parent
|
47
|
Section
9.4
|
Certain Limitations
|
47
|
Section
9.5
|
Indemnification Procedures
|
49
|
Section
9.6
|
Payments; Escrow Fund
|
52
|
Section
9.7
|
Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments
|
53
|
Section
9.8
|
Effect of Investigation
|
53
|
Section
9.9
|
Exclusive Remedies
|
53
|
ARTICLE X
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
53
|
Section
10.1
|
Notices
|
53
|
Section
10.2
|
Interpretation
|
54
|
Section
10.3
|
Counterparts
|
55
|
Section
10.4
|
Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries
|
55
|
Section
10.5
|
Amendment
|
55
|
Section
10.6
|
Extension; Waiver
|
56
|
Section
10.7
|
Governing Law
|
56
|
Section
10.8
|
Jurisdiction
|
56
|
Section
10.9
|
Fees and Expenses
|
58
|
Section
10.10
|
Assignment
|
58
|
Section
10.11
|
Specific Performance
|
58
|
Section
10.12
|
Waivers
|
58
|
Section
10.13
|
Severability
|
58
|
Section
10.14
|
Stockholder Representative
|
59
|
Section
10.15
|
Tax Matters
|
61
|
Section
10.16
|
Definitions
|
62
|
Section
10.17
|
Liability of Financing Source Parties
|
77
|
Exhibits
Exhibit
A
-
Form of Merger
Certificate
Exhibit
B
-
Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Exhibit
C
-
Amended and
Restated Bylaws
Exhibit
D
-
Letter of
Transmittal
Exhibit
E
-
Form of Escrow
Agreement
Exhibit
F
-
Example of Working
Capital Calculation
Disclosure
Schedules
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
, dated
May 4, 2018 (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time in accordance with its terms, this
“
Agreement
”),
by and among Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“
Parent
”),
Fusion MPHC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
(“
Merger
Sub
”), MegaPath Holding Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
”)
and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited
liability company, solely in its capacity as the representative of
the Stockholders and Optionholders (the “
Stockholder
Representative
”). Parent, Merger Sub and the Company
are hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “
Party
”
and collectively as the “
Parties
.”
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings set forth in
Section 10.16
.
RECITALS
A. The
Boards of Directors of each of the Company and Merger Sub have (1)
approved and adopted, and declared advisable and in the best
interests of their respective corporations and stockholders, this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the
“
Merger
”),
with the Company being the survivor in the Merger, as more fully
provided for in this Agreement, directed that this Agreement be
submitted to such corporation’s stockholders for approval and
adoption, and (3) recommended that their stockholders approve and
adopt this Agreement.
B. The
board of directors of Parent has approved and adopted this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and Parent, in
its capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, will approve
and adopt this Agreement promptly following the execution of this
Agreement.
C. It
is anticipated that, following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the required stockholders of the Company will execute
and deliver to Parent and Merger Sub a written consent approving
and adopting this Agreement.
Parent,
Merger Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE
MERGER
Section
1.1
The
Merger
. On the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“
DGCL
”),
Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company at the
Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub will cease, and the Company will continue
as the surviving corporation (the “
Surviving
Corporation
”) and will succeed to and assume all the
rights and obligations of Merger Sub in accordance with the
DGCL.
Section
1.2
Closing
.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing
(the “
Closing
”)
of the Merger shall take place (i) on the final day of the calendar
month in which the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law,
waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VII
occurs (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to
the extent permitted by Law, waiver of those conditions at
Closing), or (ii) such other time and place as Parent and the
Company may mutually agree, provided that if the Closing occurs on
any day other than the last day of a calendar month, then the
Working Capital as of 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the calendar
month preceding the Closing shall be deemed to be the Closing
Working Capital. The date on which the Closing occurs is
hereinafter referred to as the “
Closing
Date
.”
Section
1.3
Effective
Time
. On the Closing
Date, Parent and the Company will cause to be filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware a certificate of merger,
substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
to
effect the Merger (collectively, the “
Certificate of
Merger
”) executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the DGCL and will make all other filings or
recordings required under the DGCL to effect the Merger. The Merger
will become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is
duly filed with such Secretary of State of Delaware, or at such
later time as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in the
Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being
the “
Effective
Time
”).
Section
1.4
Effects
.
The Merger will have the effects provided in this Agreement and in
the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
Section
1.5
Conversion of
Securities
.
(a)
At the Effective
Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of the Company
Capital Stock, each share of Company Capital Stock (each, a
“
Share
”)
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than Dissenting Shares and any Shares to be cancelled
pursuant to
Section
1.5(b)
) will be converted automatically into the right to
receive, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (i) the
Initial Per Share Merger Consideration, without interest, to be
paid as contemplated by
Section 2.1
, (ii) the
Additional Per Share Merger Consideration, without interest,
payable in the manner set forth in
Section 2.7
, (iii) a pro-rata
portion of any funds remaining in the Escrow Fund after the
satisfaction of obligations payable therefrom in accordance with
this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, at the respective times
and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein, and
(iv) a pro-rata portion of any funds remaining in the Holdback
Account after the satisfaction of obligations payable therefrom in
accordance with this Agreement, calculated and payable in the
manner set forth in
Section 2.8
. Parent, in its
sole discretion, may elect to pay up to an aggregate of $10.0
million of the Initial Merger Consideration in shares of Parent
Common Stock;
provided
,
however
, that the Initial
Merger Consideration paid to any Stockholder surrendering Shares
shall not be paid in shares of Parent Common Stock with a value
(based on the formula below) that constitutes more than such
Stockholder’s Individual Share Percentage of such aggregate
elected dollar amount; and
provided
,
further
, that the Initial
Merger Consideration paid to any Stockholder surrendering Shares
that does not represent in the Letter of Transmittal that such
Stockholder is an Accredited Investor shall be paid only in cash.
If Parent elects to pay up to $10.0 million of the Initial Merger
Consideration in shares of Parent Common Stock, the number of
shares of Parent Common Stock shall be calculated based on the
greater of (i) $3.85 per share; or (ii) the weighted average
closing price of the Parent Common Stock during the ten (10)
trading day period occurring three (3) Business Days prior to the
date of the public announcement regarding the execution of this
Agreement, in each case as adjusted to give appropriate effect to
any stock split or reverse stock split effectuated by Parent.
Except for Dissenting Shares and any Shares to be cancelled
pursuant to
Section
1.5(b)
, as a result of the Merger, each holder of a
certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented outstanding Shares (“
Certificates
”)
and each holder of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time that are not represented by Certificates
(“
Book-Entry
Shares
”) will thereafter cease to have any rights with
respect to such Shares except the right to receive the applicable
Merger Consideration, to be paid, without interest, in
consideration therefor upon surrender of such Certificate or
Book-Entry Shares in accordance with
Section 2.1(b)
(or in the case
of a lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate,
Section 2.1(f)
).
(b)
At the Effective
Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, each share of Company Capital
Stock held in the treasury of the Company or owned of record by any
Company Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time will
automatically be cancelled without any conversion thereof and no
payment or distribution will be made with respect
thereto.
(c)
Each issued and
outstanding share of common stock of Merger Sub will be converted
into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
Section
1.6
Certificates of
Incorporation; Bylaws
.
(a)
At the Effective
Time, the Company’s certificate of incorporation will, by
virtue of the Merger, be amended and restated in its entirety in
the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B
,
and as so amended and restated will be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
as provided therein or by applicable Law.
(b)
At the Effective
Time, the Company Bylaws will, by virtue of the Merger, be amended
and restated in their entirety in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
C
, and as so amended and restated will be the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein
or by applicable Law.
Section
1.7
Directors
.
The parties will take all necessary action such that, from and
after the Effective Time, the directors of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time will be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or removal or
until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified,
as the case may be.
Section
1.8
Officers
.
The parties will take all necessary action such that, from and
after the Effective Time, the officers of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time will be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or removal or
until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE
II
DELIVERY OF MERGER
CONSIDERATION
Section
2.1
Exchange of
Shares
.
(a)
Exchange
Procedures
.
(i)
Prior to the
Closing Date, the Company shall distribute to each Person who is
expected to be, at the Effective Time, a holder of record of Shares
entitled to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Section 1.5(a)
: (A)
a letter of transmittal, in substantially the form attached hereto
as
Exhibit D
(the “
Letter of
Transmittal
”) and containing such provisions as Parent
may reasonably specify (including a provision confirming that
delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title will pass,
only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to Parent or, in the
case of Book-Entry Shares, upon adherence to the procedures set
forth in the Letter of Transmittal; each Stockholder’s
agreement to accept their indemnification obligations set forth in
Article IX
, the
choice of law provisions in
Section 10.7
and the exclusive
forum provisions in
Section 10.8
; each
Stockholder’s representation as to whether or not such
Stockholder is an Accredited Investor; customary investment
representations with respect to any receipt of Parent Common Stock;
and an acknowledgement that any certificates received representing
Parent Common Stock will bear legends customary for unregistered
shares), and (B) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
such holder’s Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange
for payment of the their portion of the Merger Consideration
issuable and payable in respect thereof pursuant to such Letter of
Transmittal.
(ii)
Each
holder of Shares who has, prior to the Effective Time, properly
completed, executed and delivered to the Company (who shall have
thereafter delivered a copy of such documents to Parent at or prior
to the Closing) a Letter of Transmittal and any and all
Certificate(s) evidencing such holder’s Shares (or an
Affidavit of Loss in lieu thereof) shall be entitled to receive
from Parent at the Closing, and Parent shall pay or cause to be
paid to each such Stockholder at the Closing, (i) an amount in cash
and shares of Parent Common Stock (to the extent permitted by this
Agreement and if such holder is an Accredited Investor) equal to
the product (rounded to the nearest cent) of (A) the number of
Shares represented by such holder’s properly surrendered
Certificates plus the number, if any, of such holders Book-Entry
Shares and (B) the Initial Per Share Merger
Consideration.
(iii)
With
respect to each holder of Shares who has not properly completed,
executed and delivered a Letter of Transmittal to the Company, or
who has failed to deliver the Certificate(s) evidencing such Shares
(or an Affidavit of Loss in lieu thereof) to the Company, in each
case prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall (x) deliver or cause
to be delivered at the Closing to an account of the Payments
Administrator specified by the Stockholder Representative not less
than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the
“
Stockholder Payment
Account
”) an amount in cash equal to (I) the product
(rounded to the nearest cent) of (A) the number of Shares held by
all such holders (other than Dissenting Shares) and (B) the Initial
Per Share Merger Consideration, less (II) the aggregate cash value
(based on the formula in
Section 1.5(a)
) of the shares
of Parent Common Stock to be included in the Initial Merger
Consideration that are to be issued to such holders assuming that
all such holders are Accredited Investors, and (y) cause its
transfer agent to issue at the Closing all such shares of Parent
Common Stock and hold such shares deliverable to each such holder
pending such holder’s delivery of the items set forth in the
following sentence. Such cash shall be held in the Stockholder
Payment Account and such shares shall be held by Parent’s
transfer agent (in each case, subject to applicable abandoned
property, escheat and similar Laws) for distribution to each such
holder when and as such holder delivers a properly completed and
executed Letter of Transmittal and the Certificate(s) evidencing
such holder’s Shares (or an Affidavit of Loss in lieu
thereof) to the Payments Administrator (who shall promptly
thereafter deliver such documents to Parent), at which time the
Payments Administrator shall distribute or cause to be distributed
to such holder from the funds held in the Stockholder Payment
Account the same cash amount (payable in the same manner) as such
holder would have received from Parent under
Section 2.1(a)(ii)
if such
Letter of Transmittal and Certificate(s) (or Affidavit of Loss in
lieu thereof) had been delivered to the Company prior to the
Effective Time and Parent shall cause its transfer agent to deliver
to such holder such shares issued in such holder’s name and
held by such transfer agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
such holder is not an Accredited Investor (based on such
holder’s Letter of Transmittal), then the shares of Parent
Common Stock issued in such holder’s name and held by
Parent’s transfer agent shall be cancelled and, in lieu of
delivery of such shares to such holder, Parent shall deliver to
such holder a cash amount equal to the value of such cancelled
shares, as determined in accordance with the formula set forth in
Section 1.5(a)
of
this Agreement.
(iv)
Following
the Closing, (A) any holder to which
Section 2.1(a)(iii)
applies
shall be entitled to look only to the funds in the Stockholder
Payment Account and, if such holder is not an Accredited Investor,
only to Parent for any cash payable in lieu of shares of Parent
Common Stock (in each case, subject to applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar Laws) and only as general creditors
thereof with respect to the cash amount that such holder is
entitled to receive pursuant to
Section 2.1(a)(iii)
upon
delivery to the Payments Administrator of a properly completed and
executed Letter of Transmittal and the Certificate(s) evidencing
such holder’s Shares (or an Affidavit of Loss in lieu
thereof), without any interest thereon, and (B) none of Parent, the
Surviving Corporation or the Stockholder Representative shall be
liable to any Stockholder for any amounts and shares of Parent
Common Stock delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
Laws.
(b)
Escrow Fund
. In accordance with
the Escrow Agreement, Parent shall deposit into the Escrow Fund the
Escrow Amount (such amount, including any interest or other amounts
earned thereon and less any disbursements therefrom in accordance
with the Escrow Agreement, the “
Escrow
Fund
”), to be held for the purpose of securing the
indemnification and other obligations of the Stockholders set forth
in this Agreement.
(c)
No Further Rights in Company Capital
Stock
. All Merger Consideration issued or paid upon
surrender of Certificates or transfer of Book-Entry Shares in
accordance with the terms of this
Article II
will be deemed to
have been issued or paid, as the case may be, in full satisfaction
of all rights pertaining to the Shares formerly represented by such
Certificates or Book-Entry Shares.
(d)
Adjustments
. If at any time
during the period between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of Company
Capital Stock occurs as a result of any reclassification,
recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split) or
combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock
dividend or stock distribution with a record date during such
period, the Initial Per Share Merger Consideration will be
equitably adjusted to reflect such change.
(e)
Withholding Rights
. Each of the
Surviving Corporation, Parent and Merger Sub will be entitled to
deduct and withhold from any consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement such amount as it is required to deduct
and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the
Code, the Treasury Regulations, any provision of applicable state,
local or foreign Tax Law or any other Law. To the extent that
amounts are so withheld, such withheld amounts will be treated for
purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in
respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made.
(f)
Lost Certificates
. In the event
that any Certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the holder
of such Certificate may, in lieu of delivering such Certificate
with the Letter of Transmittal delivered in accordance with
Section 2.1(a)(ii)
or
Section
2.1(a)(iii)
, complete, execute and deliver to the Payments
Administrator, an affidavit of loss and indemnity in a form
reasonably satisfactory to Parent (an “
Affidavit of
Loss”
).
(g)
Termination of Stockholder Payment
Account
. Any funds remaining in the Stockholder Payment
Account on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date
will be delivered to Parent, and any holders of Shares who have not
theretofore complied with this
Section 2.1
will thereafter
look only to Parent for the Merger Consideration to which they are
entitled pursuant to
Section 1.5
.
Section
2.2
Stock
Transfer Books
. At the Effective
Time, the stock transfer books of the Company will be closed and
there will be no further registration of transfers of Shares
thereafter on the records of the Company. On or after the Effective
Time, any Certificates or Book-Entry Shares presented to Parent for
any reason will be cancelled and exchanged for the applicable
portion of the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares
formerly represented by such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares to
which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to
Section 1.5(a)
.
Section
2.3
Treatment
of Options
. Prior to the
Closing, the Company will take all actions necessary in accordance
with the Company Stock Option Plan so that all Options outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time will become fully vested
and exercisable (whether or not currently exercisable) and,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Option will be
cancelled without any future liability to the Company or any other
Person after the Effective Time in exchange for the right to
receive from the Company the payment described in the following
sentence (such amount payable pursuant to clause (a) in the
following sentence with respect to each Optionholder, such
holder’s “
Option
Consideration
”), subject to applicable withholding.
Each holder of an Option that is cancelled pursuant to the
preceding sentence shall, in respect of such Option and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be entitled to (a) a
cash payment in an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess,
if any, of the Initial Per Share Merger Consideration over the
applicable Exercise Price of such Option, and (ii) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock underlying such Option, and (b) any
amounts payable to such Optionholder pursuant to
Section 2.7
and
Section 2.8
(in the case of
this clause (b), if, as and when payable in accordance with
Section 2.7
and
Section 2.8
).
Parent will cause the Company to pay to each Optionholder such
Optionholder’s Option Consideration via payroll less
applicable withholding Taxes on the Closing Date.
Section
2.4
Appraisal
Rights
. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any Shares that are
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and
are held by a Stockholder who is entitled to exercise, and properly
complied with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL to demand
appraisal rights with respect to such Shares (each, a
“
Dissenting
Stockholder
”) and not effectively withdrawn or lost
its right to appraisal (collectively, the “
Dissenting
Shares
”), such Dissenting Shares will not be converted
into or exchangeable for or represent the right to receive the
applicable Merger Consideration (except as provided in this
Section 2.4
) and
will entitle such Dissenting Stockholder only to payment of the
fair value of such Dissenting Shares as may be determined to be due
to the holder of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with the
DGCL, unless and until such Dissenting Stockholder effectively
waives such appraisal rights or is otherwise no longer entitled to
payment for such Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 262
of the DGCL. If any such Dissenting Stockholder effectively waives
such appraisal rights or is otherwise no longer entitled to payment
for the Dissenting Shares held by such Dissenting Stockholder in
accordance with the Section 262 of DGCL, then as of the later of
the Effective Time or the occurrence of such event, the Dissenting
Shares held by such Dissenting Stockholder will be cancelled and
converted into and represent the right to receive, without any
interest thereon, the applicable Merger Consideration in accordance
with
Article I
and
this
Article II
,
less applicable withholding taxes, if any, required to be withheld.
The Company will not, except with the prior written consent of
Parent, voluntarily make (or cause or permit to be made on its
behalf) any payment with respect to, or settle or make a binding
offer to settle, or otherwise negotiate with, any Dissenting
Stockholder regarding its exercise of appraisal rights prior to the
Effective Time. The Company will give Parent notice of any such
demands prior to the Effective Time.
Section
2.5
Closing
Statement
. At least three
(3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company will
deliver to Parent a statement setting forth a good faith estimate
of (a) Closing Working Capital prepared in accordance with GAAP
(the “
Working Capital
Estimate
”) and the resulting Estimated Working Capital
Overage or Estimated Working Capital Underage, if any, (b) Closing
Cash prepared in accordance with GAAP (the “
Closing Cash
Estimate
”), (c) the Transaction Expenses Payoff
Amount, (d) the amount of Closing Indebtedness and the Indebtedness
Payoff Amount, (e) the number of Shares issued and outstanding as
of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (f) the Share
Percentage and the Individual Share Percentage for each
Stockholder, (g) with respect to each Option, the holder of such
Option, the number of shares of Company Common Stock underlying
such Option and the Exercise Price of such Option, in each case
immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (h) the Option
Percentage and the Individual Option Percentage for each
Optionholder.
Section
2.6
Transactions
to Be Effected at the Closing
. At the Closing,
the following transactions shall be effected by the
Parties:
(a)
Parent will pay the
Initial Merger Consideration to the Payments Administrator and the
holders of Shares in accordance with
Section 2.1(a)
;
(b)
Parent will
transfer the Escrow Amount to the Escrow Fund;
(c)
Parent will
transfer the Holdback Amount to an account of the Escrow Agent (the
“
Holdback
Account
”);
(d)
Parent will pay the
Indebtedness Payoff Amount to such parties and in such amounts as
designated in writing (such designation to be made at least two (2)
Business Days prior to the Closing Date) in the Payoff
Letters;
(e)
Parent will pay the
Transaction Expenses Payoff Amount, other than such amount related
to Transaction Bonuses, to such parties and in such amounts as
designated by the Company in writing (such designation to be made
at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date);
and
(f)
Parent will pay the
Transaction Expenses Payoff Amount related to Transaction Bonuses
to the Company and cause the Company to pay to each recipient of a
Transaction Bonus via the Company’s payroll system on the
Closing Date an amount equal to such Transaction Bonus less
applicable withholding Taxes.
Section
2.7
Merger
Consideration Adjustment
.
(a)
Within 60 days
after the Closing Date, Parent will deliver to the Stockholder
Representative a statement (the “
Statement
”)
of (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working
Capital Overage or Working Capital Underage, if any, (ii) the
Closing Cash and the resulting Closing Cash Overage or Closing Cash
Underage, if any, (iii) any Transaction Expenses not included in
the Transaction Expenses Payoff Amount (the “
Additional
Transaction Expenses
”), and (iv) any Closing
Indebtedness of the Company and Company Subsidiaries not included
in the calculation of the Initial Merger Consideration (the
“
Additional
Indebtedness
”)
(b)
The Statement will
become final and binding upon all of the Parties at 5:00 p.m. in
New York, New York on the 60th day following the date on which the
Statement was delivered by Parent to the Stockholder
Representative, unless the Stockholder Representative delivers
written notice of its disagreement with the Statement (a
“
Notice of
Disagreement
”) to Parent prior to such time. During
such 60-day period, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation
and its Subsidiaries to provide the Stockholder Representative and
the Stockholder Representative’s advisors with reasonable
access (including on-site access and electronic access to the
extent available) during regular business hours and upon reasonable
notice to all relevant books and records and employees (including
key accounting and finance personnel) of the Surviving Corporation
and its Subsidiaries to the extent reasonably necessary to review
the matters and information used to prepare and to support the
Statement, all in a manner not unreasonably interfering with the
business of the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries. All
fees, costs and expenses of the Stockholder Representative relating
to the review of the Statement shall be borne by the holders of
Shares and Options out of the Holdback Account and all fees, costs
and expenses of Parent or the Surviving Corporation relating
thereto shall be borne by Parent. Any Notice of Disagreement shall
specify in reasonable detail the nature of any disagreement so
asserted. If a Notice of Disagreement is received by Parent in a
timely manner, then the Statement (as revised in accordance with
this
Section
2.7(b)
) will become final and binding upon Parent and the
Stockholder Representative on the earlier of (i) the date
Stockholder Representative and Parent resolve in writing any
differences they have with respect to the matters specified in the
Notice of Disagreement and (ii) the date any disputed matters are
finally resolved in writing by an independent accounting firm (the
“
Accounting
Firm
”). During the 14-day period following the
delivery of a Notice of Disagreement, the Stockholder
Representative and Parent will seek in good faith to resolve in
writing any differences that they may have with respect to the
matters specified in the Notice of Disagreement. If at the end of
such 14-day period the Stockholder Representative and Parent have
not resolved in writing the matters specified in the Notice of
Disagreement, then, no later than ten (10) days following such
14-day period, the Stockholder Representative and Parent will
submit to the Accounting Firm for resolution, in accordance with
the standards set forth in this Section 2.7, only matters that
remain in dispute. The Accounting Firm will be UHY, LLP or, if such
firm is unable or unwilling to act, such other nationally
recognized independent public accounting firm as shall be agreed
upon by the Stockholder Representative and Parent in writing. The
Stockholder Representative and Parent will use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Accounting Firm to render a written
decision resolving the matters submitted to the Accounting Firm
within 30 days of the receipt of such submission. The Accounting
Firm may not assign a value greater than the greatest value for
such item claimed by either Party or smaller than the smallest
value for such item claimed by either Party. Judgment may be
entered upon the determination of the Accounting Firm in any court
having jurisdiction over the party against which such determination
is to be enforced. The fees, costs and expenses of the Accounting
Firm incurred pursuant to this
Section 2.7(b)
(the
“
Accounting
Fees”
) shall be borne
pro rata
as between the Stockholder
Representative (solely on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders), on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, in
proportion to the final allocation made by the Accounting Firm of
the disputed items weighted in relation to the claims made by the
Stockholder Representative and Parent, such that the prevailing
party pays the lesser proportion of such fees, costs and expenses.
For example, if the Parent claims that the appropriate adjustments
are, in the aggregate, $1,000 greater than the amount determined by
the Stockholder Representative and if the Accounting Firm
ultimately resolves the dispute by awarding to the Parent an
aggregate of $300 of the $1,000 contested, then the fees, costs and
expenses of the Accounting Firm will be allocated 30% (i.e., 300
÷ 1,000) to the Stockholder Representative and 70% (i.e., 700
÷ 1,000) to Parent. For the avoidance of doubt, the fees,
costs and expenses of any Party incurred in connection with this
Section 2.7
(other
than the Accounting Fees, which shall be allocated in accordance
with this
Section
2.7(b)
) shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees,
costs and expenses;
provided
, that the Stockholder
Representative’s fees, costs and expenses shall be paid by
the Stockholders and Optionholders.
(c)
If the Stockholder
Adjustment Amount exceeds the Parent Adjustment Amount (the amount
of such excess, the “
Excess
Amount
”), (i) within five (5) Business Days after a
final determination Parent will make payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the Stockholder Representative, or
upon written instruction of the Stockholder Representative, to the
Payments Administrator, for distribution to each holder of Shares,
contingent upon such holder’s delivery of a Letter of
Transmittal and Certificates evidencing such holder’s Shares
(or an Affidavit of Loss in lieu thereof) and in accordance with
such holder’s Individual Share Percentage, subject to
applicable withholding, an amount equal to the Share Percentage of
any such Excess Amount, and (ii) Parent will cause the Company to
pay to the Optionholders via payroll in accordance with their
respective Individual Option Percentage, and subject to applicable
withholding, an amount equal to the Option Percentage, the
applicable portion of any such Excess Amount.
(d)
If the Parent
Adjustment Amount exceeds the Stockholder Adjustment Amount (the
amount of such excess, the “
Deficiency
Amount
”), within five (5) Business Days after a final
determination in accordance with
Section 2.7(b)
, the Stockholder
Representative shall cause the Escrow Agent to make payment to
Parent by wire transfer of immediately available funds from the
Escrow Fund, the total amount of the Deficiency
Amount.
Section
2.8
Payments
from the Holdback Account
. The Holdback
Account will be used for the purposes of paying directly, or
reimbursing the Stockholder Representative for, any third party
expenses pursuant to this Agreement and any agreements ancillary
hereto. The Stockholder Representative shall retain control over
the funds in the Holdback Account and shall, promptly following
completion of the Stockholder Representative’s duties, direct
the Escrow Agent to pay all or a portion of any funds that remain
in the Holdback Account to the Payments Administrator for further
distribution to (i) the Stockholders, contingent with respect to
each such holder upon such holder’s delivery of a Letter of
Transmittal and Certificates evidencing such holder’s Shares
(or an Affidavit of Loss in lieu thereof), in accordance with such
holders’ respective Individual Share Percentages, and subject
to applicable withholding, an aggregate amount equal to the Share
Percentage of any such funds, and (ii) the Company, for further
payment to the Optionholders via payroll in accordance with their
respective Individual Option Percentages, and subject to applicable
withholding, an aggregate amount equal to the Option Percentage of
any such funds.
ARTIVLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except
as disclosed in the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to
Parent immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement (it
being agreed that any information set forth in one section of such
disclosure letter will be deemed to apply to each other section
thereof to which its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure
for the purposes of) such other section is reasonably apparent)
(the “
Company Disclosure
Letter
”), the Company represents and warrants to
Parent as follows:
Section
3.1
Corporate
Organization
.
(a)
The Company is a
corporation duly formed, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has the
corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or
the character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
except for such jurisdictions where the failure to be so licensed
or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b)
Copies of the
certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended and
restated (the “
Company
Charter
”), and the bylaws of the Company, as amended
and restated (the “
Company
Bylaws
”), as in effect as of the date of this
Agreement, have previously been made available to Parent. The
Company is not in default under or in violation of any provision of
the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws.
(c)
Section 3.1(c)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each Company Subsidiary,
together with the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as
the case may be, and the jurisdictions in which each Company
Subsidiary is authorized to conduct business. Each Company
Subsidiary (i) is duly organized/formed and validly existing under
the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly
qualified to do business and, where such concept is recognized, in
good standing in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires it to be so qualified, except for such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, and (iii) has all the corporate or limited
liability company power and authority to carry on its business as
now conducted. As used in this Agreement, the word
“
Subsidiary
”
when used with respect to any Person means another Person, any
amount of the voting securities, other voting rights or voting
partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a
majority of its board of directors or other governing body or, more
than 40% of the Equity Interests of which is owned directly or
indirectly by such first Person; the terms “
Company
Subsidiary
” and “
Parent
Subsidiary
” mean any direct or indirect Subsidiary of
the Company or Parent, respectively, and, in the case of Parent,
will include (A) Merger Sub prior to the Effective Time and (B) the
Surviving Corporation as of and after the Effective
Time.
(d)
Copies of the
certificate of incorporation, or similar organizational document,
as applicable, of each Company Subsidiary, as amended and restated,
and the bylaws or operating agreement, or other similar governing
document, as applicable, of each Company Subsidiary, as amended and
restated, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have
previously been provided to Parent. No Company Subsidiary is in
default under or in violation of any such governing
document.
Section
3.2
Capitalization
.
(a)
The authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 23,030,000 shares of
common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“
Company Common
Stock
”), of which 2,082,961 shares are issued and
outstanding, and (ii) 20,035,000 shares of Series B preferred
stock, $0.001 par value per share (“
Company Preferred
Stock
”), of which 19,999,874 shares are issued and
outstanding (collectively, the “
Company Capital
Stoc
k”). No shares of Company Capital Stock are held
in the Company’s treasury. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of Company Capital Stock have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights.
(b)
The Company does
not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions,
options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any
character calling for the purchase, issuance or registration of any
shares of Company Capital Stock or any other equity securities of
the Company or any securities representing the right to purchase or
otherwise receive any shares of Company Capital Stock, except for
Options issued pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan. 2,988,549
shares of Company Common Stock were originally reserved for
issuance under the Company Stock Option Plan. No Company Stock
Option has an Exercise Price in excess of $0.01. The Company does
not have any “phantom equity” plans, agreements or
awards.
(c)
There are no bonds,
debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having the right to vote on
any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote are
issued or outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement.
(d)
All of the issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of each Company Subsidiary are owned by the Company,
directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens (other than
transfer restrictions under applicable federal and state securities
Laws), and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. No Company Subsidiary
has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling
for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or any
other equity security of such Company Subsidiary or any securities
representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares
of capital stock or any other equity security of such Company
Subsidiary. There are no outstanding obligations to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party restricting the
transfer of, or limiting the exercise of voting rights with respect
to, any Equity Interest in any Company Subsidiary.
Section
3.3
Authority; No
Violation
.
(a)
The Company has all
necessary corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the Merger. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly and
validly adopted by the Company Board and, except for (i) the
Written Consent and (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, no other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or for the
Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “
Transactions
”).
The holders of Company Capital Stock are authorized to act by the
Written Consent and the Written Consent is the only vote or consent
of the holders of any of the Company Capital Stock necessary to
adopt this Agreement and to approve the Merger and the other
Transactions contemplated by this Agreement. There are no Contracts
to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party defining
or governing the rights of the holders of any Company Capital Stock
or any of its other equity holders in their capacities as such, and
there are no Contracts between or among the Company or any Company
Subsidiary and the holders of Company Capital Stock defining or
governing the rights of the Company Capital Stock, as applicable.
The Company Board has (i) determined that this Agreement and the
Merger are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the
Company’s stockholders, and (ii) recommend that the
Company’s stockholders that they adopt this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the valid
and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability
(A) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws
affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and (B) is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding
at Law or in equity)
(b)
Neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the
consummation of the Transactions, nor compliance by the Company
with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i)
violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws
or other equivalent organizational document, in each case, as
amended, of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or (ii)
assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in
Section 3.4 are duly obtained and/or made and subject to obtaining
the Written Consent, (A) violate any Order or other legal restraint
or prohibition (an “
Injunction
”),
any Law applicable to the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries
or any of their respective material properties or assets, or any
material Permit of the Company or a Company Subsidiary or by which
any of the assets of the Company or a Company Subsidiary are bound
or subject, or (B) result in a breach of any provision of, or the
loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which,
with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination of, or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien)
upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries under, any Company Material
Contract.
Section
3.4
Consents
and Approvals
. Except for (a)
the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, (b) receipt of such
consents from, or registrations, declarations, notices or filings
made to or with State PSCs as are required in order to effect the
transfer of control of the Company Licenses or as are otherwise
necessary to consummate the Merger and other Transactions,
including any related financings by Parent (the “
State
Approvals
”), and (c) receipt of such consents from, or
registrations, declarations, notices or filings made to or with the
FCC as are required in order to effect the transfer of control of
the Company Licenses or as are otherwise necessary to consummate
the Merger and the other Transactions, including any related
financings by Parent (the “
FCC
Approval
”), no consents or approvals of, or filings or
registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary in
connection with (i) the execution and delivery by the Company of
this Agreement and (ii) the consummation by the Company of the
Transactions.
Section
3.5
Financial
Statements
.
(a)
The audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the
unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2017
(including in each case, any related notes and schedules thereto,
where applicable) (collectively, the “
Company Financial
Statements
”), fairly present in all material respects
the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, and fairly present in all
material respects the results of the consolidated operations,
changes in stockholders’ equity, cash flows and consolidated
financial position of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for
the respective fiscal periods or as of the date therein set forth,
except the Company Financial Statements for the year ended December
31, 2017 are subject to normal year-end audit adjustments which, in
the aggregate, would not be material in amount. Each of the Company
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as
indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. Each of the
representations and warranties in this
Section 3.5(a)
is qualified as
follows: for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31,
2015, the Company Financial Statements reflect only the assets,
liabilities, revenue and expenses of the Company directly
attributable to its Cloud Operations division, as well as
allocations deemed reasonable by management to present the Company
Financial Statements for such period on a carve-out basis in
accordance with GAAP standards, and do not necessarily reflect the
Company Financial Statements as they would have been presented for
such Cloud Operations division had it been a separate, stand-alone
entity during such period.
(b)
Except for those
liabilities and obligations that are (i) reflected or reserved
against on the December 31, 2017 unaudited consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries or disclosed in
the notes thereto, or (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2017,
neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has
incurred any Indebtedness or liability, obligation or claim of a
type required to be reflected or reserved for on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding immaterial liabilities,
obligations and claims to the extent that, if they were not so
reflected, would not cause such balance sheet, taken as a whole, to
not be prepared in accordance with GAAP).
(c)
The Company and
Company Subsidiaries make and keep and, for all periods covered by
the Company Financial Statements, have made and kept books, records
and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect in all material respects the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of the Company and Company Subsidiaries. The Company
and Company Subsidiaries maintain systems of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets,
(iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the actual
levels at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
Section
3.6
Absence
of Company Material Adverse Effect
. Since
January 1, 2017 through the date of this Agreement, no event or
events have occurred that have had or would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
Section
3.7
Legal
Proceedings
.
(a)
Except as set forth
on
Section 3.7(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of
the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, legal,
administrative, arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions,
suits or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature
(each, an “
Action
”),
against the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries.
(b)
There is no
Injunction or judgment imposed upon the Company, any of the Company
Subsidiaries or the assets of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries.
Section
3.8
Taxes and Tax Returns
. Each of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed all
federal, state, foreign and local Tax Returns required to be filed
by any of them (all such returns being accurate and complete in all
respects) and has duly and timely paid all Taxes (whether or not
such Taxes were shown as due and payable on such Tax Returns) other
than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested
in good faith, have not been finally determined and have been
adequately reserved against. Any liability with respect to
deficiencies asserted as a result of any audit, examination or
similar proceeding of the Company or any Company Subsidiary Tax
Return by the IRS or any other taxing authority is covered by
adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP in the Company Financial
Statements. There are no disputes pending, or claims asserted (in
writing or otherwise), for Taxes or assessments upon the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries for which the Company does not have
adequate reserves. Neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax, allocation or
indemnification agreement or arrangement the primary subject matter
of which is Taxes (other than such an agreement or arrangement
exclusively between or among the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries). Neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries has agreed to or granted any extension or waiver of
the limitation period applicable to any Taxes or Tax Returns.
Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has
distributed the stock of any corporation, or had its stock
distributed, in a transaction described in or intended to satisfy
the requirements of Section 355 of the Code. Each of the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries has in all material respects properly
and timely withheld or collected and timely paid over to the
appropriate taxing authority (or each is properly holding for such
timely payment) all Taxes required to be withheld, collected and
paid over by applicable Law. There are no Liens for Taxes upon any
asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary other than Permitted
Liens (within the meaning of clause (c) of such term). Neither the
Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to or bound
by any advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other
similar material agreement or ruling relating to Taxes nor are
there any pending requests for such rulings or similar agreements
by or before a taxing authority. Neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of income
in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any
period (or any portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date, as a
result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable
period (or any portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing
Date, including under Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar
provision of applicable Law; (ii) installment sale or other open
transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii)
prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv)
closing agreement described in Section 7121 of the Code or any
similar provision of applicable Law executed on or prior to the
Closing Date; (v) intercompany transaction or excess loss account
described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502 (or any similar
provision of applicable Law); or (vi) indebtedness discharged in
connection with any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.
Other than the affiliated group of which the Company is the common
parent, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has
any liability under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or any
similar provision of applicable Law, as a transferee or successor,
or as a result of any contractual obligation for any Taxes of any
other Person. Neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries has obtained any consent or clearance from or entered
into any settlement or arrangement with any taxing authority that
would be binding on Parent or any of its Affiliates or result in a
material Tax liability for Parent or any of its Affiliates for any
Tax period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date.
Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has engaged in a
“reportable transaction,” as defined in Section
6707A(c)(1) of the Code or Treasury Regulations Section
1.6011-4(b), or any transaction requiring disclosure under a
similar provision of applicable Law. Since December 31, 2013, no
written claim or nexus inquiry has been made by a taxing authority
in a jurisdiction where the Company or any Company Subsidiary does
not file Tax Returns that any of them is or may be subject to tax
by that jurisdiction or that any of them has a duty to collect
Taxes. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in
compliance in all material respects with all terms and conditions
of any applicable material Tax exemption, Tax holiday, or other Tax
reduction agreement, and no such applicable material Tax exemption,
Tax holiday, or other Tax reduction agreement will be adversely
affected by the Transactions. None of the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary has elected to relinquish the carryback of any of its
respective net operating losses pursuant to Treasury Regulations
Sections 1.502 21(b)(3)(ii)(B) or Section 172(b)(3) of the Code, or
any similar provision of applicable Law.
Section
3.9
Employee Benefit
Plans; Labor
.
(a)
Section 3.9(a)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of (i) each
nonqualified deferred compensation or retirement plan for employees
located in the United States, (ii) each qualified “defined
contribution plan” (as such term is defined under Section
3(34) of ERISA), (iii) each qualified “defined benefit
plan” (as such term is defined under Section 3(35) of ERISA)
(the plans set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) are collectively
referred to herein as the “
Pension
Plans
”), (iv) each “welfare benefit plan”
(as such term is defined under Section 3(1) of ERISA) (the
“
Welfare
Plans
”), and (v) each compensatory or benefit plan or
program, or stock option plan, including written individual
contract, employee agreement, plan, program, or arrangement, in
each case, whether funded or unfunded, that currently are
maintained or sponsored in whole or in part, or contributed to by
any of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any Company
Commonly Controlled Entities, for the benefit of, providing any
remuneration or benefits to, or covering any current or former
employee or retiree, any dependent, spouse or other family member
or beneficiary of such employee or retiree, or any director,
independent contractor, member, officer, consultant of any of the
Company or the Company Subsidiaries, or the Company Commonly
Controlled Entities, or under (or in connection with) which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the Company Commonly
Controlled Entities may have any liability (collectively clauses
(i) through (v) are referred to as “
Company Benefit
Plans
”).
(b)
Each Pension Plan
that is intended to meet the requirements of a “qualified
plan” under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code has either
received a favorable determination letter from the IRS that such
Pension Plan is so qualified or has requested such a favorable
determination letter within the remedial amendment period of
Section 401(b) of the Code, or in the case of a Pension Plan that
is maintained pursuant to the adoption of a master, prototype, or
volume submitter plan document, the sponsor of such master or
prototype or volume submitter plan document has obtained from the
National Office of the IRS an opinion or notification letter
stating that the form of the master, prototype or volume submitter
document is acceptable for the establishment of a qualified
retirement plan. The Company Benefit Plans comply in all respects
in both form and in operation with the requirements of the Code,
ERISA and all other applicable Laws.
(c)
To the knowledge of
the Company, there have been no “prohibited
transactions” (as that term is defined in Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any of the Company
Benefit Plans. Except as set forth in
Section 3.9(c)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter, none of the assets of any Pension Plan or
Welfare Plan trust is an “employer security” (within
the meaning of Section 407(d)(1) of ERISA) or “employer real
property” (within the meaning of Section 407(d)(2) of
ERISA).
(d)
(i) Neither the
Company nor any other Person that, together with the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (a “
Company Commonly
Controlled Entity
”) (A) sponsors, maintains or
contributes to, or is obligated to maintain or contribute to, or
has any liability under, or has in the preceding seven (7) years
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, or had any obligation to
maintain or contribute to, any Pension Plan or any “pension
plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is subject
to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code, or
any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37)
of ERISA) or (B) has any unsatisfied liability imposed under Title
IV of ERISA or Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code and (ii) all
contributions (including all employer contributions and employee
salary reduction contributions) or insurance premiums that are due
have been paid with respect to each Company Benefit Plan, and all
contributions or insurance premiums for any period ending on or
before the Closing Date that are not yet due have been paid with
respect to each such Company Benefit Plan or accrued, in each case
in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company, and
with applicable Law and guidance. No Pension Plan or related trust
has been terminated during the last seven years. No assets of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary are subject to any Lien under
Section 412(n) or 430(k) of the Code or Section 302(f) or 302(k) or
Title IV of ERISA.
(e)
Neither the Company
nor any Company Subsidiary has communicated a commitment, whether
orally or in writing, generally to employees or specifically to any
employee regarding (i) any future increase of benefit levels (or
creation of new benefits) with respect to the Company Benefit Plans
beyond those reflected in such plans, or (ii) the adoption or
creation of any new benefit plan.
(f)
Except as set forth
in
Section 3.9(f)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Welfare Plans
obligates the Company or any Company Subsidiary to provide any
current employee or former employee (or any dependent thereof) any
life insurance or health benefits or other welfare benefits after
his or her termination of employment with the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, other than as required under COBRA or any
similar state Law.
(g)
No Company Benefit
Plan (excluding for this purpose any individual employment
agreement or arrangement) has a provision, and no commitment
(whether oral or in writing) has been made, that restricts the
Company or Company Subsidiaries from amending or terminating such
Company Benefit Plan with respect to the accrual of future
benefits; except that the legal obligation to bargain over
mandatory subjects of bargaining under any Law will not be
considered such a restriction.
(h)
Except as set forth
in
Section
3.9(h)(i)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, no payment or
benefit under any Company Benefit Plan that will or may be made by
the Company or any Company Subsidiary in connection with the Merger
to any current employee of the Company or Company Subsidiaries
could reasonably be characterized as an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code. Except as set forth in
Section 3.9(h)(ii)
of the
Company Disclosure Letter, as provided in this Agreement or as
required by applicable Law, consummation of the Transactions will
not (i) entitle any current employee, or former employee (or
spouse, dependent or other family member of such employee) of the
Company or Company Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment
compensation, or any payment contingent upon a change in control or
ownership of the Company or Company Subsidiaries or (ii) accelerate
the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount, of any
compensation due to any such Company Employee, current employee, or
former employee (or any spouse, dependent, or other family member
of such employee), in each case under any Company Benefit Plan.
Except as set forth in
Section 3.9(h)(iii)
of the
Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary has any obligation to provide, and no Company Benefit
Plan or other agreement provides any Person with any amount of
additional compensation or gross-up if such Person is provided with
amounts subject to excise or additional taxes, interest or
penalties incurred pursuant to Sections 4999 or 409A of the Code or
due to the failure of any payment to be deductible under Section
280G of the Code.
(i)
The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries have correctly classified Persons engaged as
consultants or independent contractors for employment purposes
under applicable Law.
(j)
Except as would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Tax or penalty, each Company
Benefit Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation
plan” (within the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code)
subject to Section 409A of the Code is and has been in documentary
and operational compliance with Section 409A of the Code and any
guidance issued with respect thereto.
(k)
The Company has
complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws
concerning employment rights and obligations. Neither the Company
nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to a collective bargaining
agreement in respect of the employees of the Company or a Company
Subsidiary on the date of this Agreement, or a member in any
employers’ organization which is entitled to conclude a
collective bargaining agreement on behalf of its member companies,
and there is no collective bargaining agreement which, although the
Company or Company Subsidiary is not a party to it, applies due to
standard reference in employment agreements or by state decree as a
generally applicable collective bargaining agreement. No collective
bargaining agreement or shop agreement is being negotiated or
renegotiated in any material respect by the Company or any of the
Company Subsidiaries. There is no labor dispute, work stoppage,
slow down or strike against the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened which would reasonably be expected to interfere with the
respective business activities of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries (and no work stoppages, slow downs, labor disputes or
strikes occurred during the last five years). As of the date of
this Agreement, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no charge
or complaint against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries
by the National Labor Relations Board or any comparable
Governmental Entity or in relation to any labor rules and
regulations or any other competent labor authority pending or
threatened in writing.
(l)
There is no
liability under ERISA or otherwise with respect to any Company
Benefit Plan other than for the payment or provision of the
benefits due thereunder in accordance with its terms, which has
been incurred or, based upon such facts as exist on the date
hereof, may reasonably be expected to be incurred. There are no
unresolved claims or disputes under the terms of, or in connection
with, the Company Benefit Plans (other than routine undisputed
claims for benefits under the Company Benefit Plans or other
immaterial claims or disputes that are being handled in the normal
course of plan administration), and no action, legal or otherwise,
has been commenced with respect to any claim (including claims for
benefits under Company Benefit Plans). To the knowledge of the
Company, no facts exist which could give rise to any actions,
audits, suits or claims (other than in the ordinary
course).
(m)
No Welfare Plan is
or at any time in the past seven years was funded through a
“welfare benefit fund,” as defined in Section 419(e) of
the Code, and no benefits under any Company Benefit Plan are or at
any time have within the past seven years been provided through a
“voluntary employees’ beneficiary association”
(within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the Code) or a
“supplemental unemployment benefit plan” (within the
meaning of Section 501(c)(17) of the Code).
Section
3.10
Compliance
with Law
. At all times
since December 31, 2013, the Company and each of the Company
Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with and are
not in default under any Law or Order relating to the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries or by which any material property
or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound. As of
the date hereof, no investigation by any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary is pending, nor,
to the knowledge of the Company, has any Governmental Entity
indicated to the Company an intention to conduct any such
investigation.
Section
3.11
Environmental
Matters
. The Company and
each of the Company Subsidiaries is, and at all times has been, in
compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws.
The Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold all Permits required
under applicable Environmental Laws to permit the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries to conduct their businesses as currently
conducted. The business and operations of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with all such Permits. No
notice of violation, notification of liability, demand, request for
information, citation, summons or order has been received by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, no complaint has been filed, no
penalty or fine has been assessed, and no investigation, action,
claim, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened by any Person involving the Company or any
Company Subsidiary relating to or arising out of any Environmental
Law. There have been no Releases of Hazardous Substances by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary at, on, above, under or from any
properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the
Company, any Company Subsidiary or any predecessors in interest
that, in each case, has resulted in or would reasonably be expected
to result in any material cost, liability or obligation of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary under any Environmental Law. The
Company has provided to Parent all material environmental site
assessments, audits, investigations and studies in their
possession, custody or control relating to property or assets
currently or formerly owned, leased, operated or used by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any
Company Subsidiary has been in business other than those related to
the provision of communication services that would reasonably be
expected to present environmental issues of a materially different
scope or magnitude than those presented in the provision of
communication services. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has
operated or currently operates (i) any manufacturing facilities,
(ii) any facilities that are or have been permitted under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or (iii) any business that
manages the hazardous wastes of any unrelated party. The
representations contained in the immediately prior sentence of this
Section 3.11
shall
not be deemed to be breached unless the operation or ownership of
such other business or businesses has resulted in any material
cost, liability or obligation of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary under any Environmental Law.
Section
3.12
Material
Contracts
.
(a)
Except as listed in
Section 3.12(a)
of
the Company Disclosure Letter, or any Company Benefit Plan that is
listed in
Section
3.9(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of
this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contract that
is:
(i)
a
“non-compete” or similar agreement that restricts or
purports to restrict the geographic area in which the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries may conduct any line of business,
or that requires the referral of business opportunities by the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries;
(ii)
a
joint venture, partnership or limited liability company agreement
or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the
formation, creation, operation, management or control of any joint
venture, partnership or limited liability company, other than any
such agreement or arrangement solely between or among the Company
and/or the Company Subsidiaries;
(iii)
an
agreement (other than a future contract, option contract or other
derivative transaction) that involves future expenditures or
receipts by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of more than
$150,000 in any one year period that cannot be terminated on less
than 90 days’ notice without material payment or
penalty;
(iv)
an
acquisition agreement that contains “earn-out” or other
contingent payment obligations that would reasonably be expected to
result in future payments by the Company or a Company Subsidiary in
excess of $150,000;
(v)
an agreement
relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or any financial
guaranty, in each case pertaining to indebtedness in excess of
$150,000 individually;
(vi)
a
lease or sublease with respect to real property;
(vii)
an
agreement pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary
(1) is granted or obtains any right to use any Intellectual
Property (excluding standard form Contracts granting rights to use
readily available shrink wrap or click wrap software), (2) is
restricted in its right to use or register any Company Intellectual
Property, or (c) permits any other Person to use, enforce, or
register any Company Intellectual Property, in each case including
any license agreements, coexistence agreements, and covenants not
to sue (other than the ordinary course limited license granted
pursuant to the Company’s standard form of customer
agreement);
(viii)
an
employment agreement with an employee of the Company or a Company
Subsidiary, or an agreement with an independent contractor
requiring payments in excess of $75,000 in any calendar
year;
(ix)
a
capital lease;
(x)
an agreement that
involves a forward, future, hedge, swap, collar, put, call, option
or similar derivative transaction;
(xi)
an
agreement of guaranty, surety or indemnification;
(xii)
an
agreement for severance or retention payments or under which the
Company or a Company Subsidiary is obligated to make any payment of
Transaction Bonuses; or
(xiii)
a
Contract relating to (A) the sale, outbound license or outbound
lease by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any material
indefeasible rights of use of capacity infrastructure or peering
arrangements or (B) the purchase, inbound license or inbound lease
by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any material
indefeasible rights of use of capacity infrastructure or peering
arrangements;
(xiv)
a
collective bargaining agreement; or
(xv)
an
agreement that has not been fully satisfied or terminated in
accordance with its terms relating to the disposition or
acquisition by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of assets or
properties in excess of $100,000, not made in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice.
(all
contracts of the type described in this
Section 3.12(a)
, being referred
to herein as a “
Company Material
Contract
”).
(b)
Neither the Company
nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is in material breach of or
default under the terms of any Company Material Contract. To the
knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Company Material
Contract is in any material respect in breach of or default under
the terms of any Company Material Contract. Each Company Material
Contract is a valid and binding obligation of the Company or the
Company Subsidiary that is a party thereto and is in full force and
effect; except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to
creditors’ rights generally; and (ii) equitable remedies of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
True, correct and complete copies of each Company Material Contract
(including all modifications and amendments thereto and waivers
thereunder) have been made available to Parent.
Section
3.13
Intellectual
Property; Data Privacy
.
(a)
Either the Company
or a Company Subsidiary owns, or is licensed or otherwise possesses
all rights necessary to use, all Intellectual Property used in
their respective businesses as currently conducted (collectively,
the “
Company
Intellectual Property
”).
(b)
Section 3.13(b)(i)
of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth all Company Registered
Intellectual Property. All required filings and fees related to
such Company Registered Intellectual Property have been timely
filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Entities and
authorized registrars.
Section 3.13(b)(ii)
of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth all Intellectual Property
owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary that is not Company Registered Intellectual Property and
which is material to the businesses of the Company and Company
Subsidiaries as currently conducted (collectively, together with
the Company Registered Intellectual Property, the
“
Company Owned
Intellectual Property
”).
(c)
There are no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims in
writing by any Person alleging infringement or misappropriation by
the Company or any Company Subsidiary arising from their use of the
Company Intellectual Property, and to the knowledge of the Company,
the conduct of the businesses of the Company and Company
Subsidiaries and their products and services do not infringe,
misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate any Intellectual
Property rights of any Person.
(d)
Neither the Company
nor any Company Subsidiary has made any claim during the past three
(3) years of any misappropriation or infringement by any third
party of its rights to or in connection with the use of any Company
Intellectual Property; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no
Person is infringing or misappropriating any Company Intellectual
Property.
(e)
The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures to protect the
confidentiality of their material Trade Secrets including requiring
employees, contractors and other Persons having access thereto to
execute written nondisclosure agreements. To the knowledge of the
Company, none of the material Trade Secrets of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries have been disclosed or authorized to be
disclosed by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to any third
party other than pursuant to a valid and enforceable nondisclosure
agreement. To the knowledge of the Company, no third party to any
nondisclosure agreement with the Company or any Company Subsidiary
is in material breach, violation or default.
(f)
Each Person who
contributed, developed or conceived any Company Owned Intellectual
Property has done so pursuant to a valid and enforceable written
agreement that (i) protects the confidential information disclosed
by the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) grants the Company and
its Subsidiaries exclusive ownership of the Person’s
contribution, development or conception and waives any
non-assignable interests in such contribution, development or
conception, such as moral rights.
(g)
During the three
(3) years prior to the date hereof, to the knowledge of the
Company, there has been no act or omission in respect of the use or
enforcement of the Company Owned Intellectual Property that would
reasonably be expected to result in the abandonment, cancellation
or unenforceability of any such Intellectual Property.
(h)
No source code for
any Company Proprietary Software has been delivered, licensed, or
made available to any escrow agent or other Person who is not an
employee of the Company or a Company Subsidiary. Neither the
Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any duty or obligation to
deliver, license, or make available the source code for any Company
Proprietary Software to any escrow agent or other Person who is not
an employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(i)
No Company
Proprietary Software is subject to any “copyleft” or
other obligation or condition (including any obligation or
condition under any “open source” license such as the
GNU Public License, Lesser GNU Public License, or Mozilla Public
License) that has been or is used in the businesses of the Company
and its Subsidiaries in a manner that would (i) require or
condition the use or distribution of such Company Proprietary
Software on the disclosure, licensing, or distribution of any
source code for any portion of such Company Proprietary Software or
(ii) otherwise impose any limitation, restriction, or condition on
the right or ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to
use or distribute any Company Proprietary Software.
(j)
To the knowledge of
the Company, the Company Proprietary Software does not contain any
program routine, device, code or instructions (including any code
or instructions provided by third parties) or other undisclosed
feature, including, without limitation, a time bomb, virus,
lock-out device, drop-dead device, malicious logic, worm, Trojan
horse, bug, error, defect or trap door, that is designed to access,
modify, delete, damage, disable, deactivate, interfere with, or
otherwise harm the Company Proprietary Software or any of the
Company’s information technology systems, data or other
electronically stored information, or computer programs or
systems.
(k)
The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company all of
its and their providers of information technology services, have
(i) complied in all material respects with their respective
published privacy policies and internal privacy policies and
guidelines and all applicable Laws relating to privacy, data
protection, user data or Personal Data, including Personal Data of
customers, employees, contractors and third parties who have
provided information to the Company or any Company Subsidiary; and
(ii) implemented and maintained, in all material respects, a
comprehensive security plan that includes industry standard
administrative, technical and physical safeguards to ensure that
Personal Data is protected against loss, damage, unauthorized
access, unauthorized use, unauthorized modification, or other
misuse. To the knowledge of the Company, within the past five (5)
years there has been no material loss, damage, unauthorized access,
unauthorized use, unauthorized modification, or other breach of
security of Personal Data maintained by or on behalf of the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries. Within the past three (3) years, no
Person has made any material claim or commenced any Action with
respect to, and the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not,
to the knowledge of the Company, experienced any incident relating
to, any actual or suspected loss, damage, unauthorized access,
unauthorized use, unauthorized modification, or breach of security
of Personal Data maintained or processed by or on behalf of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries. Except for disclosures of
information permitted or required by privacy Laws or authorized by
the provider of Personal Data, to the knowledge of the Company,
neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has shared,
sold, rented or otherwise made available, and does not share, sell,
rent or otherwise make available, to third parties any Personal
Data.
(l)
The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries have implemented business continuity and
disaster recovery plans and have arranged for back-up data
processing services adequate to meet their data processing needs in
the event that the computer systems, networks, hardware, software,
databases, websites, and equipment of the Company or the Company
Subsidiaries or any of their material components is rendered
temporarily or permanently inoperative as a result of a natural or
other disaster. The computer systems, networks, hardware, software,
databases, websites, and equipment of the Company or the Company
Subsidiaries have not suffered any failures, errors or breakdowns
within the past three years that have caused any material
disruption or interruption in the business of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries. The computer systems, networks, hardware,
software, databases, websites, and equipment of the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries have not suffered any failures, errors or
breakdowns within the past three (3) years that have caused any
material disruption or interruption in the business of the Company
or the Company Subsidiaries.
Section
3.14
Title
to Properties; Assets
. The Company and
each of the Company Subsidiaries have good and valid fee simple
title to its owned properties and tangible assets or good and valid
leasehold interests in all of its leasehold properties and tangible
assets except for such as are no longer used or useful in the
conduct of its business or as have been disposed of in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices. All properties
and assets, other than properties and assets in which the Company
or any Company Subsidiary have a leasehold interest, are free and
clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. The equipment and
other tangible assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
are in all material respects in good operating condition, normal
wear and tear and ordinary maintenance requirements
excepted.
Section
3.15
Real
Property
.
Section 3.15
of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all real property currently
owned or leased by the Company or any Company Subsidiaries. The
Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries has good and fee simple
title to all real property owned by the Company or any such Company
Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (the
“
Company
Owned Real Property
”) and valid leasehold estates in
all real property leased or subleased (whether as tenant or
subtenant) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the date
of this Agreement (including improvements thereon, the
“
Company Leased Real
Property
”). The Company Subsidiaries have exclusive
possession of each Company Leased Real Property and Company Owned
Real Property, other than any Permitted Liens and use and occupancy
rights granted to third-party owners, tenants, guests, hosts or
licensees pursuant to agreements with respect to such real
property.
Section
3.16
Regulatory
Matters
.
(a)
The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries hold all Permits issued by the FCC or the
state public service or public utility commissions or other similar
state regulatory bodies (“
State
PSCs
”), and all other material regulatory Permits,
including franchises, ordinances and other agreements granting
access to public rights of way, issued or granted to the Company or
any Company Subsidiary by a Governmental Entity (the
“
Company
Licenses
”) that are required for the Company and each
Company Subsidiary to conduct its business, as presently conducted.
Section 3.16(a)
of
the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all Company
Licenses, together with the name of the entity holding such Company
License. True correct and complete copies of each Company License
(including all modifications and amendments thereto and waivers
thereunder) have been made available to Parent.
(b)
Each Company
License is valid and in full force and effect and has not been
suspended, revoked, cancelled or adversely modified. No Company
License is subject to (i) any conditions or requirements that have
not been imposed generally upon licenses in the same jurisdictions,
or (ii) any pending proceeding by or before the FCC or State PSCs
to suspend, revoke or cancel such Company License, or any judicial
review of a decision by the FCC or State PSCs with respect thereto.
To the knowledge of the Company, there has not been any event,
condition or circumstance that would preclude any Company License
from being renewed in the ordinary course (to the extent that such
Company License is renewable by its terms).
(c)
Company License is
in compliance in all material respects with such Company License
and has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect
thereto, including all reports, notifications and applications
required by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the
“
Communications
Act
”), or the rules, regulations, written policies and
orders of the FCC (together with the Communications Act, the
“
FCC
Rules
”) or similar state telecommunications laws (the
“
State
Telecommunications Laws
”) and the rules, regulations,
written policies and Orders of State PSCs (collectively with the
State Telecommunications Laws, the, “
PSC
Rules
”), and the payment of all regulatory fees and
contributions, except for exemptions, waivers or similar
concessions or allowances. Without limiting the foregoing, the
licensee of each Company License is in material compliance with the
applicable requirements of the Federal and state Universal Service
Fund programs, the Federal Telecommunications Relay Service
programs, the Federal North American Numbering Plan Administration
program, the Federal Local Number Portability Administration
program (collectively, the “
USF
Programs
”), the Communications Assistance to Law
Enforcement Act (“
CALEA
”),
and the FCC’s regulations concerning treatment and protection
of Customer Proprietary Network Information (“
CPNI
”).
All reports and other submissions required in connection with the
USF Programs, CALEA, CPNI regulations, including contribution
remittances, have been timely filed in materially true, correct and
complete form. To the knowledge of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, there are no pending or threatened investigations,
inquiries, audits, examinations or other proceedings in connection
with the performance of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries of
their USF Programs, CALEA and CPNI obligations.
(d)
Except as set forth
in
Section 3.16(d)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any
Company Subsidiary has (i) implemented, or been alleged or found to
have implemented, an unauthorized change of an end user’s
carrier (“
Slamming
”)
or (ii) placed or been alleged or found to have placed an
unauthorized charge on customer billing (“
Cramming
”).
(e)
Except as set forth
in
Section 3.16(e)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and all Company
Subsidiaries have timely complied with any compensation,
restoration, reimbursement, reporting, or other obligations arising
in connection with public and private right-of-way access and pole
attachment agreements.
(f)
Except as set forth
in
Section 3.16(f)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and all Company
Subsidiaries have timely submitted all required international
traffic and circuit status reports in materially true, correct and
complete form. Except as set forth in
Section 3.16(f)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter, the licensee of each Company License is in
material compliance with the applicable requirements of federal and
state network outage reporting (“
NOR
”)
requirements. All reports and other submissions required in
connection with federal and state NOR requirements have been timely
filed in materially true, correct and complete form. To the
knowledge of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, there are no
pending or threatened investigations, inquiries, audits,
examinations or other proceedings in connection with the
performance of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries of their
NOR requirements.
(g)
The Company or a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company directly or indirectly owns
100% of the Equity Interests and controls 100% of the voting power
and decision-making authority of each holder of the Company
Licenses. No Company License, Order or other agreement, obtained
from, issued by or concluded with any State PSC would impose
restrictions on the ability of any Company Subsidiary to make
payments, dividends or other distributions to the Company or any
Company Subsidiary that limits, or would reasonably be expected to
limit, the cash funding and management alternatives of the Company
on a consolidated basis in a manner disproportionate to
restrictions applied by other State PSCs.
Section
3.17
Interconnection
Agreements
. The Company or a
Company Subsidiary has entered into, with incumbent local exchange
carriers or other non-incumbent carriers, all interconnection
agreements, line sharing agreements, line splitting agreements and
other Contracts (the “
Company
Interconnection Agreements
”), that are necessary to
conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted. All
Company Interconnection Agreements entered into pursuant to
Sections 251 and 252 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the
“
Telecommunications
Act
”), including amendments to implement the
FCC’s Triennial Review Remand Order, to the extent such
amendments have been adopted, include the general terms, conditions
and pricing for any unbundled network elements (“
UNEs
”),
collocation or other network facilities or services provided under
Sections 251 and 252 of the Telecommunications Act. All Company
Interconnection Agreements have been approved by the applicable
State PSC. The Company and any Company Subsidiary, as applicable,
that is a party to a Company Interconnection Agreement has
performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under such Company Interconnection
Agreement.
Section
3.18
Network
Facilities
. Except as set
forth in
Section
3.18
of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a)
All Company Owned
Network Facilities and, to the knowledge of the Company, all
Company leased Network Facilities: (i) are in all material respects
in good working order and condition and are without any material
defects individually and in the aggregate; (ii) are, individually
and in the aggregate, operated, installed, and maintained by the
Company, a Company Subsidiary, or their contractors in a manner
that is in compliance in all material respects with (x) generally
accepted industry standards for the United States industry, (y)
performance requirements in service agreements with customers of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, and (z) all Laws, and
(iii) comply, individually and in the aggregate, in all material
respects with applicable performance standards.
(b)
The Company or a
Company Subsidiary owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than
Permitted Liens and Liens to be discharged at the Closing), all
right, title and interest in Company Owned Network Facilities. No
third party may revoke or otherwise encumber or interfere in any
material respect with such right, title, and interest.
(c)
(i) Each Contract
under which any third party provides Network Facilities, including
leases, licenses, indefeasible rights of use of capacity or
infrastructure, pole attachment agreements and Right-of-Way
Agreements (a “
Company Network
Facility Agreement
”), to which the Company or any
Company Subsidiary is a party, is a valid, legally binding and
enforceable agreement and is in full force and effect, and neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in material breach of or
material default under any Company Network Facility Agreement, (ii)
no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time, would
constitute a material breach or material default by the Company or
any Company Subsidiary or permit termination, revocation, other
interference with performance of, modification or acceleration by
any third party of any Company Network Facility Agreement, and
(iii) as of the date hereof, no third party has repudiated,
revoked, terminated, or otherwise materially interfered with
performance of or has the right to terminate, repudiate, revoke, or
otherwise materially interfere with the performance of any Company
Network Facility Agreement. Any notices or other actions required
to be taken to renew the term of a Company Network Facility
Agreement for any upcoming renewal term have been taken or given in
the manner and within the time provided in such Company Network
Facility Agreement (or the time period provided for giving of such
notice or to undertake such action has not expired) to effectively
renew the term of such Company Network Facility Agreement for the
upcoming term thereof to the extent that such Company Network
Facility Agreement is renewable by its terms and the Company or the
applicable Company Subsidiary intends to renew such Company Network
Facility Agreement. To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date
of this Agreement, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold
all Company Network Facility Agreements necessary to conduct the
Company’s business and no event has occurred, or circumstance
exists, that, but for the passage of time or giving of notice,
would preclude any Company Network Facility Agreement from being
renewed in accordance with the terms thereof to the extent the
Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary intends to renew such
Company Network Facility Agreement.
Section
3.19
Insurance
.
The Company and the Company Subsidiaries maintain insurance in such
amounts and against such risks as the Company believes to be
customary for the industries in which it and the Company
Subsidiaries operate. Neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries has received notice of any pending or threatened
cancellation with respect to any such material insurance policy,
and each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in
compliance in all material respects with all conditions contained
therein.
Section
3.20
Application
of Takeover Laws
. The Company and
the Stockholders have taken all necessary action, if any, in order
to render inapplicable to the Transactions any restriction on
business combinations contained in any applicable Takeover Law
which is or would reasonably be expected to become applicable to
Parent or Merger Sub as a result of the Transactions, including the
conversion of Company Capital Stock pursuant to
Section 1.5(a)
.
Section
3.21
Affiliate
Transactions
. There are not any
transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between
the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the
Company’s Affiliates (other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries of
the Company) or other Persons on the other hand.
Section
3.22
Customers and
Suppliers
.
(a)
Section 3.22(a)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) the top thirty customers of the
Company based on aggregate consideration paid to the Company for
each of the two (2) most recent fiscal years (collectively, the
“
Material
Customers
”); and (ii) the amount of consideration paid
by each Material Customer during such periods. Except as set forth
in
Section 3.22(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not received any
notice (in writing, including by e-mail to the Company’s
legal department, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any
applicable contract with the Material Customer), that any of its
Material Customers has ceased, or intends to cease after the
Closing, to use its goods or services or to otherwise terminate or
materially reduce its relationship with the Company.
(b)
Section 3.22(b)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) each supplier to whom the Company
has paid consideration for goods or services rendered in an amount
greater than or equal to $50,000 for each of the two (2) most
recent fiscal years (collectively, the “
Material
Suppliers
”); and (ii) the amount of purchases from
each Material Supplier during such periods. Except as set forth in
Section 3.22(b)
of
the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not received any
notice (in writing, including by e-mail to the Company’s
legal department, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any
applicable contract with the Material Supplier), that any of its
Material Suppliers has ceased, or intends to cease, to supply goods
or services to the Company or to otherwise terminate or materially
reduce its relationship with the Company.
Section
3.23
Directors,
Officers, Managers
.
Section 3.23
of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all officers, directors,
partners and/or managers of the Company and each Company Subsidiary
as of the date hereof.
Section
3.24
Books
and Records
. The minute books
and stock record books of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries,
all of which have been made available to Parent, are complete and
correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business
practices. The minute books of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries contain accurate and complete records of all meetings,
and actions taken by written consent of, the stockholders, the
members, the board of directors, any committee of the board, or the
manager, as applicable, and no meeting, or action taken by written
consent, of any such stockholders, members, board, committee or
manager has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and
are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of
those books and records will be in the possession of the
Company.
Section
3.25
Broker’s
Fees
. None of the
Company, any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective officers
or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or
finder’s fees in connection with the Transactions, other than
as set forth on
Section
3.25
of the Company Disclosure Letter. The Company has
heretofore provided to Parent a correct and complete copy of the
Company’s engagement letters with the entities set forth on
Section 3.25
of the
Company Disclosure Letter, which letters describe all fees payable
to the entities set forth on
Section 3.25
of the Company
Disclosure Letter, in connection with the Transactions and all
Contracts under which any such fees or any expenses are payable and
all indemnification and other Contracts with the entities set forth
on
Section 3.25
of
the Company Disclosure Letter, entered into in connection with the
Transactions.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Parent
and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:
Section
4.1
Parent
Corporate Organization
. Parent is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Parent has the corporate
power and corporate authority to own or lease all of its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or
the character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.2
Merger
Sub Corporate Organization
. Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of the State of Delaware. All of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at the Effective
Time will be, owned by Parent. Merger Sub has not conducted any
business prior to the date hereof and has, and prior to the
Effective Time will have, no assets, liabilities or obligations of
any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant
to this Agreement and the Transactions.
Section
4.3
Authority; No
Violation
.
(a)
Each of Parent and
Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by the Board
of Directors of Parent and the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, and,
except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to
authorize the consummation of the Transactions. This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger
Sub and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding
agreement of the Company, this Agreement constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against
Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
Laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors’
rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding at Law or in equity).
(b)
None of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub,
the consummation of the Transactions, nor compliance by Parent or
Merger Sub, as applicable, with any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement, will (i) violate any provision of the Parent
Charter, the Parent Bylaws, the Merger Sub Charter or the Merger
Sub Bylaws or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and
filings referred to in
Section 4.4
are duly obtained
and/or made, violate any Injunction or Law applicable to Parent,
Merger Sub, any of the Parent Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets.
Section
4.4
Consents
and Approvals
. Except for (a)
the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, (b) the State
Approvals and (c) the FCC Approval, no consents or approvals of or
filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary
in connection with (i) the execution and delivery by Parent or
Merger Sub of this Agreement and (ii) the consummation by Parent
and Merger Sub, as applicable, of the Transactions except as would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.5
Financing
.
Parent will have at the Effective Time access to immediately
available funds sufficient to pay the amounts required to be paid
by Parent hereunder and to pay all related fees and expenses to be
paid by Parent at the Closing. Parent’s and Merger
Sub’s obligations under this Agreement are not subject to any
condition regarding Parent’s or Merger Sub’s ability to
obtain financing to enable Parent to meet its obligations
hereunder.
Section
4.6
Legal
Proceedings
.
(a)
Neither Parent nor
any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no
pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, Actions,
against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary except as would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
There is no
Injunction or judgment imposed upon Parent, any of the Parent
Subsidiaries or the assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that
would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.7
SEC
Reports
. No report on Form
10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K (including exhibits and all other
information incorporated therein) filed by Parent with, or
furnished by Parent to, the SEC during the twenty-four month period
prior to the date hereof contained any untrue statement of material
fact or omitted any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, in each case determined as of the date of such
filing or furnishing of such item.
Section
4.8
Parent
Common Stock
. The shares of
Parent Common Stock to be issued to the Stockholders pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized, and when
issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly
and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will not be
issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any
stockholder, and will be listed for trading on the principal stock
exchange on which the shares of common stock of Parent are traded
as of the date of this Agreement.
Section
4.9
Investment
Intent
. Parent is
acquiring all of the shares of the Company Capital Stock for its
own account and not with a view to the distribution of those
interests within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities
Act.
Section
4.10
Broker’s
Fees
. None of Parent,
any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective officers or
directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or
finder’s fees in connection with the Merger.
ARTILCE
V
PRE-CLOSING
COVENANTS
Section
5.1
Conduct
of Businesses by the Company Prior to the Effective
Time
. During the period
from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the termination
of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the Effective
Time (except as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, as
required by a Governmental Entity or applicable Law or as Parent
may otherwise consent in writing (which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)), the Company will,
and will cause each of the Company Subsidiaries to use commercially
reasonable efforts to (a) conduct, in all material respects, its
business in the ordinary course, including the timely payment in
accordance with historical practice of all Taxes, accounts payable
and other liabilities, (b) preserve intact its business
organization and its significant business relationships and to
preserve satisfactory relationships with its employees, (c)
maintain insurance upon all of the material assets of the Company
in such amounts and of such kinds comparable to that in effect on
the date of this Agreement, and (d) maintain all Permits and timely
pay all material fees, charges and other amounts to Governmental
Entities.
Section
5.2
Company
Forbearances
. Without limiting
the generality of Section 5.1, during the period from the date of
this Agreement to the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
in accordance with its terms and the Effective Time, except as set
forth on Section 5.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter or as
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or as required by
applicable Law, the Company will not, and will not permit any of
the Company Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed):
(a)
incur any
Indebtedness;
(b)
(i) adjust, split,
combine or reclassify any of its capital stock;
(ii)
make,
declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on, or
directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any
shares of its capital stock (other than from employees that have
ceased to be employed by the Company or a Company Subsidiary
pursuant to Contracts in effect on the date of this Agreement) or
any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently
convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the
occurrence of certain events) into or exchangeable for any shares
of its capital stock except dividends paid by any of the Company
Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall
restrict the Company from declaring and paying a cash dividend or
making a cash distribution to its stockholders prior to the Closing
Date; or
(iii)
issue,
sell, grant or authorize the issuance, sale or grant of any shares
of Company Capital Stock or other ownership interest in the Company
or any Company Subsidiary or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any such shares or ownership interest, or any
rights, options, or warrants with respect to any such shares of
Company Capital Stock, ownership interests or convertible or
exchangeable securities;
(c)
except as required
by Law or an agreement (including, any Company Benefit Plan) in
effect on the date of this Agreement, or as otherwise set forth in
Section 5.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(i)
increase any wages,
salaries, compensation, pension, or other fringe benefits or
perquisites payable to any director, executive officer or employee
other than ordinary course annual wage and salary increases for
employees (other than employees with a title of Vice President or a
title senior to Vice President) that do not increase the aggregate
amount of such wages and salaries for all such affected employees
by more than $125,000;
(ii)
enter
into or amend any employment or severance agreements with any
director or executive officer;
(iii)
establish
any bonus or incentive plan;
(iv)
pay
any pension or retirement allowance not allowed by any existing
plan or agreement or by applicable Law;
(v)
pay any bonus to
any director or executive officer other than pursuant to the 2017
Annual Bonus Plans in effect on the date of this Agreement;
or
(d)
become a party to,
amend or commit itself to, any pension, retirement, profit-sharing
or welfare benefit plan or agreement or employment agreement with
or for the benefit of any employee of the Company or a Company
Subsidiary;
(e)
sell, lease,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its material properties or
assets to any Person other than a Company Subsidiary, except for
the disposal of obsolete assets or assets sold in the ordinary
course of business;
(f)
compromise, settle
or agree to settle any Action in which damages are being sought
against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than
compromises, settlements or agreements in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice that (i) involve only the
payment of monetary damages not in excess of $50,000 individually
or $250,000 in the aggregate, and (ii) do not involve any
imposition of equitable relief on, or any admission of wrongdoing
or, in the context of any actual or potential violation of any
criminal Law, any nolo contendere or similar plea by, the Company
or any Company Subsidiaries;
(g)
make any
acquisition (including by merger) of the capital stock or a
material portion of the assets of any other Person;
(h)
purchase or
otherwise acquire any real property;
(i)
enter into or renew
any contract with a term greater than one year and annual payments
by the Company or any Company Subsidiary greater than
$250,000;
(j)
enter into any new
line of business that is material to the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or materially change any of its
technology or operating policies that are material, individually or
in the aggregate, to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, except in the ordinary course of business or as
required by applicable Law;
(k)
amend the Company
Charter or the Company Bylaws, except as otherwise required by
Law;
(l)
except as required
by GAAP as concurred in by its independent auditors or in the
ordinary course of business, make any material change in its
methods or principles of accounting;
(m)
except as required
by applicable Law, make, change or rescind any material Tax
election, change any Tax accounting period, adopt or change any Tax
accounting method, amend any material Tax Return, enter into any
closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or assessment relating to
the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, obtain any Tax
ruling, surrender any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, or
consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period
applicable to any Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries;
(n)
waive or amend in
any material respect any of its material rights under any Company
Material Contract;
(o)
adopt or recommend
a plan of complete or partial dissolution, liquidation,
recapitalization, restructuring or other
reorganization;
(p)
fail to maintain,
or allow to lapse or abandon, any material foreign or U.S.
registrations in connection with any Company Intellectual
Property;
(q)
except as required
by Law, enter into or amend in any material respect any collective
bargaining agreement;
(r)
make any
discretionary contributions to pension or retirement plans in
excess of the minimum required contributions as required by the
Pension Protection Act of 2006 or similar legal requirements for
plans outside the United States;
(s)
conduct the
businesses of the Company or any Company Subsidiary in a manner
that would cause the Company or any Company Subsidiary to become an
“investment company” subject to registration under the
Investment Company Act;
(t)
terminate or permit
any material Permit of the Company to lapse, other than in
accordance with the terms and regular expiration of any such
Permit, or fail to apply on a timely basis for any renewal of any
renewable material Permit of the Company;
(u)
change recurring or
non-recurring rates, promotions, credit policies or collections
procedures, or sales incentives and commission plans for employees
of the Company or a Company Subsidiary or any other agent of the
Company or a Company Subsidiary;
(v)
accelerate the
billing, collection or other realization of accounts receivable or
other sums payable to the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiary;
(w)
fail to pay or
satisfy, or delay the payment or satisfaction of, any accounts
payable or other obligations;
(x)
take any action
outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices that would materially impact the Working Capital of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries; or
(y)
agree to take, make
any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of
directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this
Section
5.2
.
ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
Section
6.1
Filings; Other
Actions; Notification
.
(a)
The Company, Parent
and Merger Sub will use their respective commercially reasonable
efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action
and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable Law, or otherwise to consummate and make
effective the Transactions as promptly as practicable, (ii) obtain
from any Governmental Entity any consents, licenses, permits,
waivers, approvals, authorizations or Orders, including the FCC
Approval and State Approvals, required to be obtained by Parent,
Merger Sub or the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
or to avoid any Action by any Governmental Entity, in connection
with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the Transactions and (iii) (A) as promptly
as reasonably practicable, and in any event within ten (10)
Business Days after the date hereof, make all necessary filings,
and thereafter make any other required submissions, with respect to
this Agreement required in order to obtain the FCC Approval, (B) as
promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within seven
(7) Business Days after the date hereof, make all necessary
filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions, with
respect to this Agreement required in order to obtain the State
Approvals, and (C) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the
date hereof, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any
other required submissions, with respect to this Agreement required
under any other applicable Law. The Company and Parent will furnish
to each other all information required for any application or other
filing under the rules and regulations of any applicable Law in
connection with the Transactions.
(b)
The Company will
give (or will cause the Company Subsidiaries to give) any notices
to third parties, and use, and cause the Company Subsidiaries to
use, their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any third
party consents (i) required under the terms of any Company Material
Contract or Permit of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to
consummate the Transactions, or (ii) required to prevent a Company
Material Adverse Effect from occurring prior to or after the
Effective Time.
(c)
Without limiting
the generality of anything contained in this
Section 6.1
, each Party hereto
will: (i) give the other Parties prompt notice of the making or
commencement of any Action with respect to the Merger or any of the
other Transactions; (ii) keep the other Parties informed as to the
status of any such request or Action; (iii) promptly inform the
other Parties of any communication to or from any Governmental
Entity regarding the Merger or any of the other Transactions; (iv)
respond as promptly as practicable to any additional requests for
information received by any Party from any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Transactions or filings contemplated by
Section 6.1(a)
; and (v) use
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the entry in any Action
brought by a Governmental Entity or any other Person of any
Injunction which would prohibit, make unlawful or delay the
consummation of the Transactions. Each Party hereto will consult
and cooperate with the other Parties and will consider in good
faith the views of the other Parties in connection with any filing,
analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument,
opinion or proposal made or submitted in connection with the Merger
or any of the other Transactions. In addition, except as may be
prohibited by any Governmental Entity or by applicable Law, in
connection with any such request or Action, each Party will permit
Representatives of the other Parties to be present at each meeting
or conference relating to such request or Action and to have access
to and be consulted in connection with any document, opinion or
proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Entity in connection
with such request or Action.
(d)
Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company agrees to (and the Company will cause each Company
Subsidiary to) use commercially reasonable efforts to: (A) promptly
provide all information requested by any Governmental Entity in
connection with the Transactions; (B) obtain such approvals,
consents and clearances as may be necessary, proper or advisable
under any applicable Laws; (C) promptly provide all notifications
required by, and file all applications with, the FCC seeking the
consent of the FCC that are necessary or appropriate to consummate
the Transactions, including the FCC Approvals listed on
Section 6.1(d)
of
the Company Disclosure Letter; and (D) promptly provide all
notifications and registrations required by, and file all
applications with, each applicable State PSC that are necessary or
appropriate to consummate the Transactions, including the State
Approvals listed on
Section 6.1(d)
of the Company
Disclosure Letter.
Section
6.2
Written
Consent
. Immediately
following the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Parties, the Company will, in accordance with the DGCL, the Company
Charter, the Company Bylaws and any applicable Contract to which
the Company is a party, use commercially reasonable efforts to seek
and obtain a written consent (the “
Written Consent
”)
approving all of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and executed by the holders of at least 95% of the Company Capital
Stock, determined on an as-converted basis. If the duly executed
Written Consent executed by such holders of Company Capital Stock
is not delivered to Parent within two (2) Business Days following
the date of this Agreement, Parent will have the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1
. In the event the
Written Consent is executed by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each class of Company Capital Stock but not
the requisite holders of Company Capital Stock described above and
Parent does not elect to terminate this Agreement, the Company will
comply with the DGCL, the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws in
connection with the Written Consent, including giving written
notice no later than ten days after the execution of the Written
Consent, in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL, of the taking
of the actions described in the Written Consent to all other
holders of Company Capital Stock and providing a description of any
appraisal rights of holders of Company Capital Stock available
under Section 262 of the DGCL and providing all other information
and disclosures with respect to appraisal rights required by the
DGCL. The Company will provide a copy of such notice to Parent
prior to mailing such notice to holders of Company Capital Stock
for Parent’s reasonable review and comment.
Section
6.3
No Solicitation of
Other Bids
.
(a)
The Company shall
not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any
of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i)
encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries
regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or
negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person
concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any
agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding
an Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall immediately cease and
cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of
its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be
terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any
Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead
to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof,
“
Acquisition
Proposal
” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer
from any Person (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates)
concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation,
recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination
transaction involving the Company; (ii) the issuance or acquisition
of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the
Company; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of
any significant portion of the Company’s properties or
assets.
(b)
In addition to the
other obligations under this
Section 6.3
, the Company shall
promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days after
receipt thereof by the Company or its Representatives) advise
Parent orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any
request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal,
or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be
expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms
and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry,
and the identity of the Person making the same.
(c)
The Company agrees
that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this
Section 6.3
shall
include having such provision specifically enforced by any court
having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that
any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury
to Parent and that money damages would not provide an adequate
remedy to Parent.
Section
6.4
Access to
Information
.
(a)
Upon reasonable
notice the Company will, and will cause each Company Subsidiary to,
afford to Parent and to the officers, employees, accountants,
counsel, lenders, financial advisors and other Representatives of
Parent reasonable access during normal business hours during the
period prior to the Effective Time to all the Company’s and
the Company Subsidiaries’ owned or leased properties, books,
Contracts, commitments, personnel (including contractors and
distributors), records, Tax Returns, work papers and all other
information concerning its business, operations, status of
compliance with Laws, properties, personnel, accountants, Tax
Return preparers and Tax advisors as Parent may reasonably request;
except that Parent and its Representatives will conduct any such
activities in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with
the business or operations of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries; except further that the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries will not be required to provide any access or disclose
any information if such access or disclosure would contravene any
applicable Law or where such access or disclosure would jeopardize
the attorney-client privilege of the institution in possession or
control of such information or contravene any fiduciary duty or
binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement.
The foregoing notwithstanding, neither Parent nor any of its
Representatives shall contact any of the employees (other than the
senior officers identified by the Company to Parent), landlords,
customers or suppliers of the Company or its Subsidiaries without
the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; it being
acknowledged that any and all such contacts will be arranged by and
coordinated with the Company.
(b)
All information and
materials provided pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to
the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement entered into
between the Company and Parent as of April 11, 2017 (the
“
Confidentiality
Agreement
”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth in this Agreement or in the Confidentiality Agreement,
Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries and their respective
Representatives may disclose information of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates to the Debt
Financing Sources and the Debt Financing Source Related Parties (in
each case, without any obligation on the part of the Debt Financing
Sources or the Debt Financing Source Related Parties to comply with
the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement)
provided
, that the Debt
Financing Sources are subject to confidentiality undertakings that
are at least as restrictive as those applicable to the Debt
Financing Sources under the Debt Engagement Letter or the
Definitive Debt Financing Agreements.
(c)
No investigation by
either of the Parties or their respective Representatives will
affect the representations and warranties of the other set forth in
this Agreement.
Section
6.5
Employee
Matters
.
(a)
After the Closing
Date, Parent will provide, or will cause its Affiliates to provide,
each employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the
Closing Date (the “
Company
Employees
”) with such employee compensation and
benefits as Parent or the Company or the Company Subsidiary (as
applicable), in its sole discretion, considers to be appropriate,
provided that for six months following the Closing Date Parent will
not, and will cause the Surviving Corporation and each Company
Subsidiary to not, decrease the base salary of any Company Employee
in effect immediately prior to the Closing.
(b)
Parent (i) will
give, and cause its Affiliates to give, each Company Employee
service credit granted by the Company prior to Closing under any
comparable Company Benefit Plan for all purposes (including
eligibility to participate, vesting in eligible benefits, levels of
benefits) other than for benefit accrual purposes under a defined
benefit pension plan, (ii) will give, and cause its Affiliates to
give, each Company Employee service credit granted by the Company
prior to Closing under any comparable personnel policies (including
any severance policies) that cover such Company Employee after the
Closing Date, for purposes of entitlement to benefits thereunder,
(iii) will allow, and cause its Affiliates to allow, such Company
Employees to participate in each Company Benefit Plan providing
welfare benefits (including medical, life insurance, long-term
disability insurance and long-term care insurance) in the plan year
in which the Closing occurs without regard to preexisting-condition
limitations, waiting periods, evidence of insurability or other
exclusions or limitations, and (iv) will credit, and cause its
Affiliates to credit, the Company Employee with any expenses that
were covered by the Company Benefit Plans for purposes of
determining deductibles, co-pays and other applicable limits under
the Company Benefit Plan in which they participate and any similar
replacement plans.
(c)
Parent will
continue, and cause its Affiliates to continue, to credit to each
Company Employee all vacation and personal holiday pay that the
Company Employee is entitled to use but has not used as of the
Closing Date (including any earned vacation or personal holiday pay
to be used in future years), subject to Parent’s vacation day
carryover policy.
(d)
Nothing in this
Agreement will create any right or obligation which is enforceable
by any employee, former employee, Company Employee or any other
Person with respect to any terms or conditions of employment,
including, but not limited to, the benefits and compensation
described in this
Section
6.5
. For the avoidance of doubt, any amendments to the
Company’s, the Company Subsidiaries’, Parent’s
and the Surviving Corporation’s benefit and compensation
plans, programs or arrangements will occur only in accordance with
their respective terms and will be pursuant to action taken by the
Company, the Company Subsidiaries, Parent or the Surviving
Corporation which are independent of the consummation of this
Agreement or any continuing obligations hereunder.
Section
6.6
Advice
of Changes
. Each of the
Company and Parent will promptly advise the other of any change or
event, of which it has knowledge, (a) having or reasonably likely
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, as the case may be, or (b) that would or would be
reasonably likely to cause or constitute a material breach of any
of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this
Agreement if it would result in the failure of closing conditions
in
Section 7.3(a)
or
Section 7.3(b)
or
Section 7.2(a)
or
Section 7.2(b)
,
respectively, by the Outside Date, except that (i) no such
notification will affect the representations, warranties or
covenants of the Parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the
conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement
and (ii) a failure to comply with this
Section 6.6
will not constitute
the failure of any condition set forth in
Article VII
to be satisfied
unless the underlying Company Material Adverse Effect, Parent
Material Adverse Effect or material breach would independently
result in the failure of a condition set forth in
Article VII
to be
satisfied.
Section
6.7
Transaction
Litigation
. Each Party will
give the other Party prompt notice of any Action commenced or, to
the knowledge of the Company or to the knowledge of Parent, as the
case may be, threatened, against the such Party or its directors,
officers, managers, partners or Affiliates relating to this
Agreement or the Transactions (collectively, “
Transaction
Litigation
”). The Parties will consult with each other
regarding the defense or settlement of any Transaction Litigation
and neither Party will compromise, settle, come to an arrangement
regarding or agree to compromise, settle or come to an arrangement
regarding any Transaction Litigation or consent to the same,
without the prior written consent of the other Party (which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). In
connection with any Transaction Litigation and the Parties’
performance of their obligations under this
Section 6.7
, the Company and
Parent will enter into a customary common interest or joint defense
agreement or implement such other techniques as reasonably required
to preserve any attorney-client privilege or other applicable legal
privilege; except that no Party will be required to provide
information if doing so, in the opinion of its legal counsel, would
cause the loss of any attorney-client privilege or other applicable
legal privilege; except that, if any information is withheld
pursuant to the foregoing exception, such Party will inform the
other Party as to the general nature of what is being withheld and
the Parties will use reasonable best efforts to enable the
informing Party to provide such information without causing the
loss of any attorney-client or other applicable legal
privilege.
Section
6.8
Control
of the Other Party’s Business
. Nothing contained
in this Agreement will give Parent, directly or indirectly, the
right to control or direct the operations of the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries or will give the Company, directly or
indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of Parent
or its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the
Effective Time, each of Parent and the Company will exercise,
consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
complete control and supervision over its and its
Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
Section
6.9
Subsidiary
Compliance
. Parent will cause
Merger Sub to comply with and perform all of Merger Sub’s
obligations under or relating to this Agreement and to consummate
the Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Merger Sub will not engage in any business which is not in
connection with the Merger
Section
6.10
Publicity
.
The initial press release with respect to the execution of this
Agreement will be a joint press release to be reasonably agreed
upon by the Parent and the Company. Following such initial press
release, none of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub will, and
neither the Company nor Parent will permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or similar
public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public
statement concerning, the Transactions without the prior consent
(which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed) of Parent, in the case of a proposed announcement or
statement by the Company, or the Company, in the case of a proposed
announcement or statement by Parent or Merger Sub; except that
either Party may, without the prior consent of the other Party (but
after prior consultation with the other Party to the extent
practicable under the circumstances) issue or cause the publication
of any press release or other public announcement to the extent
such Party may reasonably conclude may be required by applicable
Law. The restrictions set forth in this
Section 6.10
will not apply to
any release or public statement in connection with any dispute
between the Parties regarding this Agreement or the Transactions,
or limit the ability of any Party hereto to make internal
announcements to their respective employees and other stockholders
that are not inconsistent in any material respects with the prior
public disclosures regarding the Transactions.
Section
6.11
Takeover
Laws
. If any Takeover
Law is or may become applicable to the Transactions, the Company
and Parent, including the Company Board and the board of directors
of Parent, will grant such approvals and take such actions as are
necessary so that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly
as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and the
Parties will otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of
such Takeover Law on the Merger.
Section
6.12
Indemnification of
Officers and Directors
.
(a)
All rights to
indemnification by the Company existing in favor of all current and
former directors and officers of the Company (the
“
Covered
Persons
”) for their acts and omissions occurring prior
to the Effective Time, as provided in the Company Charter and
Company Bylaws (as in effect as of the date of this Agreement) and
as provided in any indemnification agreements between the Company
and the Covered Persons (as in effect as of the date of this
Agreement) in the forms made available by the Company to Parent
prior to the date of this Agreement, shall survive the Merger and
shall be observed by the Surviving Corporation for a period of six
years from the Effective Time, and any claim made requesting
indemnification pursuant to such indemnification rights within such
six-year period shall continue to be subject to this
Section 6.12(a)
until
disposition of such claim.
(b)
In the event the
Company or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any
other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii)
transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to
any Person, then, and in each such case, Parent shall ensure that
the successors and assigns of the Company or the Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, or at Parent’s option,
Parent, shall assume the obligations set forth in this
Section 6.12
.
(c)
Prior to the
Effective Time, the Company shall purchase, at its expense (which
shall constitute a Transaction Expense), in effect for six years
after the Effective Time, insurance “tail” or other
insurance policies with respect to directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance with respect to acts or
omissions existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time
in an amount and scope at least as favorable as the coverage
applicable to directors and officers as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time under the Company’s directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policy (the “
D&O Tail
Policy
”). The Surviving Corporation shall maintain
such policy for its duration.
(d)
The provisions of
this
Section 6.12
shall survive the consummation of the Merger and are (i) intended
to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each of the
Covered Persons and their successors, assigns and heirs, and (ii)
in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to
indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have by
contract or otherwise. This
Section 6.12
may not be
amended, altered or repealed after the Effective Time without the
prior written consent of the affected Covered Persons
Section
6.13
Related
Party Agreements
. Prior to Closing,
the Company will terminate all Contracts between the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any stockholder of the
Company or any of such stockholder’s respective Affiliates,
on the other hand
Section
6.14
Organizational
Integration
. From the date of
this Agreement and until the Closing, the Parties shall work
together in good faith to develop effective plans for the
integration of the Company with the operations of Parent and its
subsidiaries (the “
Integration
Plan
”), which Integration Plan shall not be
implemented until Closing. Furthermore, the Integration Plan shall
be considered confidential information. Parent shall advise the
Company at least fifteen (15) days prior to Closing of any
employee(s) of Company and any Company Subsidiary who are not
included in the Integration Plan and who, therefore, will not be
retained following Closing. Nothing in the foregoing shall
guarantee any employee of the Company continued employment
following the Closing, and Parent reserves the right to make all
decisions affecting personnel of the Company form and after the
Closing.
Section
6.15
Resignations
.
The Company shall deliver to Parent written resignations, effective
as of the Closing Date, of the managers, officers and directors, as
applicable, of the Company and each Company Subsidiary set forth on
Section 6.15
of the
Company Disclosure Letter at least three (3) Business Days prior to
the Closing. The total severance costs associated with the
resignation or termination of the Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer and fifty percent (50%) of the severance
costs associated with any other employees of the Company who have a
change of control agreement and that are terminated within sixty
(60) days following the Closing (subject to a cap of $250,000)
shall constitute Transaction Expenses.
Section
6.16
Rule
144 Reporting
. Parent will use
its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file in a timely manner
all reports and other documents required to be filed by it under
the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted
by the SEC thereunder, and will, upon request of any holder of
Parent Common Stock following the expiration of the applicable Rule
144 holding period, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause
its transfer agent to remove restrictive legends from the
certificates evidencing such shares of Parent Common Stock,
including by providing such opinions of counsel as may be required
by the transfer agent.
ARTICLE
VII
CLOSING
CONDITIONS
Section
7.1
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the
Merger
. The respective
obligations of the Parties to effect the Merger will be subject to
the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a)
Written Consent
. The Written
Consent will have been executed and delivered to Parent within the
time frame specified in
Section 6.2
.
(b)
Regulatory Consents
. Each of
the State Approvals and the FCC Approval have been obtained and are
in effect, and any waiting period prescribed by Law with respect to
such approvals before the Merger may be consummated have expired
(the “
Regulatory
Approvals
”).
(c)
No Injunctions or Restraints;
Illegality
. No Injunction preventing the consummation of the
Transactions will be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation,
Order, Injunction or decree will have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity that prohibits
or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.
Section
7.2
Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
. The obligation of
Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction, or waiver by Parent, on behalf of itself and Merger
Sub, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following
conditions:
(a)
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Article III
of this
Agreement (except for representations and warranties that are
Fundamental Representations will be true and correct as of the date
of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on
and as of the Effective Time (except that representations and
warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date of
this Agreement or another date will be true and correct as of such
date), provided that this condition will be deemed satisfied unless
all inaccuracies in such representations and warranties in the
aggregate constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect at the
Closing Date (ignoring solely for purposes of this proviso any
reference to Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality
qualifiers contained in such representations and warranties or
contained in any defined terms used in such representations and
warranties). The representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in
Section
3.1(a)
,
Section
3.1(c)
,
Section
3.2
,
Section 3.3(a)
and (b)(i)
and
Section 3.20
(the
“
Fundamental
Representations
”) will be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Effective Time as though made on and as of the Effective
Time.
(b)
Performance of Obligations of the
Company
. The Company will have performed in all material
respects all covenants and agreements required to be performed by
it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
Date.
(c)
Company Material Adverse
Effect
. There will not have occurred at any time after the
date of this Agreement any Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(d)
FIRPTA Certificate
. The Company
will have delivered to Parent an executed notice to the IRS
prepared in accordance with the requirements of Treasury
Regulations Sections 1.897-2(h)(2) and 1.1445-2(c)(3) that is
reasonably acceptable to Parent and dated as of the Closing Date
(the “
FIRPTA
Certificate
”), along with written authorization for
Parent to deliver such FIRPTA Certificate to the IRS on behalf of
the Company following the Closing.
(e)
Dissenting Shares
. No more than
one percent (1.0%) of the Shares shall be Dissenting
Shares.
(f)
Indebtedness
.
(i)
Parent will have
received payoff letters (the “
Payoff
Letters
”) reasonably acceptable to it from each
creditor of the Company and Company Subsidiaries to whom
Indebtedness is owed with respect to the payment of the
Indebtedness Payoff Amount and the release of all Liens related
thereto; and
(ii)
Except
for the Indebtedness described in the Payoff Letters that is being
paid off at the Closing, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
will have no Indebtedness;
(g)
Closing Certificate
. Parent
will have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company certifying that the
conditions set forth in
Section 7.2(a)
,
Section 7.2(b)
,
Section 7.2(c)
,
Section 7.2(e)
and
Section 7.2(f)(ii)
are
satisfied as of the Effective Time;
Section
7.3
Conditions
to Obligations of the Company
. The obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Effective
Time of the following conditions:
(a)
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set
forth in
Article IV
of this Agreement will be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of
the Effective Time (except that representations and warranties that
by their terms speak specifically as of the date of this Agreement
or another date will be true and correct as of such date), except
that this condition will be deemed satisfied unless all
inaccuracies in such representations and warranties in the
aggregate constitute a Parent Material Adverse Effect at the
Closing Date (ignoring solely for purposes of this exception any
reference to Parent Material Adverse Effect or other materiality
qualifiers contained in such representations and warranties), and
the Company will have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent and Merger Sub by the President and Chief Operating Officer
of Parent to the foregoing effect.
(b)
Performance of Obligations of
Parent
. Parent and Merger Sub will have performed in all
material respects all covenants and agreements required to be
performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
Date, and the Company will have received a certificate signed on
behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by the President and Chief
Operating Officer of Parent to such effect.
Section
7.4
Frustration
of Closing Conditions
. No Party may rely
on the failure of any condition set forth in
Section 7.1
,
Section 7.2
, or
Section 7.3
, as the case may
be, to be satisfied, if such Party’s failure to perform any
material obligation required to be performed by it has been the
primary cause of, or primarily results in, such
failure.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION AND
AMENDMENT
Section
8.1
Termination
.
This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned at
any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a)
by the mutual
written consent of the Company and Parent duly authorized by each
of the Company Board and the board of directors of Parent,
respectively;
(b)
by either of the
Company or Parent by written notice to the other Party at any time
after the Outside Date, if the Closing has not been consummated on
or before the Outside Date; except that, if on the Outside Date (A)
the condition set forth in
Section 7.1(b)
is not satisfied
but all of the other conditions to Closing have been satisfied or
waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be
satisfied at the Closing) and the condition set forth in
Section 7.1(b)
remains capable of being satisfied and (B) no final and
non-appealable order imposed by any Governmental Entity preventing
the consummation of the Transactions is in effect as of such date
of determination, then the Outside Date may be extended by the
mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company at or before
11:59 p.m. New York, New York time on the Outside Date; and except
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 8.1(b)
will not be
available (x) to a Party if the inability to satisfy such
conditions was due to the failure of such Party to perform any of
its obligations under this Agreement or (y) to a Party if the other
Party has filed (and is then pursuing) an action seeking specific
performance as permitted by
Section 11.11
;
(c)
by either of the
Company or Parent by written notice to the other Party if any
Injunction having the effect set forth in
Section 7.1(c)
is in effect and
has become final and nonappealable; or
(d)
by Parent as
described in
Section
6.2
.
Section
8.2
Effect
of Termination
. In the event of
the termination of this Agreement as provided in
Section 8.1
, written notice
thereof will be given to the other Party or Parties, specifying the
provision of this Agreement pursuant to which such termination is
made, and this Agreement will become null and void (other than the
provisions of this
Section
8.2
and the provisions in
Article X
(General Provisions),
all of which will survive termination of this Agreement). Upon
termination pursuant to this
Article VIII
, there will be no
liability on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or their
respective directors, managers, officers and Affiliates; except
that, upon the termination of this Agreement nothing will be deemed
to (i) release any Party from any liability to any other Party for
any intentional breach by such Party of this Agreement prior to
such termination or (ii) impair the right of any Party to compel
specific performance by the Party terminating this Agreement of
such terminating Party’s obligations under this Agreement as
provided in
Section
10.11
of this Agreement
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
9.1
Survival
.
All representations and warranties in this Agreement shall expire
on the first anniversary of the Closing;
provided
,
however
, that (a) Fundamental
Representations shall survive for a period of two (2) years after
the Closing, and (b) the representations in
Section 3.8
shall survive for
the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving
effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus 60
days. All covenants and agreements of the Parties contained herein
shall survive the Closing for the applicable statute of limitations
or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable
specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by
notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior
to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not
thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant
representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until
finally resolved.
Section
9.2
Indemnification
By Stockholders and Optionholders
. Subject to the
other terms and conditions of this
Article IX
, (i) each of the
Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their
respective Individual Share Percentages), and (ii) each of the
Optionholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their
respective Individual Option Percentages), shall indemnify and
defend each of Parent and its Affiliates (including the Company)
and their respective Representatives (collectively, the
“
Parent
Indemnitees
”) against, and shall hold each of them
harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them
for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon,
the Parent Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to
or by reason of:
(a)
any inaccuracy in
or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or
instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement as of the date such representation or warranty was
made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of
the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that
expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach
of which will be determined with reference to such specified date);
and
(b)
any breach or
non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be
performed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.
Subject
to the foregoing, the Stockholders shall be liable for the Share
Percentage of, and the Optionholders shall be liable for the Option
Percentage of, the foregoing indemnification
obligations.
Section
9.3
Indemnification
By Parent
. Subject to the
other terms and conditions of this
Article IX
, Parent shall
indemnify and defend each of the Stockholders and the Optionholders
and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives
(collectively, the “
Stockholder
Indemnitees
”) against, and shall hold each of them
harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them
for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon,
the Stockholder Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with
respect to or by reason of:
(a)
any inaccuracy in
or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Parent and
Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or
instrument delivered by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub
pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or
warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made
on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and
warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the
inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference
to such specified date); or
(b)
any breach or
non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be
performed by Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section
9.4
Certain
Limitations
. The
indemnification provided for in
Section 9.2
and
Section 9.3
shall be subject to
the following limitations:
(a)
The Stockholders
and the Optionholders shall not be liable to the Parent Indemnitees
for indemnification under Section 9.2(a) until the aggregate amount
of all Losses in respect of indemnification under
Section 9.2(a
) exceeds $500,000
(the “Basket”), in which event the Stockholders and
Optionholders shall be required to pay or be liable for all such
Losses from the first dollar in accordance with the provisions, and
subject to the limitations, of this Agreement. Except for Losses
arising from a breach of a Fundamental Representations or a breach
of the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.8
, a claim by Parent
hereunder shall be limited to the amount of the remaining Escrow
Fund. Losses arising from a breach of the Fundamental
Representations and a breach of
Sections 3.8,
shall not be so
limited but the aggregate amount of all Losses for which any
Stockholder or Optionholder shall be liable pursuant to
Section 9.2
shall
not exceed the overall consideration received by such Stockholder
or Optionholder under this Agreement.
(b)
Parent shall not be
liable to the Stockholder Indemnitees for indemnification under
Section 9.3(a)
until the aggregate amount of all Losses in respect of
indemnification under
Section 9.3(a)
exceeds the
Basket, in which event Parent shall be required to pay or be liable
for all such Losses from the first dollar. The aggregate amount of
all Losses for which Parent shall be liable pursuant to
Section 9.3(a)
shall not exceed $2,500,000.
(c)
The amount of any
Loss subject to indemnification shall be calculated net of (a) any
Tax Benefit inuring to the Indemnified Party on account of such
Loss and (b) any insurance proceeds or any indemnity, contribution
or other similar payment recoverable by the Indemnified Party from
any third party with respect thereto. If the Indemnified Party
receives such insurance proceeds, contribution or similar payments
after being indemnified with respect to some or all of such Loss,
such Indemnified Party shall pay to the Indemnifying Party the
lesser of (i) the amount of such insurance proceeds or indemnity,
contribution or similar payment, less reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with such recovery and (ii) the
aggregate amount paid to such Indemnified Party with respect to
such Loss. If the Indemnified Party receives a Tax Benefit after an
indemnification payment is made to it, the Indemnified Party shall
promptly pay to the Indemnifying Party the amount of such Tax
Benefit at such time or times as and to the extent that such Tax
Benefit is realized by the Indemnified Party. For purposes hereof,
“
Tax
Benefit
” shall mean any refund of Taxes paid or
reduction in the amount of Taxes which otherwise would have been
paid, in each case computed at the highest marginal tax rates
applicable to the recipient of such benefit. The Indemnified Party
shall seek full recovery under all insurance policies covering any
Loss to the same extent as it would if such Loss were not subject
to indemnification hereunder.
(d)
Each Person
entitled to indemnification hereunder shall take all reasonable
steps to mitigate all losses, costs, expenses and damages after
becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected to
give rise to any losses, costs, expenses and damages that are
indemnifiable or recoverable hereunder or in connection
herewith.
(e)
Notwithstanding the
fact that any Indemnified Party may have the right to assert claims
for indemnification under or in respect of more than one provision
of this Agreement in respect of any fact, event, condition or
circumstance, no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover the
amount of any Losses suffered by such Indemnified Party more than
once, regardless of whether such Losses may be as a result of a
breach of more than one representation, warranty or covenant.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parent
Indemnitees shall have no right to indemnification hereunder with
respect to any Loss to the extent such Loss is included in the
calculation of the Indebtedness, Working Capital or Transaction
Expenses as finally determined hereunder.
(f)
Parent and Merger
Sub acknowledge that the representations and warranties of the
Company contained herein constitute the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of the Company, the Stockholders and
the Optionholders in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, and Parent and Merger Sub understand, acknowledge and agree
that all other representations and warranties of any kind or nature
expressed or implied (including any relating to the future or
historical financial condition, results of operations, assets or
liabilities of the Company, or the quality, quantity or condition
of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets) are
specifically disclaimed by the Company, the Stockholders and the
Optionholders. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the
Company, the Subsidiaries, the Stockholders and the Optionholders
do not make or provide, and Parent and Merger Sub hereby waive, any
warranty or representation, express or implied, as to the quality,
merchantability, as for a particular purpose, conformity to
samples, or condition of the Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ assets or any part thereto.
(g)
For purposes of
this
Article IX
,
any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall
be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse
Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise
applicable to such representation or warranty.
Section
9.5
Indemnification
Procedures
. The Party making
a claim under this
Article
IX
is referred to as the “
Indemnified
Party
”, and the party against whom such claims are
asserted under this
Article IX
is referred to as
the “
Indemnifying
Party
”. For purposes of this
Article IX
, (i) if Parent (or
any other Parent Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any
references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an
obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to the
Stockholder Representative acting on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders, and (ii) if Parent comprises the Indemnifying Party,
any references to the Indemnified Party (except provisions relating
to a right to receive payments) shall be deemed to refer to
Stockholder Representative acting on behalf of the Stockholders and
Optionholders. Any payment due to the Stockholders and
Optionholders as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the
Stockholder Representative, or upon written instruction of the
Stockholder Representative, the Payments Administrator for further
distribution to Stockholders and Optionholders in accordance with
this Agreement.
(a)
Third Party Claims
. If any
Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement
of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a party to
this Agreement or an Affiliate of a party to this Agreement or a
Representative of the foregoing (a “
Third Party
Claim
”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to
which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide
indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall
give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice
thereof, but in any event not later than thirty (30) calendar days
after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure
to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and
only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or
defenses or is otherwise materially prejudiced by reason of such
failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the
Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all
material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated
amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may
be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall
have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to
the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party
Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the
Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party
shall cooperate in good faith in such defense;
provided
,
however
, that if the
Indemnifying Party is a Stockholder, such Indemnifying Party shall
not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such
Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of
a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Company, or (y)
seeks an Injunction or other equitable relief against the
Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party
assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to
Section 9.5(b)
, it
shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to
avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to
any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the
Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to
participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel
selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to
control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party;
provided
,
however
, that if in
the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (A)
there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are
different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying
Party; or (B) there exists a conflict of interest between the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived,
the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction
for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If
the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such
Third Party Claim, fails to notify the Indemnified Party in writing
of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement within 30
days of its receipt of notice of such Third Party Claim, or fails
to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the
Indemnified Party may defend such Third Party Claim, provided that
the Indemnified Party shall not settle such Third Party Claim
without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
The Stockholder Representative and Parent shall cooperate with each
other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of
any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating
to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other
than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the
defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as
may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of
such Third Party Claim.
(b)
Settlement of Third Party
Claims
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement
of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, except as provided in this
Section 9.5(b)
. If a firm offer
is made to settle a Third Party Claim and provides, in customary
form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from
all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party
Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to
such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to
that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party
fails to consent to such firm offer within ten (10) days after its
receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to
contest or defend such Third Party Claim and in such event, the
maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party
Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the
Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also
fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying
Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in
such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the
Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to
Section 9.5(a)
, it shall not
agree to any settlement without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed).
(c)
Direct Claims
. Any Action by an
Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a
Third Party Claim (a “
Direct
Claim
”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party
giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice
thereof, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the
Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure
to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and
only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or
defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified
Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall
include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall
indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the
Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party.
The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days after its
receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim.
The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its
professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance
alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what
extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the
Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s
investigation by giving such information and assistance (including
access to the Company’s premises and personnel and the right
to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the
Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may
reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond
within such thirty (30) day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be
deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified
Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to
the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of
this Agreement.
Section
9.6
Payments; Escrow
Fund
.
(a)
Once a Loss is
agreed to by the Indemnifying Party or finally adjudicated to be
payable pursuant to this
Article IX
, the Indemnifying
Party shall satisfy its obligations within ten (10) Business Days
of such final, non-appealable adjudication by wire transfer of
immediately available funds. The Parties hereto agree that should
an Indemnifying Party not make full payment of any such obligations
within such ten (10) Business Day period, any amount payable shall
accrue interest from and including the date of agreement of the
Indemnifying Party or final, non-appealable adjudication to and
including the date such payment has been made at a rate per annum
equal to one and one half percent (1.5%) per month. Such interest
shall be calculated daily on the basis of a 365-day year and the
actual number of days elapsed
(b)
Any Losses payable
to a Parent Indemnitee pursuant to this
Article IX
shall be satisfied:
(i) first from the Escrow Fund; and (ii) solely in the case of
Losses exceeding the amount in the Escrow Fund that arise from a
breach of a Fundamental Representation or a breach of
Section 3.8
, from (i) each of
the Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with
their respective Individual Share Percentages), and (ii) each of
the Optionholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with
their respective Individual Option Percentages);
provided
,
however
, that such direct
indemnification obligations of any Stockholder or Optionholder
shall be satisfied first from any funds remaining in the Escrow
Fund that would otherwise be payable to such Stockholder or
Optionholder pursuant to
Section 2.8
, and any
indemnification obligations of a Stockholder or Optionholder in
excess of such funds shall be paid directly by such Stockholder or
Optionholder.
(c)
If Parent or any of
its Affiliates or the Stockholder Representative receives notice
from any Governmental Entity of any proposed or actual audit,
examination, adjustment, claim, assessment or demand concerning the
Taxes of the Company or any or its Subsidiaries that are subject to
indemnification under
Section 9.2(a)
, such Party
shall inform the other Party thereof within ten (10) Business Days
after receipt of such notice. No failure or delay in providing such
notice shall reduce or otherwise affect the obligations or
liabilities of any Party, except to the extent such failure or
delay adversely affects the recipient Party’s ability to
defend against any liability or claim with respect to such Taxes.
Any notice shall be accompanied by a copy of any written notice or
other document received from the applicable Governmental Entity
with respect to such matter. The Stockholder Representative shall
have the sole right to control, at the expense of the Stockholders
and the Optionholders, the contest of any audit, dispute or
administrative, judicial or other proceeding relating to such Taxes
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that Parent
may, at its expense, participate in such contest. No such audit,
dispute or administrative, judicial or other proceeding may be
settled by the Stockholder Representative without Parent’s
prior written consent if such settlement would have an adverse
impact on Parent or any of its Affiliates, provided that such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned.
Section
9.7
Tax
Treatment of Indemnification Payments
. All
indemnification payments made under this Agreement shall be treated
by the Parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax
purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.
Section
9.8
Effect
of Investigation
. The
representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying
Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification
with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by
reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified
Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the
fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew
or should have known that any such representation or warranty is,
was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified
Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in
Section 7.1
or
Section 7.2
, as the case may
be.
Section
9.9
Exclusive
Remedies
. Subject to
Section 10.11
the
Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy
with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from
fraud, criminal activity or willful misconduct on the part of a
Party hereto in connection with the Transactions) for any breach of
any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set
forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set
forth in this
Article
IX
. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all
rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set
forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement it may have against the other Parties and their
Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising
under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification
provisions set forth in this
Article IX
. Nothing in this
Section 9.9
shall
limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable
relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy
on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional
misconduct.
ARTICLE
X
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
10.1
Notices
.
All notices and other communications in connection with this
Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed given to a Party
when delivered personally, mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier at
the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as
will be specified by like notice):
(a)
if to the Company,
to:
MegaPath Holding
Corporation
6800
Koll Center Parkway, Suite 200
Pleasanton,
California 94566
Attention: Birch
Blair
with a
copy to (which will not constitute notice):
Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius LLP
600
Anton Drive, Suite 1800
Costa
Mesa, CA 92626
Attention: Tim
Rupp, Esq.
Email:
timothy.rupp@morganlewis.com
(b)
if to Parent,
Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, to:
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Attention: James P.
Prenetta, Jr., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
Email:
jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
with a
copy to (which will not constitute notice):
Kelley
Drye & Warren, LLP
101
Park Avenue
New
York, New York 10171
Attention: Jack
Miles, Esq.
Email:
jmiles@kelleydrye.com
(c)
if to the
Stockholders Representative, to:
Shareholder
Representative Services LLC
950
17
th
Street, Suite 1400
Denver,
CO 80202
Attention:
Deals@srsacquiom.com
Facsimile: (303)
623-0294
Telephone: (303)
648-4085
with a
copy to (which will not constitute notice):
Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius LLP
600
Anton Drive, Suite 1800
Costa
Mesa, CA 92626
Attention: Tim
Rupp
Section
10.2
Interpretation
.
(a)
When a reference is
made in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules
or Disclosure Letters, such reference will be to an Article or
Section of or Exhibit, Schedule or Disclosure Letter to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,”
“includes” or “including” are used in this
Agreement, they will be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation.” Unless the context otherwise
requires, (i) “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily
exclusive, (ii) words in the singular include the plural and vice
versa, and (iii) the use in this Agreement of a pronoun in
reference to a Party hereto includes the masculine, feminine or
neuter, as the context may require. The Company Disclosure Letter
as well as all other schedules and all exhibits hereto, will be
deemed part of this Agreement and included in any reference to this
Agreement. The representations and warranties of the Company are
made and given, and the covenants are agreed to, subject to the
disclosures and exceptions set forth in the Company Disclosure
Letter. In no event will the listing of any matter in the Company
Disclosure Letter be deemed or interpreted to expand the scope the
Company’s representations, warranties and/or covenants set
forth in this Agreement. All attachments to the Company Disclosure
Letter are incorporated by reference into the Company Disclosure
Letter. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
the mere inclusion of an item therein as an exception to a
representation or warranty will not be deemed an admission that
such item represents a material exception or material fact, event
or circumstance or that such item has had or would, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(b)
The Parties have
participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In
the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if
drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of
proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the
authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
Section
10.3
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of
which will be considered one and the same agreement and will become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties
and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that each
Party need not sign the same counterpart.
Section
10.4
Entire
Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries
. This Agreement
(including the documents and the instruments referred to in this
Agreement), together with the Confidentiality Agreement, (a)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, (b)
is not intended to confer on any Person, other than the Parties
hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any
rights or remedies hereunder;
provided
that the Debt
Financing Sources and the Debt Financing Source Related Parties
shall be third-party beneficiaries of, and shall be entitled to
rely on, the third sentence of
Section 10.5
,
Sections 10.7
,
10.8(b)
,
10.8(c)
and
10.17
and this Section
10.4.
Section
10.5
Amendment
.
Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be
amended prior to the Effective Time by the Company and Parent (on
behalf of itself and Merger Sub) and after the Effective Time by
the Stockholder Representative and Parent, by action taken or
authorized by the Stockholder Representative and by Parent,
provided that, after any approval of the Transactions by the
stockholders of the Company, there may not be, without further
approval of such stockholders, any amendment of this Agreement that
changes the amount or the form of the consideration to be delivered
under this Agreement to the holders of Shares, other than (i) to
correct manifest errors, (ii) in connection with settlements
entered into between Parent and the Stockholder Representative or
(iii) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement
may not be amended except by an instrument in writing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the proviso to
Section 10.4
,
Sections 10.7
,
10.8(b)
,
10.8(c)
and
10.17
and this sentence (and
any provision of this Agreement to the extent that any amendment,
waiver or other modification of such provision would modify the
substance of any such Sections) may not be amended, waived or
otherwise modified in any manner that is adverse in any material
respect to any Debt Financing Source or any of its Debt Financing
Source Related Parties without the prior written consent of such
Debt Financing Source.
Section
10.6
Extension;
Waiver
. At any time prior
to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent (on behalf of itself
and Merger Sub), by action taken or authorized by the Company Board
and the board of directors of Parent, may, to the extent legally
allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other Party, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement, and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements
or conditions contained in this Agreement, except that, after any
approval of the Transactions by the stockholders of the Company,
there may not be, without further approval of such stockholders,
any extension or waiver of this Agreement or any portion hereof
that reduces the amount or changes the form of the consideration to
be delivered to the holders of Shares under this Agreement, other
than as contemplated by this Agreement. Any agreement on the part
of a Party to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if
set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such Party,
but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict
compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition
will not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other failure.
Section
10.7
Governing
Law
. This Agreement
will be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with,
the internal Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any
applicable conflict of laws principles (whether of the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdiction);
provided
that any action, suit,
claim, investigation, or proceeding of any kind whatsoever against
the Debt Financing Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source
Related Parties, including a counterclaim, cross-claim, or defense,
regardless of the legal theory under which such liability or
obligation may be sought to be imposed, whether sounding in
contract or tort, or whether at law or in equity, or otherwise
under any legal or equitable theory, that may be based upon,
arising out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation,
execution or performance of this Agreement or the Transactions,
including any dispute relating to the Debt Financing, will be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal Laws of
the State of New York applicable to agreements executed and
performed entirely within such State without regard to conflicts of
law principles of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction
that would cause the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State
of New York to apply.
Section
10.8
Jurisdiction
.
(a)
Each of the Parties
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Chancery
Court of the State of Delaware and, in the absence of such
jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of
Delaware, and, in the absence of such federal jurisdiction, the
parties consent to be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware state court sitting in New Castle County (together, the
“
Chosen
Courts
”), in any action or proceeding arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions or for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i)
agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding except in the
Chosen Courts, (ii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in the Chosen
Courts, and any appellate court hearing actions or proceedings
therefrom, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have
to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the
Chosen Courts, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may
legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum
to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in the Chosen
Courts. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any
such action or proceeding will be conclusive and may be enforced in
other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by Law.
(b)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each of the
Parties and the Stockholder Representative, on behalf of itself and
each of the Stockholders and Optionholders, irrevocably and
unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the
exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States federal court
located in, or if that court does not have subject matter
jurisdiction, in any New York state court located in, the Borough
of Manhattan in the City of New York, New York (together, the
“
Debt Financing
Chosen Courts
”), in any action or proceeding against
the Debt Financing Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source
Related Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
Transactions or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment
relating thereto, including any dispute relating to the Debt
Financing, and each of the Parties and the Stockholder
Representative, on behalf of itself and each of the Stockholders
and Optionholders, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i)
agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding against the
Debt Financing Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source Related
Parties, including any dispute relating to the Debt Financing,
except in the Debt Financing Chosen Courts, (ii) agrees that any
claim in respect of any such action or proceeding against the Debt
Financing Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source Related
Parties, including any dispute relating to the Debt Financing, may
be heard and determined in the Debt Financing Chosen Courts, and
any appellate court hearing actions or proceedings therefrom, (iii)
waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so,
any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of
venue of any such action or proceeding against the Debt Financing
Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source Related Parties,
including any dispute relating to the Debt Financing, in the Debt
Financing Chosen Courts and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it
may legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding against the
Debt Financing Sources or any of the Debt Financing Source Related
Parties, including any dispute relating to the Debt Financing, in
the Debt Financing Chosen Courts.
(c)
EACH PARTY
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (INCLUDING
ANY LITIGATION AGAINST ANY DEBT FINANCING SOURCE OR ANY DEBT
FINANCING SOURCE RELATED PARTIES IN RESPECT OF THE DEBT FINANCING).
EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE,
AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR
OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (ii) IT
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS,
(iii) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION 10.8(c)
.
Section
10.9
Fees
and Expenses
. Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, whether or not the Merger is
consummated, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the Transactions will be paid by the Party incurring
or required to incur such fees or expenses
Section
10.10
Assignment
.
Neither this Agreement nor any rights, interest or obligations
hereunder will be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by
operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of
the other Parties and any attempt to do so will be null and void;
except that each of Parent and Merger Sub may assign (a) its
rights, but not its obligations, hereunder to any person providing
financing pursuant to the terms thereof to the extent necessary for
purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise
assigning as collateral in respect of such financing and (b) its
rights and obligations to any Affiliate of Parent, but no such
assignment will release any assigning Party from its obligations
hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will
be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.
Section
10.11
Specific
Performance
. The Parties agree
that immediate, extensive and irreparable damage, for which
monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in
the event that the Parties do not perform their obligations under
the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with its specified
terms or otherwise breach such provisions. Accordingly, the Parties
acknowledge and agree that the Parties will be entitled, in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in equity to seek an Injunction or Injunctions, specific
performance or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof (including the obligation of the Parties hereto to
consummate the Merger) in the Chosen Courts without proof of
damages or otherwise, and that such explicit rights of specific
enforcement are an integral part of the Transactions and, without
such rights, neither the Company nor Parent would have entered into
this Agreement. Each of the Parties agrees that it will not oppose
the granting of an Injunction, specific performance and other
equitable relief on the basis that the other Parties have an
adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not
an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity. The
Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an
Injunction or Injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and
to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement
will not be required to provide any bond or other security in
connection with any such Order or Injunction.
Section
10.12
Waivers
.
Any failure of any of the Parties to comply with any obligation,
covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the Party
or Parties entitled to the benefits thereof, only by a written
instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such
waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such
obligation, covenant, agreement or condition will not operate as a
waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other
failure.
Section
10.13
Severability
.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement
is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to
be invalid, void, unenforceable, such term, provision, covenant or
restriction will be deemed to be modified to the extent necessary
to render it valid, effective and enforceable, and the remainder of
the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement
will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section
10.14
Stockholder
Representative
.
(a)
By approving this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, by executing
and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, or by the acceptance of
consideration paid pursuant to this Agreement, each Stockholder and
Optionholder has irrevocably authorized and appointed the
Stockholder Representative as such Person’s representative
and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect
to this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and any other agreements
ancillary hereto and to take any and all actions and make any
decisions required or permitted to be taken by the Stockholder
Representative pursuant to this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or
any other agreements ancillary hereto, including the exercise of
the power to:
(i)
give and receive
notices and communications;
(ii)
authorize
delivery to Parent of cash from the Escrow Fund in satisfaction of
claims for indemnification made by Parent pursuant to
Article IX
;
(iii)
agree
to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and
comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described
in
Section
2.7
;
(iv)
agree
to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and
comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for
indemnification made by Parent pursuant to pursuant to
Article IX
;
(v)
litigate,
arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for
indemnification pursuant to pursuant to
Article IX
;
(vi)
execute
and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the
intent of this Agreement and any ancillary document (including the
Escrow Agreement and the Payments Agreement);
(vii)
make
all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any
ancillary document (including the Escrow Agreement and the Payments
Agreement);
(viii)
engage,
employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including
attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist the Stockholder
Representative in complying with its duties and obligations;
and
(ix)
take
all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of
the Stockholder Representative for the accomplishment of the
foregoing.
Parent
shall be entitled to deal exclusively with the Stockholder
Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including
Article IX
) (except
with respect to Parent’s collection of funds from the
Stockholders and Optionholders directly) and shall be entitled to
rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever)
on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of
any Stockholder or Optionholder by the Stockholder Representative,
and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of
any Stockholder or Optionholder by the Stockholder Representative,
as being fully binding upon such Person. After the Closing, notices
or communications to or from the Stockholder Representative shall
constitute notice to or from each of the Stockholders and
Optionholders. Any decision or action by the Stockholder
Representative hereunder, including any agreement between the
Stockholder Representative and Parent relating to the defense,
payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder,
shall constitute a decision or action of all Stockholders and
Optionholders and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each
such Person. No Stockholder or Optionholder shall have the right to
object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The
provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted
hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled
with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one
or more Stockholders or Optionholders, or by operation of Law,
whether by death or other event.
(b)
The Stockholder
Representative may resign at any time upon twenty (20) days prior
written notice to Parent. The Stockholder Representative may be
removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent
of the Stockholders who held a majority of the shares of the
Company Capital Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (the
“
Majority
Holders
”);
provided
,
however
, in no event shall the
Stockholder Representative be removed without the Majority Holders
having first appointed a new Stockholder Representative who shall
assume such duties immediately upon the removal of the Stockholder
Representative. If the Stockholder Representative resigns, the
Majority Holders shall appoint a successor within twenty (20) days
of such notice of resignation. In the event of the death,
incapacity, resignation or removal of the Stockholder
Representative, a new Stockholder Representative shall be appointed
by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders. Notice of
such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new
Stockholder Representative shall be sent to Parent, such
appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in
such consent or the date such notice is received by Parent;
provided
, that until such
notice is received, Parent, Merger Sub and the Surviving
Corporation shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions
of the prior Stockholder Representative as described in
Section 10.14(a)
above
(c)
The Stockholder
Representative will incur no liability of any kind with respect to
any action or omission by the Stockholder Representative in
connection with its services pursuant to this Agreement and any
agreements ancillary hereto, except in the event of liability
directly resulting from the Stockholder Representative’s
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Stockholder
Representative shall not be liable for any action or omission
pursuant to the advice of counsel. The Stockholders and
Optionholders will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Stockholder Representative from and against any and all losses,
liabilities, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures,
actions, fees, costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of counsel and experts and their staffs and all expense of document
location, duplication and shipment) (collectively,
“
Representative
Losses
”) arising out of or in connection with the
Stockholder Representative’s execution and performance of
this Agreement and any agreements ancillary hereto, in each case as
such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred;
provided
, that in the event that any
such Representative Loss is finally adjudicated to have been
directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Stockholder Representative, the Stockholder Representative will
reimburse the Stockholders and Optionholders the amount of such
indemnified Representative Loss to the extent attributable to such
gross negligence or willful misconduct. If not paid directly to the
Stockholder Representative by the Stockholders and Optionholders,
any such Representative Losses may be recovered by the Stockholder
Representative from (i) the funds in the Holdback Account and (ii)
the amounts in the Escrow Fund at such time as any such remaining
amounts would otherwise be distributable to the Stockholders and
Optionholders; provided, that while this section allows the
Stockholder Representative to be paid from the aforementioned
sources of funds, this does not relieve the Stockholders and
Optionholders from their obligation to promptly pay such
Representative Losses as they are suffered or incurred, nor does it
prevent the Stockholder Representative from seeking any remedies
available to it at law or otherwise. In no event will the
Stockholder Representative be required to advance its own funds on
behalf of the Stockholders and Optionholders or otherwise.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any
restrictions or limitations on liability or indemnity obligations
of the Stockholders or Optionholders set forth elsewhere in this
Agreement are not intended to be applicable to the indemnities
provided to the Stockholder Representative in this section. The
foregoing indemnities will survive the Closing, the resignation or
removal of the Stockholder Representative or the termination of
this Agreement.
Section
10.15
Tax
Matters
.
(a)
For the avoidance
of doubt, all legally permitted Tax deductions related to the
payment of Transaction Expenses or Indebtedness on the Closing Date
shall be attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period.
(b)
The Stockholders
and the Optionholders shall be entitled to receive any refund of
Taxes (including refunds paid by credit against Taxes of Parent,
the Company or any Company Subsidiary) attributable to any
Pre-Closing Tax Period and any overpayment of estimated Pre-Closing
Taxes by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, plus any interest
on any such refund or credits received from the applicable Tax
authority. Parent shall, and shall cause the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the Stockholder
Representative in obtaining any such refunds or credits. Such
cooperation shall include (i) informing the Stockholder
Representative if and the extent that Parent becomes aware of the
availability of any such refund or credit, (ii) filing claims or
amended Tax returns at the request of the Stockholder
Representative to obtain any such refund or credit and (iii) paying
the amount of such credit or refund over to the Stockholder
Representative, or upon a written instruction of the Stockholder
Representative, to the Payments Administrator (for further
distribution to the Stockholders) or to the Surviving Corporation
(for further distribution to the Optionholders), as applicable, by
wire transfer within five (5) Business Days after the receipt
thereof.
(c)
If Parent, any of
its Affiliates or any Stockholder receives notice from any
Governmental Entity of any proposed or actual audit, examination,
adjustment, claim, assessment or demand concerning the amount of
Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to any
Pre-Closing Tax Period, such Party shall inform the other Party
thereof within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice.
No failure or delay in providing such notice shall reduce or
otherwise affect the obligations or liabilities of any Party,
except to the extent such failure or delay adversely affects the
recipient Party’s ability to defend against any liability or
claim with respect to such Taxes. Any notice shall be accompanied
by a copy of any written notice or other document received from the
applicable Governmental Entity with respect to such
matter.
(d)
The Stockholder
Representative shall have the sole right to control, at the expense
of the Stockholders and Optionholders, the contest of any audit,
dispute or administrative, judicial or other proceeding relating to
the Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for any
Pre-Closing Tax Period. If the Stockholder Representative elects to
control any such contest, Parent may, at its expense, participate
in such contest. No such audit, dispute or administrative, judicial
or other proceeding may be settled by the Stockholder
Representative without Parent’s prior written consent if such
settlement would have an adverse impact on Parent or any of its
Affiliates;
provided
,
however
, that no such consent
shall be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
(e)
Parent shall
furnish or cause to be furnished to the Stockholder Representative,
upon request, as promptly as practicable, such information
(including access to books and records) and assistance relating to
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as is reasonably requested
in connection with the filing of any Tax returns or for the
prosecution or defense of any Tax audit or claim. Parent shall, and
shall cause the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to, preserve
and keep all books and records with respect to Taxes and Tax
returns of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries until the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. Any
information obtained under this
Section 10.15(e)
shall be kept
confidential except (i) as required by applicable Law, (ii) as may
be otherwise necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns
or for the prosecution or defense of any Tax audit or claim or
(iii) with the consent of Parent;
provided
that the Stockholder
Representative may communicate such information to its advisors and
representatives and to the Stockholders and Optionholders, in each
case on a need-to-know basis.
Section
10.16
Definitions
.
For the purposes of this Agreement:
“
Accounting Fees
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Accounting Firm
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Accredited Investor
” has
the meaning set forth for such term in Rule 501 of Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act.
“
Acquisition Proposal
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 6.3
.
“
Action
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
3.7(a
).
“
Additional Indebtedness
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(a
).
“
Additional Per Share Merger
Consideration
” means the quotient of (a) the
Additional Merger Consideration,
divided by
(b) the Fully Diluted Share
Number.
“
Additional Merger
Consideration
” means the aggregate of all payments to
the Stockholders and Optionholders pursuant to
Section 2.7
.
“
Additional Transaction
Expenses
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(a)
.
“
Affidavit of Loss
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(f)
.
“
Affiliate
” means a Person
that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
control, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
first-mentioned Person. For this purpose, “control”
(including the terms “controlled by” and “under
common control with”) means the possession, directly or
indirectly or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of stock, by Contract or
otherwise.
“
Agreement
” has the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“
Basket
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
9.4(a)
.
“
Book-Entry Shares
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 1.5(a)
.
“
Business Day
” means a day
other than a Saturday, a Sunday or another day on which commercial
banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or
required by Law to be closed.
“
CALEA
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
3.16(c)
.
“
Certificate of Merger
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.3
.
“
Certificates
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 1.5(a)
.
“
Chosen Courts
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 10.8(a)
.
“
Closing
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
1.2
.
“
Closing Cash
” means the
cash and cash equivalents of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP, as of 11:59 p.m.
on the Closing Date (without giving effect to the
Transactions).
“
Closing Cash Estimate
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.5
.
“
Closing Cash Overage
”
shall exist when (and shall be equal to the amount by which) the
Closing Cash exceeds the Closing Cash Estimate.
“
Closing Cash Underage
”
shall exist when (and shall be equal to the amount by which) the
Closing Cash Estimate exceeds the Closing Cash.
“
Closing Date
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 1.2
.
“
Closing Indebtedness
”
means the Indebtedness of the Company and the Company subsidiaries
as of 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date (without giving effect to the
Transactions).
“
Closing Working Capital
”
means the Working Capital as of 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date
(without giving effect to the Transactions).
“
COBRA
” means the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
and as codified in Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601 et.
seq. of ERISA.
“
Code
” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“
Communications Act
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(c)
.
“
Company
” has the meaning
set forth in the Preamble.
“
Company Benefit Plans
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.9(a)
.
“
Company Board
” means the
Board of Directors of the Company.
“
Company Bylaws
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(b)
.
“
Company Capital Stock
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2(a)
.
“
Company Charter
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(b)
.
“
Company Common Stock
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2(a)
.
“
Company Commonly Controlled
Entity
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.9(d)
.
“
Company Disclosure
Letter
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to
Article
III
.
“
Company Employees
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 6.4(a)
.
“
Company Financial
Statements
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.5(a)
.
“
Company Intellectual
Property
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.13(a)
.
“
Company Interconnection
Agreements
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.17
.
“
Company Leased Network
Facilities
” means Network Facilities that are leased
by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“
Company Leased Real
Property
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.15
.
“
Company Licenses
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(a)
.
“
Company Material Adverse
Effect
” means any change, event, effect, occurrence,
state of facts or development that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the business, results of operations,
assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
provided
,
however
, that in no
event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be
deemed to constitute, nor shall any of the following (including the
effect of any of the following) be taken into account in
determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company
Material Adverse Effect”: (a) changes, events, effects,
occurrences, states of facts or developments generally affecting
the United States economy; (b) changes in GAAP or Law or the
interpretation thereof; (c) changes, events, effects, occurrences,
states of facts or developments generally affecting the industries
in which the Company and the Subsidiaries operate in the
geographies in which they operate; (d) changes, events, effects,
occurrences, states of facts or developments arising from the
announcement of this Agreement; (e) changes, events, effects,
occurrences, states of facts or developments resulting from any
action or omission of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date contemplated by this
Agreement or taken with the prior written consent of Parent; and
(f)
any failure to
meet internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or
earnings predictions for any period, except that the underlying
causes of such change or failure will not be excluded by this
clause (f), except, in the case of clauses
(a)
,
(b)
, and
(c)
to the extent
disproportionately affecting the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries when compared to other Persons operating in the same
industries.
“
Company Network Facility
Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.18(c)
.
“
Company Material
Contract
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.12(a)
.
“
Company Owned Intellectual
Property
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.13(b)
.
“
Company Owned Network
Facilities
” means Network Facilities that are owned by
the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“
Company Owned Real
Property
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.15
.
“
Company Preferred Stock
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2(a)
.
“
Company Proprietary
Software
” means all Software owned or purported to be
owned by the Company or a Company Subsidiary.
“
Company Registered Intellectual
Property
” means Company Intellectual Property owned or
purported to be owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that
is registered or for which an application for registration has been
submitted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“
Company Stock Option
Plan
” means the MegaPath Holding Corporation 2015
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
“
Company Subsidiary
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(c)
.
“
Confidentiality
Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.3(b)
.
“
Contracts
” means any
contracts, agreements, licenses (or sublicenses), notes, bonds,
mortgages, indentures, commitments, leases (or subleases) or other
instruments or obligations, whether written or oral.
“
Covered Persons
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 6.11(a)
.
“
CPNI
” has the meaning set
forth in
Section
3.16(c)
.
“
Cramming
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
3.16(d)
.
“
Current Assets
” means, as
of any date of determination hereunder, the current assets of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with
GAAP, excluding cash, cash equivalents and Tax receivables (other
than sales tax receivables).
“
Current Liabilities
”
means, as of any date of determination hereunder, the current
liabilities of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries determined
in accordance with GAAP excluding (i) Tax liabilities arising from
periods prior to January 1, 2018 and reserves associated therewith,
(ii) customer credit balances, (iii) Indebtedness and Transaction
Expenses, and (iv) a percentage of deferred revenue equal to the
lower of (x) 70% of the deferred revenue, and (y) 100% of the
deferred revenue minus the average recurring margin percentage
derived from the Company’s Financial Statements for the six
most recent calendar months ended prior to the date of this
Agreement.
“
D&O Tail Policy
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 6.11(c)
.
“
Debt Engagement Letter
”
means the Engagement Letter, dated February 13, 2018, among Parent,
Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and The
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
“
Debt Financing
” means any
debt financing by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries entered into or
incurred, or to be entered into or incurred, in connection with the
Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the debt
financing contemplated by the Definitive Debt Financing
Agreements.
“
Debt Financing Chosen
Courts
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.8(b)
.
“
Debt Financing Sources
”
means the parties to the Debt Engagement Letter, the parties to the
Definitive Debt Financing Agreements and each other Person that has
committed to provide or otherwise entered into any commitment
letter, engagement letter, credit agreement, underwriting
agreement, purchase agreement, indenture or other agreement with
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with, or that is
otherwise acting as an arranger, bookrunner, underwriter, initial
purchaser, placement agent, administrative agent, trustee or a
similar representative in respect of, all or any part of the Debt
Financing.
“
Debt Financing Source Related
Parties
” means the Debt Financing Sources' respective
Affiliates and any of the Debt Financing Sources’ or their
respective Affiliates’ respective former, current or future
general or limited partners, shareholders, managers, members,
agents, officers, directors, employees, accountants, advisors, or
representatives or any of their respective successors or
assigns.
“
Deficiency Amount
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(d)
.
“
Definitive Debt Financing
Agreements
” means the First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, certain of
Parent’s subsidiaries, Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the
lenders from time to time party thereto, and any other definitive
agreements with respect to any Debt Financing.
“
DGCL
” has the meaning set
forth in
Section
1.1
.
“
Direct Claim
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 9.5(c)
.
“
Dissenting Shares
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4
.
“
Dissenting Stockholder
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4
.
“
Effective Time
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 1.3
.
“
Environment
” means soil,
soil vapor, surface water, groundwater, land, sediment, surface or
subsurface structures or strata or ambient air.
“
Environmental Law
” means
any Law regulating or relating to the protection of human health,
safety (as it relates to Releases of Hazardous Substances), natural
resources or the Environment, including, without limitation, laws
relating to wetlands, pollution, contamination or the use,
generation, management, handling, transport, treatment, disposal,
storage, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous
Substances.
“
Equity Interest
” means
any share, capital stock, partnership, limited liability company,
membership or similar interest in any Person.
“
ERISA
” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“
Escrow Agent
” means
Citibank, N.A.
“
Escrow Agreement
” means
the escrow agreement to be entered into by Parent, the Stockholder
Representative and the Escrow Agent at the Closing, substantially
in the form of
Exhibit
E
.
“
Escrow Amount
” means $2.5
million in cash.
“
Escrow Fund
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b)
.
“
Estimated Working Capital
Overage
” shall exist when (and shall be equal to the
amount by which) the Working Capital Estimate exceeds the Target
Working Capital Amount.
“
Estimated Working Capital
Underage
” shall exist when (and, subject to the
limitations set forth in
Section 2.7(e)
, shall be equal
to the amount by which) the Target Working Capital Amount exceeds
the Working Capital Estimate.
“
Excess Amount
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(c)
.
“
Exercise Price
” means,
with respect to any Option, the applicable exercise price payable
to the Company by the Optionholder upon the exercise of such
Option.
“
FCC
” means the Federal
Communications Commission.
“
FCC Approval
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.4
.
“
FCC Rules
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(c)
.
“
Final Closing Cash
Overage
” means the Closing Cash Overage as finally
agreed or determined in accordance with
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Final Closing Cash
Underage
” means the Closing Cash Underage as finally
agreed or determined in accordance with
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Final Working Capital
Overage
” means the Working Capital Overage as finally
agreed or determined in accordance with
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Final Working Capital
Underage
” means the Working Capital Underage as
finally agreed or determined in accordance with
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
FIRPTA Certificate
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 7.2(d)
.
“
Fully Diluted Share
Number
” means (i) the aggregate number of Shares of
Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all Options that are
outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, plus
(ii) the aggregate number of shares of Company Capital Stock
outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
“
Fundamental
Representations
” has the meaning set forth in
Section
7.2(a)
.
“
GAAP
” means U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.
“
Governmental Entity
”
means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign
government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative
agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency
or instrumentality, court or tribunal, arbitration or mediation
body or appointing authority, or self-regulatory
organization.
“
Hazardous Substances
”
means any substance that: (i) is or contains asbestos, urea
formaldehyde insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum,
petroleum products or petroleum-derived substances or wastes, radon
gas, microbial or microbiological contamination or related
materials, (ii) requires investigation or remedial action pursuant
to any Environmental Law or (iii) is defined, listed or identified
as a “hazardous waste,” “hazardous
substance,” “toxic substance” or words of similar
import thereunder or (iv) is regulated under any Environmental
Law.
“
Holdback Account
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.6(c)
.
“
Holdback Amount
” means
$850,000.
“
Indebtedness
” means, with
respect to any Person at any date, without duplication: (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations
of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures or notes (other than
any surety bonds or similar instruments issued in the ordinary
course of business), (c) all obligations in respect of letters of
credit, to the extent drawn, and bankers’ acceptances issued
for the account of such Person, (d) any indebtedness guaranteed in
any manner by such Person (including guaranties in the form of an
agreement to repurchase or reimburse), (e) obligations of such
Person under or pursuant to any capital leases, (f) any liability
with respect to interest rate swaps, collars, caps and similar
hedging arrangements, (g) obligations for the deferred purchase
price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable
and accrued liabilities), and (h) any accrued and unpaid interest
related to any of the foregoing and prepayment premiums or
penalties related to any of the foregoing that are due or become
due as a result of the consummation of the Merger or the prepayment
of such Indebtedness;
provided
that in no event will
Indebtedness of any Party include Indebtedness of such Party owing
to any of its Subsidiaries or Indebtedness of any of its
Subsidiaries owing to it or any of its other
Subsidiaries.
“Indebtedness
Payoff Amount” means the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of
the Company and Company Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time as
evidenced by the Payoff Letters.
“
Individual Option
Percentage
” means, for any Optionholder, the
quotient
(expressed
as a percentage) obtained by
dividing
(a) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all
Options held by such holder that are outstanding as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time, by (b) the aggregate number of shares
of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all Options that
are outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
“
Indemnified Party
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 9.5
.
“
Indemnifying Party
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 9.5
.
“
Individual Share
Percentage
” means for any Stockholder, the
quotient
(expressed
as a percentage) obtained by
dividing
(a) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Capital Stock held by such holder that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (b) the
aggregate number of shares of Company Capital Stock that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“
Initial Merger
Consideration
” means (a) $71.5 million (of which up to
$10.0 million may be paid by Parent in shares of Parent Common
Stock in accordance with
Section 1.5(a)
),
plus
(b) any Estimated Working Capital
Overage,
plus
(c) the
amount of the Closing Cash Estimate,
plus
(d) the aggregate amount of the
Exercise Prices all Options that are outstanding as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time,
minus
(e) the amount of Closing
Indebtedness, as determined prior to the Closing,
minus
(f) the Transaction Expenses
Payoff Amount, as determined prior to the Closing,
minus
(g) the Escrow Amount,
minus
(h) the Holdback
Amount, and
minus
(i) any
Estimated Working Capital Underage.
“
Initial Per Share Merger
Consideration
” means the quotient of (a) the Initial
Merger Consideration, divided by (b) the Fully Diluted Share
Number.
“
Injunction
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(b)
.
“
Integration Plan
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 6.13
.
“
Intellectual Property
”
means all of the following anywhere in the world and all legal
rights, title or interest in, under or in respect of the following
arising under Law, whether or not filed, perfected, registered or
recorded and whether now or later existing, filed, issued or
acquired, including all renewals: (a) all patents and applications
for patents (including all invention disclosures) and all related
reissues, reexaminations, divisions, renewals, extensions,
provisionals, continuations and continuations in part, (b) all
copyrights, copyright registrations and copyright applications,
copyrightable works and all other corresponding rights, (c) all
trade dress and trade names, logos, Internet addresses and domain
names, trademarks and service marks and related registrations and
applications, including any intent to use applications,
supplemental registrations and any renewals or extensions, all
other indicia of commercial source or origin and all goodwill
associated with any of the foregoing, (d) all computer software
(including source and object code), firmware, development tools,
proprietary languages, algorithms, files, records, technical
drawings and related documentation, data and manuals, (e) all
inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not
reduced to practice), know how, technology, technical data, (f)
trade secrets, confidential business information, financial,
marketing and business data, pricing and cost information, business
and marketing plans, advertising and promotional materials,
customer, distributor, reseller and supplier lists and information,
correspondence, records, and other documentation, and other
proprietary information of every kind (collectively, if and to the
extent proprietary, held as confidential and protectable as a
“trade secret” under applicable Law,
“
Trade
Secrets
”), (g) all databases and data collections, (h)
all other proprietary rights (including moral rights) and (i) all
copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing (in
whatever form or medium).
“
IRS
” means the Internal
Revenue Service or any successor agency.
“
knowledge of the Company
”
means the actual knowledge of D. Craig Young, Dan Foster, Paul
Milley, Mike Perusse and Birch Blair after reasonable inquiry of
employees that ordinarily report directly to them.
“
knowledge of Parent
”
means the actual knowledge of Gordon Hutchins, Jr., Michael R.
Bauer and James P. Prenetta, Jr., after reasonable inquiry of
employees that ordinarily report directly to them.
“
Law
” means any federal,
state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute,
constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code,
order, writ, edict, decree, rule, regulation, judgment, ruling,
policy, guideline or requirement issued, enacted, adopted,
promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under
the authority of any Governmental Entity.
“
Letter of Transmittal
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(a)(i)
.
“
Liens
” means any lien,
mortgage, pledge, conditional or installment sale agreement,
encumbrance, covenant, restriction, option, right of first refusal,
easement, security interest, deed of trust, right-of-way,
encroachment, community property interest or other claim or
restriction of any nature, whether voluntarily incurred or arising
by operation of Law.
“
Losses
” means losses,
damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest,
awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of
enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of
pursuing any insurance providers;
provided
,
howeve
r, that
“Losses” shall not include damages calculated on
multiples of earnings or cash flow, lost profits, indirect damages,
consequential damages, incidental damages, exemplary damages or
punitive damages, except to the extent actually recovered from and
Indemnified Party pursuant to a Third Party Claim.
“
Majority Holders
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 10.14(b)
.
“
Material Customer
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.22(a)
.
“
Material Supplier
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.22(b)
.
“
Merger
” has the meaning
set forth in the Recitals.
“
Merger Consideration
”
means the aggregate consideration that the holders of Shares are
entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger and the terms of this
Agreement.
“
Merger Sub
” has the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“
Merger Sub Bylaws
” means
the bylaws of Merger Sub.
“
Merger Sub Charter
” means
the articles of incorporation of Merger Sub.
“
Network Facilities
” means
all material network facilities (including cables, wires, conduits,
switches, and other equipment and facilities) and related material
operating support systems, network operations centers, and land and
buildings associated therewith.
“
NOR
” has the meaning set
forth in
Section
3.16(g)
.
“
Notice of Disagreement
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(b)
.
“
Option
” means any option
to purchase shares of Company Common Stock issued pursuant to the
Company Stock Option Plan and still outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time.
“
Option Percentage
” means
the
quotient
(expressed as a percentage) obtained by
dividing
(a) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all
Options that are outstanding as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time by (b) the Fully Diluted Share Number.
“
Optionholder
” means a
holder of an Option.
“
Order
” means any
judgment, order, decision, writ, Injunction, decree, stipulation,
award, ruling, or other finding or agency requirement of a
Governmental Entity, or arbitration award.
“
Outside Date
” means June
30, 2018, or if extended to a later date pursuant to and in
accordance with
Section
8.1(b)(ii)
, any such later date.
“
Parent
” has the meaning
set forth in the Preamble.
“
Parent Adjustment Amount
”
means the
sum
of
(i) the Final Working Capital Underage, if any,
plus
(ii) the Final Closing Cash
Underage, if any,
plus
(iii) the Additional Transaction Expenses, if any,
plus
(iv) the Additional Indebtedness,
if any.
“
Parent Bylaws
” means the
bylaws of Parent, as amended and restated.
“
Parent Charter
” means the
certificate of incorporation of Parent, as amended and
restated.
“
Parent Common Stock
”
means shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
Parent.
“
Parent Material Adverse
Effect
” means any change, event, development,
conditions, occurrence or effect that (a) has a material adverse
effect on the ability of either Parent or Merger Sub to consummate
the Transactions or perform their respective obligations under this
Agreement or (b) would prevent or materially delay the consummation
of the Transactions by Parent.
“
Parent Subsidiary
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(c)
.
“
Party
” has the meaning
set forth in the Preamble.
“
Payments Administrator
”
means Acquiom Financial LLC, a Colorado limited liability
company.
“
Payments Agreement
” means
that certain Acquiom Payments Administration Agreement to be
entered into at or prior to Closing by and between the Stockholder
Representative and the Payments Administrator.
“
Payoff Letter
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 7.2(f)
.
“
Pension Plans
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.9(a)
.
“
Permits
” means all
licenses, franchises, permits, variances, Orders, approvals,
certificates, authorizations, registrations and rights of or with
all Governmental Entities.
“
Permitted Lien
” means (a)
Liens in respect of any liabilities and obligations reflected in
the Company Financial Statements, (b) with respect to the owned
real property and leased real property of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries, (i) defects, exceptions, restrictions, rights
of way, easements, covenants, encroachments and other imperfections
of title, none of which materially impair or interfere with the
present users of such property, and (ii) zoning, entitlement, land
use, environmental regulations, and building restrictions, none of
which materially impair or interfere with the present uses of such
property, (c) Liens for current Taxes not yet delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP on
the Company Financial Statements, (d) mechanics’,
carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like
Liens that arise or are incurred in the ordinary course of business
for amounts not yet due and payable, and (e) Liens to be released
on or prior to the Closing Date.
“
Person
” means any
individual (in any capacity) or legal entity, including a
Governmental Entity.
“
Personal Data
” means any
data or information from, about, or related to an identified or
identifiable individual that (i) alone or in combination with other
data information could be used, directly or indirectly, to identify
an individual or otherwise facilitate decisions regarding
individuals, (ii) constitutes personal data or personal information
under any applicable Law or any applicable privacy policy,
including, individual’s combined first and last name, home
address, telephone number, fax number, email address, Social
Security number or other Government Entity-issued identifier
(including state identification number, driver’s license
number, or passport number), geolocation information of an
individual or device, biometric data, medical or health
information, credit card or other financial information (including
bank account information), cookie identifiers associated with
registration information, or any other browser- or device-specific
number or identifier not controllable by the end user, and web or
mobile browsing or usage information that is linked to the
foregoing.
“
Pre-Closing Tax Period
”
means any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending prior to or on
(and including) the Closing Date.
“
Pre-Closing Taxes
” means
all Taxes imposed on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for
the Pre-Closing Tax Period other than the Uncollected Sales
Taxes.
“
PSC Rules
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(c)
.
“
Regulatory Approvals
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1(a)
.
“
Release
” means any
releasing, disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling, leaking,
leaching, pumping, dumping, emitting, emptying, seeping, dispersal,
migration, transporting, placing and the like, including, without
limitation, the moving of any materials through, into or upon, any
land, soil, surface water, groundwater or air, or otherwise
entering into the indoor or outdoor environment.
“
Representative Losses
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.14(c)
.
“
Representatives
” means
any officer, director, employee, investment banks, accountant,
attorney or other advisor or representative of a
Person.
“
Right-of-Way Agreement
”
means a right-of-way agreement, license agreement or other
agreement permitting or requiring a Person to lay, build, operate,
maintain or place cable, wires, conduits or other equipment and
facilities over land, underwater or underground.
“
SEC
” means the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“
Securities Act
” means the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“
Share
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
1.5(a)
.
“
Share Percentage
” means
the
quotient
(expressed as a percentage) obtained by
dividing
(a) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Capital Stock that are outstanding as of
immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (b) the Fully Diluted
Share Number.
“
Slamming
” has the meaning
set forth in
Section
3.16(d)
.
“
Software
” means any
computer software program, together with any error corrections,
updates, modifications, or enhancements thereto, in both
machine-readable form and human readable form, including all
comments and any procedural code.
“
State Approvals”
has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.4
.
“
Statement
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(a)
.
“
State PSCs
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(a)
.
“
State Telecommunications
Laws
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(c)
.
“
Stockholder
” means a
holder of a Share.
“
Stockholder Adjustment
Amount
” means (i) the Final Working Capital Overage,
if any,
plus
(ii) the Final
Closing Cash Overage, if any.
“
Stockholder Payment
Account
” has the meaning set forth in
Section
2.1(a)(iii)
.
“
Stockholder
Representative
” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
“
Subsidiary
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(c)
.
“
Surviving Corporation
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.1
.
“
Target Working Capital
Amount
” means $0.00.
“
Takeover Laws
” means any
state takeover Law or other state Law that purports to limit or
restrict business combinations or the ability to acquire or vote
Company Common Stock, including any “business
combination,” “control share acquisition,”
“fair price,” “moratorium” or other similar
anti-takeover Law.
“
Tax Benefit
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 9.4(c)
.
“
Tax”
or
“
Taxes
”
means any (a) federal, state, local and foreign income, excise,
gross receipts, gross income, ad valorem, profits, gains, property,
estimated, capital, sales, transfer, use, value added, payroll,
employment, unemployment, workers’ compensation, severance,
withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise, backup withholding and
other taxes of any kind, charges, levies or like assessments,
including escheat, together with all penalties, and additions and
interest thereto, whether disputed or not, and whether liability is
imposed directly or by virtue of an obligation to indemnify or
otherwise assume or succeed to the Taxes of another Person and (b)
liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in
clause
(a)
of this
sentence as a result of being a member of an affiliated,
consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group for any taxable
period.
“
Tax Return
” includes all
returns, reports, claims for refund and forms (including elections,
attachments, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates,
information returns and TD Form 90 22.1, and its successor form
FinCEN Form 114) relating to Taxes, including any amendment thereof
and any document with respect to or accompanying payments of
estimated Taxes, or with respect to or accompanying requests for
the extension of time in which to file any such return, report,
document or declaration.
“
Telecommunications Act
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.17
.
“
Third Party Claim
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 9.5(a)
.
“
Trade Secrets
” has the
meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual
Property.
“
Transaction Bonuses
”
means any bonuses, success fees, change of control or other similar
payments paid or payable to any Person by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries solely as a result of the Transactions.
“
Transaction Expenses
”
means, (a) any legal, accounting, financial advisory or other third
party advisory or consulting fees or expenses incurred by the
Company or any Company Subsidiaries (i) in connection with the
Transactions at or prior to the Closing or (ii) in connection with
the audit of the Company Financial Statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2017, whether prior to or after the Closing, and
in each case which remain unpaid as of the Closing, including any
broker’s fees described in the engagement letters with the
entities set forth in
Section 3.25
of the Company
Disclosure Letter, (b) the costs and expenses of the D&O Tail
Policy, (c) any Transaction Bonuses, (d) the severance costs
specified in
Section
6.15
.
“
Transaction Expenses Payoff
Amount
” means the aggregate amount of Transaction
Expenses that are unpaid as of the Effective Time as evidenced by
final invoices or other applicable documentation.
“
Transaction Litigation
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.6
.
“
Transactions
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(a)
.
“
Treasury Regulations
”
means the regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury.
“
Uncollected Sales Taxes
”
means sales Taxes for which the corresponding receivables in
respect of such Taxes have not been collected from the customers of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries prior to the Closing
Date.
“
UNEs
” has the meaning set
forth in
Section
3.17
.
“
USF Programs
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.16(c)
.
“
Welfare Plans
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 3.9(a)
.
“
Working Capital
” means,
at any date, all Current Assets
minus
all Current Liabilities as of
such date. An illustrative example of the calculation of Working
Capital as of December 31, 2017 is attached as
Exhibit
F
.
“
Working Capital Estimate
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.5
.
“
Working Capital Overage
”
shall exist when (and shall be equal to the amount by which) the
Closing Working Capital exceeds the Working Capital
Estimate.
“
Working Capital Underage
”
shall exist when the Working Capital Estimate exceeds the Closing
Working Capital.
“
Written Consent
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 6.2
.
Section
10.17
Liability
of Financing Source Parties
. Without limiting
the rights of Parent under the Debt Financing Agreements,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, each Party hereto (in the case of the Stockholder
Representative, on behalf of itself and each of the Stockholders
and Optionholders) irrevocably agrees that none of the Debt
Financing Sources or the Debt Financing Source Related Parties
shall have any liability or obligation to the Parties, any
Stockholder, any Optionholder or any Affiliate of any of the
foregoing relating to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution
or performance of this Agreement or the Transactions, including any
dispute relating to the Debt Financing, whether sounding in
contract or tort, or whether at law or in equity, or otherwise
under any legal or equitable theory.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub have caused
this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
MEGAPATH
HOLDING CORPORATION
By:
/s/ D. Craig
Young
Name:
D. Craig
Young
Title:
CEO
FUSION
MPHC ACQUISITION CORP..
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
FUSION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
For the
purposes of
Section
2.1
,
Section
2.7
,
Section
2.8
,
Article
IX
and
Section
10.14
only:
SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES LLC,
solely in its capacity as the Stockholder
Representative
By:
/s/ Sam
Riffe
Name:
Sam
Riffe
Title:
Executive Director
[Signature page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement
”) is made and
entered into effective as of May 4, 2017, by and among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”), BCHI Holdings,
LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “
Initial Stockholder
”),
and each Person (as defined below) that becomes a party to this
Agreement by delivering to the Company a duly executed joinder to
this Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
or such other form
approved by the Company having the same effect thereof pursuant to
Section 6.1 (together with Initial Stockholder, each, a
“
Stockholder
,” and,
collectively, the “
Stockholders
”).
RECITALS
A. The
Company is party to a Merger Agreement, dated as of August 26,
2017, by and among Birch Communications Holdings, Inc., Fusion BCHI
Acquisition LLC and the Company (the “
Merger
Agreement
”).
B.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Initial
Stockholder will acquire shares (the “
Closing Shares
”) of the
Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the
“
Company Common
Stock
”).
C. In
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration
rights provided in this Agreement.
D. The
Company and the Stockholders are entering into this Agreement to
set forth the terms and conditions applicable to such registration
rights.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained
herein, the Company and the Initial Stockholder agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms
not otherwise defined herein have the meaning set forth in the
Merger Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the following meanings:
“
Affiliate
” of any
particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by
or under common control with such particular Person, where
“control” means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person
whether through the ownership of voting securities or
otherwise.
“
Agreement
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Business Day
” means any
day other than a weekend or public holiday.
“
Closing Shares
” has the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“
Closing Shares Registration
Statement
” means the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-1 or S-3 (or a successor form) that covers the
resale, to be made on a delayed or continuous basis, of Closing
Shares representing no greater than 25% of the total number of all
Closing Shares that constitute Registrable Securities (and may
include other Registrable Securities held by the other
Stockholders, as set forth herein), under Rule 415 under the
Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC,
and all amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
“
Closing Shares Shelf
Expiration
” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.1.
“
Company
” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble and shall include the Company’s
successors.
“
Company Common Stock
” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“
Controlling Person
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1
.
“
Demand Registration
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2
.
“
Demand
Registration Request”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2.
“
Demand Registration
Statement
” means a Registration Statement filed by the
Company with the SEC pursuant to
Section 2.2
hereof, and all
amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
“
Exchange Act
” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to
time.
“
Immediate Family
” means,
with respect to any individual, such individual’s spouse,
parents, parents-in-law, descendants, brothers, sisters,
brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and children-in-law.
“
Initiating Stockholder
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2
.
“
Merger Agreement
” has the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“
NASDAQ
” means The NASDAQ
Stock Market, LLC.
“
Partner
Distribution
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section
2.2.
“
Permitted
Interruption
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.6(c).
“
Permitted Transferee
”
means, (a) with respect to any Stockholder that is an individual,
(i) members of the Immediate Family of such Stockholder or (ii) any
trust or partnership established solely for the benefit of the
Immediate Family Member of such Stockholder, or (b) with respect to
any Stockholder that is not an individual, an Affiliate (other than
any “portfolio company” described below) of such
Stockholder;
provided
,
however
, that in no event shall
any “portfolio company” (as such term is customarily
used among institutional investors) of any Stockholder or any
entity controlled by any portfolio company of any Stockholder
constitute a “Permitted Transferee” of such
Stockholder.
“
Person
” means an
individual, limited liability company, association, joint stock
company, partnership, corporation, trust, estate or unincorporated
organization.
“
Piggyback Registration
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3
.
“
Piggyback Stockholders
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3
.
“
Registrable Securities
”
means all shares of Company Common Stock held by the Stockholders
at any time, including the Closing Shares, and any shares of
Company Common Stock issued or issuable to any Stockholder with
respect thereto by way of stock dividend or distribution, stock
split, or in connection with any combination of shares,
recapitalization, merger, share exchange, conversion, consolidation
or similar transaction (including pursuant to Article I of the
Merger Agreement), whether now owned or acquired by Stockholders or
acquired at a later time;
provided
,
however
, that any such shares
of Company Common Stock shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) when they have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement,
(ii) when they have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 of the
Securities Act, (iii) with respect to any Stockholder, at such time
as the entire amount of such Stockholder’s Registrable
Securities may be sold in a single sale, in the opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Company and such holder, each in their
reasonable judgment, without any limitation as to volume pursuant
to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, (iv) when they have been
transferred to any Person other than a Permitted Transferee to whom
registration rights are assigned in accordance with
Section 6.1
hereof, or (v) when
they have ceased to be outstanding.
“
Registration Expenses
”
has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.7
.
“
Registration Statement
”
means the Closing Shares Registration Statement, a Demand
Registration Statement and any other registration statement
prepared and filed with the SEC pursuant to
Article II
hereof, and all
amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
“
Required Stockholders
”
means the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities held by the Stockholders.
“
SEC
” means the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
“
Securities Act
” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.
“
Shelf Takedown
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 2.1
.
“
Stockholder(s)
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble, and such term shall include any
transferee to whom registration rights granted pursuant to this
Agreement are validly assigned pursuant to
Section 6.1
hereof.
“
Underwritten Offering
”
means a registered underwritten offering in which securities of the
Company are sold to one or more underwriters for reoffering to the
public.
“
WKSI
” means a
“well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405
promulgated by the SEC.
ARTICLE II
CLOSING
SHARES REGISTRATION STATEMENT;
Demand
and Piggyback Rights
Section
2.1
Closing Shares
Registration Statement
. The
Company shall prepare the Closing Shares Registration Statement and
file it with the SEC, and shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause the Closing Shares Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the SEC no later than 120 days from the date hereof.
The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing
Shares Registration Statement to remain effective (subject
to
Section
2.6(c)
) until the earlier to
occur of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities included
within the Closing Shares Registration Statement have been sold
(other than to a Permitted Transferee to whom registration rights
are effectively assigned in accordance with
Section 6.1
hereof) or (ii) the fifth (5th)
anniversary of the date that the Closing Shares Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the end of such period,
the “
Closing Shares Shelf
Expiration
”). The
Stockholders who hold Registrable Securities each shall be
entitled, at any time and from time to time when the Closing Shares
Registration Statement is effective, to sell such Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Closing Shares Registration Statement
(a “
Shelf
Takedown
”). The resale of
shares of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Closing Shares
Registration Statement may from time to time from and after the
date the Closing Shares Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC and until the Closing Shelf Expiration, upon
the written request of any Stockholder that holds, together with
its Affiliates, at least a simple majority of the Registrable
Securities issued pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement to such Stockholder and its Affiliates and
included under the Closing Shares Registration Statement, be an
underwritten offering;
provided
,
however
,
that the Company shall not be required to effect an underwritten
Shelf Takedown unless the gross proceeds from the sale of
Registrable Securities in such offering are reasonably expected to
be at least $10,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting
discount or commission); and
provided
,
further
,
that the Company shall not be required to effect more than one (1)
underwritten Shelf Takedown in any 90-day period or more than three
(3) underwritten Shelf Takedowns in any 365-day period. In the
event that any Stockholder requests an underwritten Shelf Takedown
pursuant to this
Section 2.1
(the “
Requesting
Stockholder
”), then the
other Stockholders, if any, in each of such Stockholder’s
discretion, shall have the right to participate in such
underwritten Shelf Takedown of Registrable Securities registered
under the Closing Shares Registration Statement, subject to
this
Section
2.1
, and (ii) the Company shall
promptly notify each of the Stockholders (other than the Requesting
Stockholder) of such underwritten Shelf Takedown, and such
Stockholders shall have five (5) Business Days after receipt of
such notice to request, by written notice to the Company and the
Requesting Stockholder,
that Registrable Securities held by such
Stockholder and registered
pursuant to the Closing Shares Registration Statement be sold
pursuant to such proposed underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company
and the Stockholders shall use their reasonable best efforts to
cooperate in taking any customary actions necessary or appropriate,
including making necessary filings with the SEC, to permit any such
Stockholder to participate in such proposed underwritten Shelf
Takedown in such circumstances. If the Closing Shares Registration
Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time prior
to the Closing Shares Shelf Expiration, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall
within 45 days of such cessation of effectiveness amend the Closing
Shares Registration Statement in a manner to obtain the withdrawal
of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof. In any
underwritten Shelf Takedown, the majority of the Stockholders
requesting such underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to
select the plan of distribution, to select one counsel for the
selling Stockholders and to designate the lead managing underwriter
in connection with any underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to such
registration and each other managing underwriter for any such
underwritten Shelf Takedown;
provided
,
that in each case, each such underwriter is reasonably satisfactory
to the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed. If the managing underwriters advise the Requesting
Stockholder and the Company that, in their opinion, the number of
shares of Common Stock requested to be included in such
underwritten Shelf Takedown exceeds the amount that can be sold in
such underwritten Shelf Takedown without adversely affecting the
distribution (including the timing and/or price at which the
Registrable Securities can be sold) of the shares of Company Common
Stock being offered, such underwritten offering will include only
the number of shares of Company Common Stock that the underwriters
advise can be sold in such underwritten offering without having an
adverse effect on the distribution (including the timing and/or
price at which the Registrable Securities can be sold) of the
shares of Company Common Stock being offered. The Company will
include in such underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the Closing
Shares Registration Statement, to the extent of the number of
shares of Company Common Stock which the Requesting Stockholder and
the Company are so advised can be sold in such underwritten Shelf
Takedown, the Registrable Securities of the Stockholders,
pro
rata
, on the basis of the
number of shares of Company Common Stock requested to be included
by such Stockholders.
Section
2.2
Demand Registration
Rights
. As of and after the
Closing Shares Shelf Expiration, each Stockholder shall have the
right to require the Company to file one or more registration
statements under the Securities Act covering all or any part of its
and its Affiliates’ Registrable Securities (a
“
Demand
Registration
”) by
delivering a written request (the “
Demand Registration
Request
”) therefor to the
Company specifying the number of Registrable Securities to be
included in such registration and the intended method of
distribution thereof (each such Stockholder so requesting a Demand
Registration, an “
Initiating
Stockholder
”). Any Demand
Registration Request may request that the Company register
Registrable Securities on an appropriate form, including a
long-form registration statement on Form S-1 (or any similar
long-form registration statement), a shelf registration statement,
and, if the Company is a WKSI, an automatic shelf registration
statement;
provided
,
however
,
that the Company shall only be obligated to register such
Registrable Securities if the sale of the Registrable Securities
requested to be registered by such Stockholder is reasonably
expected to result in aggregate gross cash proceeds of at least
$20,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting discount or
commission); and
provided
,
further
,
that unless otherwise approved by the Board, the Company shall not
be obligated to file a Registration Statement relating to any
registration request under this
Section 2.2
within a period of 180 days after the
effective date of any other Registration Statement. The Company
shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable (subject to
Section
2.6(c)
), use its reasonable
best efforts to file with the SEC (no later than forty five (45)
days from the Company’s receipt of the applicable Demand
Request) and cause to be declared effective such registration under
the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities which the Company
has been so requested to register, for distribution in accordance
with such intended method of distribution, including a distribution
to, and resale by, the members or partners of the Initial
Stockholder (a “
Partner
Distribution
”), and (y)
if requested by the Stockholders, obtain acceleration of the
effective date of the registration statement relating to such
registration. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this
Section
2.2
(subject to
Section
2.6(c)
hereof) to remain
effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which all
Registrable Securities included within such Registration Statement
have been sold (other than to a Permitted Transferee to whom
registration rights are effectively assigned in accordance
with
Section 6.1
hereof) and (ii) the expiration of 180
days (or, if such registration is a shelf-registration statement
that permits sales of Registrable Securities on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, one
(1) year) from the date such Registration Statement first becomes
effective (exclusive of any period during which the holders of
Registrable Securities are prohibited or impaired from disposition
of Registrable Securities by reason of the occurrence of a
Permitted Interruption), at which time the Company shall have the
right to deregister any of such securities that remain unsold. The
Company shall, at the request of any Stockholder (including to
effect a Partner Distribution), file any prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendments, or include in the initial Registration
Statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment any disclosure or language,
and otherwise take any action, reasonably deemed necessary or
advisable by such Stockholder (including to effect a Partner
Distribution). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the Company shall not be required to effect more than
five (5) Demand Registrations pursuant to this
Section
2.2
.
Section
2.3
Piggyback Registration
Rights
. If the Company at any
time proposes to register any securities (whether pursuant to the
exercise of Demand Registration rights by a Stockholder of the
Company or at the initiative of the Company) under the Securities
Act (other than the Closing Shares Registration Statement solely as
provided in
Section
2.1
) in connection with a
public offering of such securities for cash, whether for its own
account or for the account of other securityholders, and the form
of registration statement to be used may be used for the
registration of Registrable Securities held by the Stockholders,
the Company shall give prompt written notice of its intention to do
to each Stockholder at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to
filing any registration statement, and the Stockholders
(“
Piggyback
Stockholders
”), may, by
written notice to the Company, request that any or all Registrable
Securities not otherwise registered pursuant to a Registration
Statement (other than the Closing Shares Registration Statement
solely as provided in
Section
2.1
) be included in such
proposed registration of securities by the Company under the
Securities Act (a “
Piggyback
Registration
”). Upon the
written request of any such Piggyback Stockholder, made within ten
(10) Business Days following the receipt of any such written notice
(which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable
Securities intended to be disposed of by such Piggyback Stockholder
and the intended method of distribution thereof), the Company
shall, subject to this
Section
2.3
, use its reasonable best
efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities, the Piggyback
Stockholders of which have so requested the registration thereof,
to be registered under the Securities Act with the securities which
the Company at the time proposes to register to permit the sale or
other disposition by the Piggyback Stockholders (in accordance with
the intended method of distribution thereof) of the Registrable
Securities to be so registered, including, if necessary, by filing
with the SEC a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the
registration statement filed by the Company or the prospectus
related thereto. There is no limitation on the number of such
Piggyback Registrations pursuant to the preceding sentence which
the Company is obligated to effect. No registration of Registrable
Securities effected under this
Section 2.3
shall relieve the Company of its
obligations to effect Demand Registrations under
Section
2.2
hereof.
Section
2.4
Additional Demand
Registrations
. If the Company
effects the registration of less than all of the Registrable
Securities requested to be included by the Initiating Stockholder
in a Demand Registration under
Section
2.2
, then the Stockholders
shall be entitled to request an additional Demand Registration with
respect to such Registrable Securities that were not so registered.
If the Company withdraws or suspends any Demand Registration
pursuant to
Section 2.6(c)
before the expiration of such Demand
Registration pursuant to
Section
2.2
, and before all of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration have
been sold pursuant thereto, the Initiating Stockholder shall be
entitled to request an additional Demand Registration with respect
to such Registrable Securities that were not so sold. Any such
additional Demand Registration shall be requested and effected in
the manner and subject to the procedures that applied with respect
to the Demand Registration that was the subject of the cutback
in
Section
3.4
.
Section
2.5
Effective Registration
Statement
.
A Demand Registration pursuant
to
Section 2.2
shall not be deemed to have been
effected unless (i) a Registration Statement with respect thereto
has become effective and, after it has become effective, such
Demand Registration is not interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other
governmental agency or court for any reason, and (ii) the sale of
Registrable Securities contemplated thereby (if underwritten) has
been consummated.
Section
2.6
Limitations
on Demand and Piggyback Rights.
(a)
With
respect to any registrations requested pursuant to
Section
2.2
or
Section
2.3
, the Company may include in
such registration any other equity securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Stockholders will not have piggyback or other registration rights
with respect to registered primary offerings by the Company (i)
covered by a Form S-8 Registration Statement (or a successor form)
applicable to employee benefit-related offers and sales, (ii) where
the securities are not being sold for cash, (iii) covered by a
registration statement on Form S-4 (or successor form) or (iv)
relating to a corporate reorganization pursuant to Rule 145
promulgated by the SEC.
(b)
Any
demand for the filing of a Registration Statement will be subject
to the constraints of any customary and reasonable lockup
arrangements entered into by the Company in connection with a then
pending underwritten offering, and such demand must be deferred
until such lockup arrangements no longer apply. If a demand has
been made under this
Article
II
, no further demands may be
made so long as the related offering is still being pursued in good
faith.
(c)
The
Company may postpone the filing of any Registration Statement or
suspend the effectiveness of any Registration Statement (including,
without limitation, the Closing Shares Registration Statement), any
amendment or post-effective amendment thereto or prospectus
supplement for a reasonable “blackout period” not in
excess of 60 days if the board of directors of the Company
determines in good faith that such registration, offering,
amendment or supplement (i) would materially interfere with a bona
fide business, financing or acquisition (including any merger,
reorganization, consolidation, tender offer or similar transaction)
transaction of the Company because it would be reasonably likely to
require premature disclosure of material, nonpublic information,
the premature disclosure of which the board of directors reasonably
determines in the exercise of its good faith judgment (and not for
the avoidance of its obligations under this Agreement) would not be
in the best interests of the Company, or (ii) could not be effected
by the Company in compliance with the applicable financial
statement requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act
(such event described in this
Section 2.6(c)
during which the Company is not
required to make such filing, amendment or supplement is herein
referred to as a “
Permitted
Interruption
”);
provided
,
however
,
that the Company shall not postpone the filing of a demanded
Registration Statement or suspend the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement pursuant to this
Section 2.6
more than once in any 90-day period.
If a Permitted Interruption affects a Registration Statement during
the period such Registration Statement remains effective, the
Company agrees to notify each of the Stockholders so affected by a
Permitted Interruption in writing as promptly as practicable upon
each of the commencement and the termination of each Permitted
Interruption. The Company shall not be required in such notice of a
Permitted Interruption to disclose the cause for such Permitted
Interruption, and each Stockholder agrees, subject to applicable
law, that it will not disclose receipt of such notice of Permitted
Interruption to any Person. Each Stockholder agrees that, upon
receipt of any such notice from the Company, such Stockholder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until the earlier
of (i) such Stockholder’s receipt of the Company’s
notice as to the termination of the Permitted Interruption and (ii)
90 days after receipt of the original notice of a Permitted
Interruption. In the event of a Permitted Interruption, the
duration of the applicable period in which a Registration Statement
is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days of
such period. The Company shall reimburse each holder of Registrable
Securities for all reasonable and documented out-of pocket costs
and expenses incurred by such Stockholder in connection with the
postponement or withdrawal of such a filing.
ARTICLE III
Notices,
Cutbacks and Other Matters
Section
3.1
Notifications
Regarding Registration Statements
.
In order for one or more Initiating 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. The Company will keep the
Stockholders contemporaneously apprised of all pertinent aspects of
its pursuit of any registration, whether pursuant to a Demand
Registration or otherwise, with respect to which a Piggyback
Registration opportunity is available. Pending any required public
disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the
parties will maintain the confidentiality of these
discussions.
Section
3.2
Notifications
Regarding Registration Piggyback Rights
. Subject to
Section
2.3
, in the event that any sale
of shares pursuant to a Registration Statement is underwritten, the
Company shall promptly notify each Piggyback Stockholder of such
development and the Piggyback Stockholders shall have fifteen (15)
days after receipt of such notice to request the registration by
the Company under the Securities Act of Registrable Securities not
otherwise registered pursuant to a Registration Statement (other
than the Closing Shares Registration Statement) in connection with
such proposed registration of securities.
Section
3.3
Plan of Distribution;
Underwriters
. In connection
with any Demand Registration, the majority of the Initiating
Stockholders participating in such Demand Registration shall have
the right to select the plan of distribution, to select one counsel
for the selling Stockholders and to designate the lead managing
underwriter in connection with any underwritten offering pursuant
to such registration and each other managing underwriter for any
such underwritten offering;
provided
,
that in each case, each such underwriter is reasonably satisfactory
to the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed.
Section
3.4
Cutbacks
.
If the managing underwriters advise the Company and the selling
Stockholders that, in their opinion, the number of shares requested
to be included in an underwritten offering (other than any resale
of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Closing Shares
Registration Statement that is an underwritten offering, which
shall be subject to
Section
2.1
) exceeds the amount that
can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the
distribution (including the timing and/or price at which the
Registrable Securities can be sold) 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 having an
adverse effect on the distribution (including the timing and/or
price at which the Registrable Securities can be sold) of the
shares being offered. The Company will include in such Registration
Statement (other than any resale of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Closing Shares Registration Statement that is an
underwritten offering, which shall be subject to
Section
2.1
), to the extent of the
number which the Company is so advised can be sold in such
offering,
first
,
all securities proposed by the Company, if any, to be sold for its
own account;
second
,
Registrable Securities requested by the Stockholders to be included
in such Registration Statement,
pro rata
, on the basis of the number of shares of Company
Common Stock requested to be included in such Registration
Statement.
Section
3.5
Withdrawals
.
Even if shares held by a Stockholder have been part of a registered
underwritten offering, such 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. In the
event of such a withdrawal, the Company and any Stockholder having
the right to participate in such offering may, in their discretion,
include additional shares in such offering in replacement of any
shares so withdrawn without requiring any further notice or
piggyback registration rights with respect to the Stockholder that
has withdrawn its shares.
Section
3.6
Lockups
.
In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities, (a) the Company (and each of its executive officers and
directors) and (b) each Stockholder which is selling shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to its rights hereunder will agree to
be bound by the underwriting agreement’s lockup restrictions
(which must apply, and continue to apply, in like manner to each of
the Company (and each of its executive officers and directors) and
Stockholders participating in the underwritten offering) that are
agreed to (i) by the Company (if a majority of the shares being
sold in such underwritten offering are being sold for its account)
or (ii) by Stockholders holding a majority of shares being sold by
all Stockholders in such underwritten offering (if a majority of
the shares being sold in such underwritten offering are being sold
by Stockholders), as applicable.
Section
3.7
Expenses
.
All costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Registration
Statement or registered offering that includes shares held by
Stockholders, whether or not a Registration Statement becomes
effective or the offering is consummated, including all
registration and filing fees, printing expenses, reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel (including the fees and disbursements
of one outside counsel for the Stockholders (selected by the
holders of the majority of the Registrable Securities to be
included in such Registration Statement) and of the independent
certified public accountants), and the expense of qualifying such
shares under state blue sky laws (all such expenses, the
“
Registration
Expenses
”), will be borne
by the Company. However, any underwriters’, brokers’
and dealers’ discounts and commissions, or similar fees of
securities industry professionals, and applicable transfer taxes,
if any, in each case relating to shares sold for the account of a
Stockholder will be borne by such Stockholder. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required
to pay fees and disbursements of any outside counsel retained by
any Stockholder or by any underwriter in connection with any
Registration Statement or registered offering, except as expressly
set forth above in this
Section
3.7
.
ARTICLE IV
FACILITATING
REGISTRATIONS AND OFFERINGS
Section
4.1
General
.
If the Company becomes obligated under this Agreement to facilitate
a registration and offering of shares on behalf of 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
Article
IV
.
Section
4.2
Registration
Statements
. In connection with
each Registration Statement (including the Closing Shares
Registration Statement and any other Registration Statement that is
demanded by Stockholders or as to which piggyback rights otherwise
apply), the Company will:
(a)
prepare
and file with the SEC a Registration Statement (or an amendment or
supplement to the Closing Shares Registration Statement) covering
the applicable shares, (ii) file amendments thereto as warranted,
(iii) seek the effectiveness thereof, and (iv) file with the SEC
prospectuses and prospectus supplements as may be required, all in
consultation with the Stockholders and as reasonably necessary in
order to permit the offer and sale of such shares in accordance
with the applicable plan of distribution;
(b)
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
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 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 Stockholders or any
underwriter available for discussion of such
documents;
(i)
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
Stockholders and underwriters; fairly consider such reasonable
changes in such document prior to or after the filing thereof as
counsel for such 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;
(c)
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 (x) to comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules
and regulations of the SEC and (y) 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;
(d)
notify
each Stockholder promptly, and, if requested by such Stockholder,
confirm such advice in writing, (i) when a Registration Statement
has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and
supplements thereto become effective if such Registration Statement
or post-effective amendment is not automatically effective upon
filing pursuant to Rule 462 promulgated by the Securities Act, (ii)
of the issuance by the SEC or any state 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, (iii) 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 of the shares
for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding
for such purpose, and (iv) 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;
(e)
promptly
furnish to counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for the
respective Stockholders copies of any correspondence with the SEC
or any state securities authority relating to the Registration
Statement or prospectus;
(f)
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
(g)
use
all reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the
earliest possible time.
Section
4.3
Due
Diligence
. In connection with
each registration and offering of shares to be sold by
Stockholders, the Company will, in accordance with customary
practice, make available for inspection by representatives of the
Stockholders and underwriters and any counsel or accountant
retained by such Stockholder 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.
Section
4.4
Information from
Stockholders
. Each Stockholder
that holds shares covered by any Registration Statement will
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself as is
required to be included in the Registration Statement, the
ownership of shares by such Stockholder and the proposed
distribution by such Stockholder of such shares, and make such
customary representations to the Company, as the Company may from
time to time reasonably request in writing. Each Stockholder
authorizes the Company to include such information in the
applicable Registration Statement or other documents prepared or
filed in connection therewith. Each Stockholder further agrees to
promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the
information provided to the Company that it becomes aware of that
may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while a
Registration Statement including shares owned by such Stockholder
remains effective. Each Stockholder agrees to distribute
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement only
in the manner described in the applicable Registration
Statement.
Section
4.5
Additional
Agreements of Stockholders
.
(a)
Each
Stockholder agrees to, following such time that such Stockholder
becomes aware, as expeditiously as possible, notify the Company of
the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in any
Registration Statement or any related prospectus regarding such
Stockholder untrue in any material respect or that requires the
making of any changes in either a Registration Statement or
prospectus regarding such Stockholder.
(b)
Each
Stockholder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in
Section
4.2(d)(ii)
or
Section
4.2(d)(iv)
hereof, such
Stockholder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such
Stockholder’s receipt of the copies of any necessary
supplements or amendments to such Registration Statement or
applicable prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Stockholder will deliver to the Company all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such
Stockholder’s possession, of the Registration Statement or
applicable prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the
time of receipt of such notice. Each Stockholder agrees that in the
event it receives any notice from the Company under
Section
4.2(d)(ii)
or
Section
4.2(d)(iv)
, it will not
disclose such fact to any person.
Section
4.6
Non-Closing Shares
Registration Statements
. In
connection with any non-shelf registered offering or shelf
registration that is demanded by Stockholders in accordance
with
Section 2.2
or as to which piggyback rights apply
pursuant to
Section
2.3
, the Company
will:
(a)
cooperate
with the Stockholders selling shares and the sole underwriter or
managing underwriter of an underwritten offering shares, if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing the shares 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 Stockholders or the
sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten
offering of shares, if any, may reasonably request at least five
(5) Business Days prior to any sale of such shares;
(b)
furnish
to each 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 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, by each such Stockholder and
underwriter in connection with the offering and sale of the shares
covered by the prospectus or the preliminary
prospectus;
(c)
(i) 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 Stockholder
holding shares covered by a registration statement, shall
reasonably request; (ii) use all reasonable efforts to keep each
such registration or qualification effective during the period such
registration statement is required to be kept effective; and (iii)
do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable each such underwriter, if any, and
Stockholder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction
of such shares owned by such 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;
(d)
use
all reasonable efforts to cause all shares being sold to be
qualified for inclusion in or listed on NASDAQ or any other U.S.
securities exchange on which shares issued by the Company are then
so qualified or listed if so requested by the Stockholders, or if
so requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten
offering of shares, if any;
(e)
cooperate
and assist in any filings required to be made with Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority and in the performance of any due
diligence investigation by any underwriter in an underwritten
offering;
(f)
use
all reasonable efforts to facilitate the distribution and sale of
any shares being offered, including 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 lead managing underwriter of an underwritten offering;
and
(g)
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 and in
connection therewith:
(i)
make
such representations and warranties to the selling Stockholders and
the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten
offerings;
(ii)
obtain
opinions of counsel to the Company 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 Stockholder and the underwriters, if any,
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in
sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Stockholders and
underwriters;
(iii)
obtain
“cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the
Company’s independent certified public accountants addressed
to the selling 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;
(iv)
to
the extent requested and customary for the relevant transaction,
enter into a securities sales agreement with the Stockholders
providing for, among other things, the appointment of such
representative as agent for the selling 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
non-shelf registered offerings or shelf registrations, as
applicable.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
5.1
Indemnification by the
Company
. In the event of any
registration under the Securities Act by any Registration
Statement, pursuant to rights granted in this Agreement, of shares
held by Stockholders, the Company will hold harmless Stockholders,
each director, officer, employee and Affiliate of the Stockholders
and each other person, if any, who controls any Stockholder within
the meaning of the Securities Act (each, a
“
Controlling
Person
”), against any
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (including legal fees and
costs of court), joint or several, to which Stockholders or such
Controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or any actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact (a) contained, on its effective date, in any Registration
Statement under which such securities were registered under the
Securities Act or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing, or which arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or (b) contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to
the effective date of such Registration Statement, or in the final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
filed with the SEC any amendment or supplement to the final
prospectus), or which arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission (if so used) to state a material fact required
to be stated in such prospectus or necessary to make the statements
in such prospectus not misleading; and will reimburse Stockholders
and each such Controlling Person for any legal or any other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, or
liability;
provided
,
however
,
that the Company shall not be liable to any Stockholder or
Controlling Persons in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in such Registration Statement or such amendment or
supplement, solely in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company through a written instrument
duly executed by such Stockholder specifically for use in the
preparation thereof. In connection with any underwritten public
offering effected under a Registration Statement, the Company will
agree to indemnify the underwriters on terms and conditions
customary for such an offering. This indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of an indemnified party, and shall survive the transfer (in
accordance with the terms hereof) of such Registrable Securities by
the seller thereof.
Section
5.2
Indemnification by
Stockholders
. Each Stockholder
will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in
the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in
Section
5.1
) the Company, each
director, officer, employee and Affiliate of the Company and any
Person who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act with respect to any statement or omission from such
Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to it, if
such statement or omission was made solely in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company through a
written instrument duly executed by such Stockholder specifically
regarding such Stockholder for use in the preparation of such
Registration Statement or amendment or supplement;
provided
,
however
,
that such Stockholder shall not be liable in any such case to the
extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement
amendment or supplement, such Stockholder has furnished in writing
to the Company information expressly for use in such Registration
Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement which
corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished
to the Company. This indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Company, its directors, officers or controlling Persons, and shall
survive the transfer of such Registrable Securities by the seller
thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liability of any such
Stockholder shall not exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds
realized by such Stockholder from the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
Section
5.3
Indemnification
Procedures
. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of
any action involving a claim referred to in the preceding Sections
of this
Article
V
, the indemnified party will,
if a resulting claim is to be made or may be made against and
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
Article
V
, 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 action’s
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 party’s expense unless (a) the employment
of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, which authorization shall not be unreasonably
withheld, (b) the indemnifying party has not assumed the defense
and employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party within 60 days after notice of any such action or proceeding,
or (c) 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
to any liability for any settlement made without its consent. No
indemnifying party will consent to entry of any judgment or enter
into any settlement which (i) 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 (ii) involves the imposition of equitable remedies or
the imposition of any non-financial obligations on the indemnified
party.
Section
5.4
Contribution
.
If the indemnification required by this
Article V
from the indemnifying party is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any indemnifiable losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, or expenses, then the indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (a) the
relative benefit of the indemnifying and indemnified parties and
(b) if the allocation in clause (a) is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefit referred to in clause (a) and also the relative fault of
the indemnified and indemnifying parties, in connection with the
actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, or expenses, 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,
claims, damage, liabilities, and expenses 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 Stockholders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section
5.4
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
5.4
. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this
Section
5.4
, no indemnifying or
contributing party shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
securities were offered to the public by such party exceeds the
amount of any damages which such 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.
ARTICLE VI
OTHER
AGREEMENTS
Section
6.1
Transfer
of Rights
.
(a)
This
Agreement is personal to the parties hereto and not assignable or
transferable;
provided
,
however
,
that notwithstanding the foregoing, a Stockholder may assign and
transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a
Permitted Transferee in connection with a transfer or sale of
Registrable Securities to such Person, which assignment or transfer
shall only be effective upon receipt by the Company of a duly
executed commitment by such Permitted Transferee to be bound by the
terms of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
A
, in which case this Agreement
shall be assigned to, and may be enforced by, such Permitted
Transferee, and such Permitted Transferee shall thereupon have all
of the rights and obligations of its transferor
hereunder.
(b)
In
the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which
the Registrable Securities are converted into securities of another
company, and which securities are not tradable without registration
under the Securities Act, appropriate arrangements will be made so
that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue
to be provided to Stockholders by the issuer of such securities. To
the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the
Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration
rights obligations that would conflict with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Company will, unless the Required Stockholders
otherwise agree, use its best efforts to modify any such
“inherited” registration rights obligations so as not
to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided
under this Agreement.
Section
6.2
Limited
Liability
. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, neither the members, general
partners, limited partners or managing directors, or any directors
or officers of any members, general or limited partner, advisory
director, nor any future members, general partners, limited
partners, advisory directors, or managing directors, if any, of any
Stockholder shall have any personal liability for performance of
any obligation of such Stockholder under this Agreement in excess
of the respective capital contributions of such members, general
partners, limited partners, advisory directors or managing
directors to such Stockholder.
Section
6.3
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 Stockholder, make such information
available) and it will take such further action as any Stockholder
may reasonably request, so as to enable such Stockholder to sell
Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule
144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time
to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by
the SEC. Upon the request of any Stockholder, the Company will
deliver to such Stockholder a written statement as to whether it
has complied with such requirements.
Section
6.4
In-Kind
Distributions
. If any
Stockholder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or
part of its Registrable Securities to its direct or indirect
equityholders, the Company will work with such Stockholder and the
Company’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind
distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such
Stockholder.
Section
6.5
No Inconsistent
Agreements
. The Company has not
entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not
enter into, any agreement that conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
7.1
Notices
.
All notices, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) on the date
so given, if delivered personally, (ii) on the date sent, if
delivered by facsimile with telephone confirmation of receipt,
(iii) on the second Business Day following the date deposited in
the mail if mailed via an internationally recognized overnight
courier and (iv) on the fourth (4th) Business Day following the
date deposited in the mail if mailed via registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, in each case, to
the other party at the following addresses:
if to
any Stockholder, to the address listed on
Annex A
, with copies (which
shall not constitute notice) to the respective persons listed on
Annex
A
.
if to
the Company, to:
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 17
New
York, New York 10170
Attention: James P.
Prenetta, Jr., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
Email:
jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
Section
7.2
Section
Headings
. The article and
section headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only
and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. References in this Agreement to a designated
“Article” or “Section” refer to an Article
or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically
indicated.
Section
7.3
Use of
Terms
. Whenever required by the
context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular
form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice
versa. Whenever the words “include”,
“included” or “including” are used in this
Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”. Reference to any agreement,
document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument
as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof. When used in this Agreement, words such as
“herein”, “hereinafter”,
“hereof”, “hereto”, and
“hereunder” shall refer to this Agreement as a whole,
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The use of the words
“or,” “either” and “any” shall
not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in
the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this
Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties
hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring
or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
Section
7.4
Governing
Law
. This Agreement will be
governed and construed in accordance with the internal Laws of the
State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflict of
laws principles (whether of the State of Delaware or any other
jurisdiction).
Section
7.5
Consent to
Jurisdiction and Service of Process
. Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Chancery
Court of the State of Delaware and, in the absence of such
jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of
Delaware, and, in the absence of such federal jurisdiction, the
parties consent to be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware state court sitting in New Castle County (together, the
“Chosen Courts”), in any action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions or for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i)
agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding except in the
Chosen Courts, (ii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in the Chosen
Courts, and any appellate court hearing actions or proceedings
therefrom, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have
to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the
Chosen Courts, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may
legally and effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum
to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in the Chosen
Courts. Each of the parties to this Agreement agrees that a final
judgment in any such action or proceeding will be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law.
Section
7.6
WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL
. EACH PARTY HERETO
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY
CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR
OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS,
(III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION
7.6
.
Section
7.7
Amendments;
Termination
. This Agreement may
be amended or modified only by an instrument in writing executed by
the Company and the Required Stockholders. Any such amendment and
modification will apply to all Stockholders equally, without
distinguishing between them. This Agreement will terminate as to
any Stockholder when it no longer holds any Registrable Securities.
This Agreement will no longer be applicable to Registrable
Securities that are registered in a public offering on NASDAQ or
any other U.S. securities exchange on which Registrable Securities
issued by the Company are then so qualified or
listed.
Section
7.8
Entire
Agreement
. This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The registration rights granted under this Agreement supersede any
registration, qualification or similar rights with respect to any
of the shares of Company Common Stock granted under any other
agreement to the parties hereto.
Section
7.9
Severability
.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any specific provision of
this Agreement shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any of
its other provisions. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid
or unenforceable shall be deemed reformed, if practicable, to the
extent necessary to render it valid and enforceable and to the
extent permitted by law and consistent with the intent of the
parties to this Agreement.
Section
7.10
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including
by means of facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together shall constitute the same
instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties have duly executed this
Agreement effective as of the date first written
above.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and
General
Counsel
[Signature
Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
BCHI
HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Name:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Title:
Manager
Notices:
[Signature
Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER TO
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
JOINDER to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
__________, 2017 (the “
Registration Rights
Agreement
”), of Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
”), is executed on
behalf of the undersigned (“
Stockholder
”), effective
as of the date set forth on the signature page below, with
reference to the following facts:
A.
Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have
the meanings set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
B.
Stockholder has acquired Registrable Securities from a Stockholder
(in this instance, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
(the “
Original
Stockholder
”), is the Permitted Transferee of the
Original Stockholder and, in connection with such transfer, the
registration rights of such Original Stockholder are being assigned
to Stockholder in accordance with the terms of
Section 6.1
of the Registration
Rights Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement requires
Stockholder to become a party thereto if Stockholder desires to
avail itself of the registration rights therein, and Stockholder
agrees to do so in accordance with the terms thereof.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned
hereby agrees as follows:
1.
Agreement to be
Bound
. Stockholder hereby agrees that upon execution of this
Joinder, Stockholder shall become a party to the Registration
Rights Agreement as a “Stockholder” and shall be fully
bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and
conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement applicable to
Stockholder and the Registrable Securities held by Stockholder as
though an original party thereto.
2.
Counterparts
. This
Joinder may be executed in separate counterparts each of which
shall be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
3.
Notices
. For
purposes of
Section
7.1
of the Registration Rights Agreement, all notices,
demands or other communications to Stockholder shall be directed to
Stockholder’s address set forth below Stockholder’s
signature below.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, Stockholder has
executed this Joinder effective as of the date set forth
below.
STOCKHOLDER:
By:
_________________________
Name:
Title:
ADDRESS:
Date:
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
This
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement
”) is entered
into as of May 4, 2018 among Fusion Connect, Inc. , a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
”), BCHI Holdings,
LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (“
Holding LLC
”), the other
Persons set forth on
Schedule I
hereto (the
“
Initial FTI
Stockholders
”) and each Person that becomes a party to
this Agreement by delivering to the Company and Holding LLC a duly
executed joinder to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
hereto or
such other form approved by Holding LLC and the Company (together,
with the Initial FTI Stockholders, the “
FTI Stockholders
” and
each an “
FTI
Stockholder
).
RECITALS
A. This
Agreement is being entered into in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, dated as
of August 26, 2017 (as amended or modified from time to time, the
“
Merger
Agreement
”), by and among the Company, Birch
Communications Holdings, Inc., a Georgia corporation,
and
Fusion BCHI
Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
B. After
giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, Holding LLC and the Initial FTI Stockholders own the
equity securities of the Company in the respective amounts
indicated on
Schedule
I
hereto.
C. Holding
LLC, the FTI Stockholders and the Company wish to set forth certain
agreements regarding the relationships among them and the
governance of the Company.
In
consideration of the premises, and of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Company
and each Stockholder agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Certain Defined
Terms
. As used herein, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
“
Affiliate
” means (i) with
respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such
Person, (ii) with respect to Holding LLC, any member of Holding LLC
or any trust therefor, and (iii) with respect to any natural
person, any spouse or lineal descendant of such person, and in each
case, any trust therefor.
“
Agreement
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
beneficial owner
” or
“
beneficially
own
” has the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership
of Common Stock or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be
calculated in accordance with the provisions of such rule. For the
avoidance of doubt, no Person shall be deemed to beneficially own
any security solely as a result of such Person’s execution of
this Agreement.
“
Board
” means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
“
Business Day
” means any
day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by law to be closed in New York
City.
“
Bylaws
” means the Bylaws
of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof and as the same may
be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
“
Cause
” shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following:
(A)
any action or
omission by the applicable Director that constitutes (1) a criminal
act committed in connection with or related to the activities of
the Company or (2) fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence in
the performance of such Director’s duties as a director of
the Company or otherwise relating to the activities of the
Company;
(B)
the conviction of
the applicable Director of any criminal offense unrelated to the
activities of the Company that constitutes a felony or for which a
term of imprisonment of any duration is imposed (other than an
offense under any road traffic legislation, not accompanied by any
other criminal offense that constitutes a felony);
(C)
a breach by the
applicable Director of a material securities law or regulation or a
material rule of any securities exchange of the Securities and
Exchange Commission; or
(D)
if such Director
also is a party to a consulting, services, severance or employment
agreement with the Company and such term is defined therein, the
meaning as set forth in such agreement.
“
Charter
” means the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect on the
date hereof and as the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“
Closing
” means the
closing of the Transaction as defined in and as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement.
“
Common Stock
” means the
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, and any
securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor,
in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange
or other similar reorganization.
“
Communications Act
” means
the Communications Act of 1934.
“
Company
” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“
Control
” (including the
terms “
controlling
”,
“
controlled
by
” and “
under common control
with
”), with respect to the relationship between or
among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or
otherwise.
“
Covered Claims
” has the
meaning set forth in
Section 4.16(a)
.
“
Director
” means any
member of the Board.
“
Equity Securities
” means
any and all shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of
the Company, securities of the Company convertible into, or
exchangeable or exercisable for (whether presently convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable or not), such shares, and options,
warrants or other rights (whether presently convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable or not) to acquire such shares of
Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company.
“
Exchange Act
” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“
FCC Regulations
” means
the rules, regulations, published decisions, published orders and
policies promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission and
in effect from time to time.
“
FTI Director
” means, as
of any date, each Person who is a director of the Company on such
date and who was designated as a director nominee in accordance
with the provisions of
Section 2.1(b)(ii)
and elected
to the Board at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of
the Company.
“
FTI Stockholders
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
FTI Nominating Committee
”
means, as of any date on which an action or decision of the FTI
Nominating Committee is required or permitted to be taken pursuant
to this Agreement, the FTI Directors serving on the Board on such
date.
“
Group
” has the meaning
set forth in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“
Holding LLC
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Information
” means all
confidential information about the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that is or has been furnished to any Stockholder or
any of its Representatives by or on behalf of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Representatives
(whether written or oral or in electronic or other form and whether
prepared by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
respective Representatives), together with that portion of all
written or electronically stored documentation prepared by such
Stockholder or its Representatives based on or reflecting, in whole
or in part, such information;
provided
,
however
, that the term
“
Information
” shall not
include any information that (i) is or becomes generally available
to the public through no action or omission by such Stockholder or
its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) is or
becomes available to such Stockholder on a non-confidential basis
from a source, other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
or any of their respective Representatives, that, to such
Stockholder’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, is not
prohibited from disclosing to such Stockholder by a contractual,
legal or fiduciary obligation or (iii) is independently developed
by a Stockholder or its Representatives or Affiliates without use
of any Information.
“
Initial FTI Stockholders
”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“
Law
” means the law of any
jurisdiction, whether international, multilateral, multinational,
national, federal, state, provincial, local or common law, or an
order, act, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, extension order
or code promulgated by a governmental authority (including any
department, court, agency or official, or non-governmental
self-regulatory organization, agency or authority and any political
subdivision or instrumentality thereof).
“
Merger Agreement
” has the
meaning provided in the first recital.
“
Person
” means any
individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or
general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock
company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any
agency or political subdivisions thereof or any Group comprised of
two or more of the foregoing.
“
Representatives
” means
with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s, or its
Affiliates’, directors, officers, employees, general
partners, Affiliates, direct or indirect shareholders, members or
limited partners, attorneys, accountants, financial and other
advisers, and other agents and representatives, including, in the
case of any Stockholder, any designee nominated for election to the
Board or a committee thereof by such Stockholder.
“
Sale of the Company
”
means, in any one or more related transactions, a merger (other
than a merger solely for the purpose of forming a holding company
with no change in indirect ownership or to effect a change in the
Company’s state of incorporation), business combination or
sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, in
each case, as a result of which the Directors immediately prior to
such transaction do not represent a majority of the Board
immediately following the consummation of such transaction (or
series of transactions), or the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction do not, immediately following
the consummation of such transaction (or series of transactions),
continue to own equity securities representing more than 50% of the
vote and of the equity of the Company, of the ultimate controlling
Person (in the case of a merger or business combination) or Person
succeeding to ownership of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets (in the case of a sale of
assets).
“
Secondary Indemnitors
”
has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.16
.
“
Securities Act
” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“
Specified Indemnitee
” has
the meaning set forth in
Section 4.16
.
“
Stockholder
” means each
of Holding LLC and the FTI Stockholders.
“
Subsidiary
” means, with
respect to any Person, (i) any corporation of which a majority of
the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors thereof, at the time as of which any determination is
being made, or a majority of the economic interests in such
Person’s equity, are owned by such Person, either directly or
indirectly, and (ii) any joint venture, general or limited
partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity in
which such Person is the record or beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of a majority of the voting or equity interests or of
which such Person is the general partner or managing
member.
“
Transfer
”
means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign,
hypothecate or similarly dispose of (by merger, operation of law or
otherwise), either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into
any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to, the sale, transfer, assignment, hypothecation or
similar disposition of (by merger, operation of law or otherwise),
any shares of Equity Securities beneficially owned by a
Person.
“
Transferee
” means any
Person to whom any Stockholder or any transferee thereof Transfers
Equity Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
“
Voting Securities
” means
at any time the then-issued and outstanding Common Stock and any
other securities of the Company of any kind or class having power
generally to vote for the election of Directors.
Section
1.2
Other
Definitional Provisions
. Unless otherwise expressly
provided, for the purposes of this Agreement, the following rules
of interpretation shall apply:
(a)
When a reference is
made in this Agreement to an article or a section, paragraph,
exhibit or schedule, such reference will be to an article or a
section, paragraph, exhibit or schedule hereof unless otherwise
clearly indicated to the contrary.
(b)
Whenever the words
“include,” “includes” or
“including” are used in this Agreement, they will be
deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation.”
(c)
The words
“hereof,” “herein” and
“herewith” and words of similar import will, unless
otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement.
(d)
The meaning
assigned to each term defined herein will be equally applicable to
both the singular and the plural forms of such term, and words
denoting any gender will include all genders. Where a word or
phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms will
have a corresponding meaning.
(e)
A reference to any
period of days will be deemed to be to the relevant number of
calendar days, unless otherwise specified.
(f)
The word
“dollars” and symbol “$” mean U.S.
dollars.
(g)
References herein
to any Person shall include such Person’s heirs, executors,
personal representatives, administrators, successors and
assigns.
(h)
The word
“or” shall be disjunctive but not
exclusive.
(i)
The parties hereto
have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if
drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of
proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the
authorship of any provisions hereof.
(j)
Any statute or rule
defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument
that is referred to herein means such statute or rule as from time
to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession
of comparable successor statutes or rules and references to all
attachments thereto and instruments incorporated
therein.
ARTICLE
II
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Section
2.1
Board of
Directors Matters
.
(a)
Board Size and Composition
.
Effective as of the Closing, in accordance with Section 3.02 of the
Bylaws, the size of the Board has initially been fixed at seven
Directors.
(b)
Nomination of Directors
.
Subject to
Section
2.1(e)
, each Stockholder agrees with the Company that it
shall: (i) appear in person or by proxy at each annual meeting or
special meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which
Directors are to be elected for the purposes of obtaining a quorum;
(ii) at each such stockholders’ meeting, vote, in person or
by proxy, all of the Voting Securities owned by it on the date of
such meeting in favor of election of the following designees
nominated for election to the Board pursuant to this
Section 2.1(b)
and in
accordance with the Bylaws and the nomination procedures of the
Company; and (iii) in any action by written consent of the holders
of Voting Securities for the purpose of electing Directors, consent
to election of the following designees nominated for election to
the Board pursuant to this
Section 2.1(b
) and in
accordance with the Bylaws and the nomination procedures of the
Company:
(i)
three (3) Persons
(at least one (1) of whom shall be an independent director within
the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards) designated as nominees
for election to the Board by Holding LLC;
(ii)
three
(3) Persons (at least one (1) of whom shall be an independent
director within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards)
designated as nominees for election to the Board by the FTI
Nominating Committee; and
(iii)
one
(1) Person designated as a nominee for election to the Board (who
shall be an independent director within the meaning of the NASDAQ
listing standards) by Holding LLC with the prior written approval
(not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the
FTI Nominating Committee.
In the
event that either Holding LLC or the FTI Nominating Committee fails
to designate any nominee that it is entitled to designate pursuant
to this
Section
2.1(b)
, then the Company will provide written notice of such
failure to Holding LLC or the FTI Nominating Committee, as
applicable. If such failure is not cured within ten (10) Business
Days following the transmission of such notice by the Company, then
the Board will be entitled to designate a nominee for such
position. The rights of each of Holdings LLC and the FTI Nominating
Committee to designate nominees for election to the Board as set
forth in this
Section
2.1(b)
are personal to each of Holdings LLC and the FTI
Nominating Committee and may not be exercised by any Transferee,
except that in the event Holding LLC no longer holds any Common
Stock but its Affiliates continue to hold Common Stock Transferred
by Holding LLC to such Affiliates (whether directly or by Transfers
through other Affiliates of Holding LLC), and such rights have not
been terminated pursuant to
Section 2.1(e)
, the rights of
Holdings LLC to designate nominees pursuant to this
Section 2.1(b)
may be exercised
by the Affiliates of Holding LLC to which such Common Stock was
Transferred.
(c)
Chairman and Vice Chairman of the
Board
. Matthew D. Rosen will be the initial Chairman of the
Board and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. will be the initial Vice Chairman
of the Board.
(d)
Removal and Replacement;
Vacancies
.
(i)
In the event that a
vacancy is created at any time by (i) the death, disability,
retirement, resignation or removal of any Director nominated for
election to the Board pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
, or (ii) there
is an increase in the size of the Board, which increase must be in
increments of two (2) Directors, the Company, by action of the
remaining Directors, shall, and the Stockholders agree with the
Company to use their reasonable best efforts to cause the remaining
Directors to, in the case of clause (i), fill the vacancy created
thereby with a replacement nominee designated by the entity (i.e.,
either Holding LLC or the FTI Nominating Committee, as the case may
be) that had designated such Director for nomination pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
as
promptly as practicable or, in the case of clause (ii), fill the
vacancies created thereby as required to maintain the proportionate
allocation of Directors contemplated by
Section 2.1(b)
above. In
addition, if such vacant position had been held by a Person
nominated under
Section
2.1(b)(iii)
, then the nomination of the replacement nominee
shall be subject to the prior written approval of the FTI
Nominating Committee, in accordance with
Section
2.1(b)(iii)
.
(ii)
In
the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death,
disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any Director
nominated for election to the Board pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
and the
remaining Directors have not caused the vacancy created thereby to
be filled pursuant to
Section 2.1(d)(i)
by a new
designee of the appropriate Person promptly after both Holding LLC
and the FTI Nominating Committee have been notified of such
vacancy, then in such case the Company shall take all such actions
as and when requested by whichever of Holding LLC or the FTI
Nominating Committee is entitled, pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
to designate a
Person to fill such vacancy (the “
Designating
Stockholder
”), and each other Stockholder hereby
agrees with the Company to vote, or act by written consent with
respect to, all Voting Securities beneficially owned by it on the
date of the relevant vote or action to act to fill the vacancy with
a Person designated as a replacement by the Designating Stockholder
in accordance with
Section
2.1(b)
. Upon the written request of any Person having rights
under
Section
2.1(b)
, each other Stockholder agrees with the Company to
vote, or act by written consent with respect to, all Voting
Securities beneficially owned by it on the date of the relevant
action to, remove any Director nominated by such Person for
election to the Board pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
and to elect any
replacement Director designated for nomination by such Person
pursuant to this
Section
2.1(d)
.
(iii)
Subject
to
Section 2.1(e)
,
unless otherwise requested in writing by the Person entitled to
nominate such Person for election to the Board under
Section 2.1(b)
, no other
Stockholder shall take any action to cause the removal of any
Directors nominated by such Person for election to the Board
pursuant to
Section
2.1(b)
; provided, that any Director may be removed by the
Board for Cause and, in such case, the resulting vacancy will be
filled with a Person designated as a replacement by the Designating
Stockholder in accordance with
Section 2.1(b)
.
(iv)
Any
vacancy on the Board that results from the termination of rights of
nomination pursuant to
Section 2.1(e)
may be filled by
action of a majority of the Board, in accordance with the Bylaws
and applicable nomination procedures of the Company.
(e)
Termination of Rights of
Nomination
.
(i)
Upon such time as
Holding LLC and its Affiliates cease to beneficially own,
collectively, at least 20% of the number of shares of Common Stock
they collectively beneficially own immediately following the
Closing,
Holding LLC
shall cease to have the right to designate any nominee for election
to the Board pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
.
(ii)
Unless
otherwise mutually agreed by Holding LLC and the FTI Nominating
Committee, upon such time as the aggregate number of issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Marvin
Rosen and Matt Rosen is less than that number of shares of Common
Stock equal to 1.5% of the then issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, the FTI Nominating Committee shall cease to have the
right to designate any nominee for election to the Board pursuant
to
Section
2.1(b)
.
Section
2.2
Company
Cooperation
. The Company shall take such action as may be
required under applicable Law, the Charter and the Bylaws (subject
to such vote of the Board as may be required) (a) to cause the
Board to consist of the number of Directors specified in
Section 2.1(a)
and
(b) to cause one of the Directors to be appointed and serve as the
Chairman of the Board and another of the Directors to be appointed
and serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board in accordance with
Section 2.1(c)
. The
Company agrees to include in the slate of nominees to be voted upon
by stockholders of the Company the Persons designated for
nomination to the Board in accordance with
Section 2.1(b)
. The Company
agrees that no modification or amendment of the Charter or the
Bylaws that is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement
shall be effective without the approval of Holding LLC and the FTI
Nominating Committee.
Section
2.3
FTI Nominating
Committee
. The FTI Nominating Committee will only take such
actions under this Agreement as authorized in writing (email being
sufficient), including the nomination of individuals for election
to the Board by the FTI Nominating Committee pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)(ii)
,
by a majority of the FTI Nominating Committee.
Section
2.4
FTI
Stockholders
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, at such time as any Person shall cease to serve as an FTI
Director for any reason, such Person shall no longer be an FTI
Stockholder within the meaning of this Agreement and the rights and
obligations of such Person under this Agreement shall terminate at
such time. At such time as any Person shall be elected as an FTI
Director such Person shall become an FTI Stockholder within the
meaning of this Agreement but only upon execution and delivery, to
the Company and Holding LLC, of a duly executed joinder to this
Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
hereto or such other
form approved by Holding LLC and the Company.
Section
2.5
Affiliate
Transactions
. Except for such transactions as are
contemplated by agreements to which the Company is a party on the
date hereof or to be entered into on the date hereof, any
transaction between the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
on the one hand, and a Stockholder or any Affiliate of such
Stockholder, on the other, shall require the approval of a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section
3.1
Representations and Warranties of the
Company
. The Company represents and warrants to each
Stockholder as follows:
(a)
the Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that the enforcement hereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity; and
(b)
the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company, the performance of its
obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not violate, conflict with or result in a
breach, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) under any provision of the Charter or
Bylaws.
Section
3.2
Representations and Warranties of the
Stockholders
. Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly,
represents and warrants, solely with respect to itself, to each
other Stockholder and to the Company as follows:
(a)
such Stockholder
has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Stockholder and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder
enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity; and
(b)
the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, the performance of
its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not violate, conflict with or result in a
breach, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) under any provision of its charter, bylaws or other
similar organizational documents.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
4.1
Not A
“Group”
. The Stockholders and the Company
acknowledge that the arrangements contemplated by this Agreement
are not intended to constitute the formation of a Group. Each
Stockholder agrees that, for purposes of determining beneficial
ownership of such Stockholder, it shall disclaim any beneficial
ownership by virtue of this Agreement of the Company’s
securities owned by the other Stockholders, and the Company agrees
to recognize such disclaimer in its Exchange Act and Securities Act
reports.
Section
4.2
Termination
. This Agreement
shall terminate upon the earliest of (a) a Sale of the Company or
(b) the date on which the rights of Holding LLC or the FTI
Nominating Committee pursuant to
Section 2.1(b)
to nominate
individuals for election to the Board have terminated in accordance
with the terms of
Section
2.1(e)
;
provided
,
however
, that, notwithstanding
anything in this
Section
4.2
to the contrary, the rights and obligations of any
particular Stockholder (other than an FTI Stockholder) under this
Agreement shall terminate on the date on which such Stockholder no
longer beneficially owns any Equity Securities;
provided
,
further
, that, notwithstanding
anything in this
Section
4.2
to the contrary, the termination of the rights and
obligations of any Person who ceases to serve as an FTI Director
for any reason shall be governed by
Section 2.4
.
Section 4.3
Confidentiality
. Each
Stockholder agrees with the Company to, and agrees with the Company
to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives
to, keep confidential and not divulge any Information;
provided
,
however
, that nothing herein
shall prevent any Stockholder from disclosing such Information (a)
upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (b) upon the
request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority having
jurisdiction over such Stockholder or Representative, (c) to the
extent required by Law or legal process or required or requested
pursuant to subpoena, interrogatories or other discovery requests,
(d) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any
remedy hereunder, (e) to other Stockholders, or (f) to such
Stockholder’s Representatives that in the reasonable judgment
of such Stockholder need to know such Information;
provided
,
further
, that, in the case of
clause (a), (b) or (c), such Stockholder shall notify the Company
of the proposed disclosure as far in advance of such disclosure as
reasonably practicable and, if requested by the Company, use
commercially reasonable efforts (but at the sole expense of the
Company) to ensure that any Information so disclosed is accorded
confidential treatment, when and to the extent
available.
Section 4.4
Amendments
and Waivers
. Except as otherwise provided herein, no
modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement shall be effective without the approval of the Company,
Holding LLC and the FTI Nominating Committee;
provided
,
however
, that (a) this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived in any manner
adversely affecting the rights or obligations of any Stockholder
without the prior written consent of such Stockholder, (b) no
amendment, modification or waiver to
Section 2.1
(directly or by
amendment of the definitions used therein) shall adversely affect
the rights of Holding LLC or the FTI Nominating Committee to
designate nominee(s) for election to the Board in accordance with
this Agreement without the consent of Holding LLC or the FTI
Nominating Committee, as the case may be, (c) amendment,
modification or waiver of this
Section 4.4
shall require the
prior written consent of each Stockholder, and (d) any Stockholder
may terminate or waive (in writing) the benefit of any provision of
this Agreement with respect to itself for any purpose.
Section 4.5
Successors,
Assigns and Transferees
. Except as expressly set forth
herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of, and
be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
Section 4.6
Notices
. All notices and other
communications to be given to any party hereunder shall be
sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and
delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service, or when
received in the form of an email or other electronic transmission
(receipt confirmation requested), and shall be directed to the
address set forth below (or at such other address or email address
as such party shall designate by like notice):
if to
the Company, to:
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Attention: James P.
Prenetta, Jr. Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
Email:
jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
if to
any Stockholder, to the address of such Stockholder as shown in
Schedule I
hereto.
Section 4.7
Further
Assurances
. At any time or from time to time after the date
hereof, the parties 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 the
other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or
effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties
hereunder.
Section 4.8
Entire
Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries
. Except as otherwise
expressly set forth herein, this Agreement embodies the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior
understandings, agreements or representations by or among the
parties, written or oral, that they may have related to the subject
matter hereof in any way. This Agreement is not intended to confer
in or on behalf of any Person not a party to this Agreement any
rights, benefits, causes of action or remedies with respect to the
subject matter or any provision thereof.
Section 4.9
Delays or
Omissions
. It is agreed that no delay or omission to
exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any
breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this
Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall
it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or
noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar
breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is
further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any
kind or character on the part of any party hereto of any breach,
default or noncompliance under this Agreement or any waiver on such
party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the
extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either
under this Agreement, by Law, or otherwise afforded to any party,
shall be cumulative and not alternative.
Section 4.10
Governing
Law
. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed within the State of Delaware,
without giving effect to conflicts of law rules that would require
or permit the application of the Laws of another
jurisdiction.
Section 4.11
Specific
Performance; Jurisdiction
.
(a)
The parties agree
that irreparable damage would occur for which money damages would
not suffice in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or were otherwise breached and that the parties would not
have any adequate remedy at law. It is accordingly agreed that any
non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek an injunction,
temporary restraining order or other equitable relief exclusively
in the Delaware Court of Chancery enjoining any such breach and
enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, or in the
event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject
matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, in the United
States District Court for the District of Delaware or another court
sitting in the state of Delaware. Each party agrees not to raise
any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of
specific performance to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened
breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and
obligations of such party under this Agreement. The provisions of
this
Section
4.11(a)
are in addition to any other remedy to which any
party is entitled at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b)
Each of the parties
hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding in
connection with or with respect to this Agreement and the rights
and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and
enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the
rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by the other party
hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined
exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery, or in the event (but
only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter
jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, in the United States
District Court for the District of Delaware or another court
sitting in the state of Delaware. The parties hereto further agree
that any dispute between the parties regarding the approval by the
FTI Nominating Committee of any Person designated by Holding LLC
pursuant to
Section
2.1(b)(iii)
will be submitted to the Delaware Court of
Chancery with a request to rule on an expedited basis. Each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such
action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property,
generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the
aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any action in
connection with or relating to this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than
the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense,
counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding in
connection with or with respect to this Agreement, (i) any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the
above-named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve
in accordance with this
Section 4.11
, (ii) any claim
that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of
any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts
(whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment,
attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment
or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the
applicable Law, any claim that (A) the suit, action or proceeding
in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of
such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (C) this Agreement,
or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such
courts.
(c)
Each of the parties
hereto irrevocably consents to the service of any summons and
complaint and any other process in any other action in connection
with or relating to this Agreement, on behalf of itself or its
property, by the personal delivery of copies of such process to
such party or by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the
party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for
the giving of notices in
Section 4.6
. Nothing in this
Section 4.11
shall
affect the right of any party hereto to serve legal process in any
other manner permitted by Law.
Section 4.12
Waiver of
Jury Trial
. Each party hereby waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by
jury in respect of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out
of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each
party (i) certifies and acknowledges that no representative, agent
or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or
otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of
litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, and (ii)
acknowledges that it understands and has considered the
implications of this waiver and makes this waiver voluntarily, and
that it and the other parties have been induced to enter into the
Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and
certifications in this
Section 4.12
.
Section 4.13
Severability
. If any term,
provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the
transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination,
the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement
so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the
transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally
contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 4.14
Titles and
Subtitles
. The titles of the sections and subsections of
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not
affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
Section 4.15
Counterparts;
Electronic Signatures
. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument. Signatures provided by electronic transmission in
“pdf” or equivalent format will be deemed to be
original signatures.
Section 4.16
Certain
Indemnification Matters
. The Company hereby acknowledges
that an Indemnitee (as defined in the Charter) who is an officer,
director, partner, member, manager, employee, managing director or
Affiliate of, or a Director nominee pursuant to
Section 2.1
of, a Stockholder
(each such Indemnitee, a “
Specified Indemnitee
”)
may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses
and/or insurance pursuant to charter documents, constitutive
agreements or other agreements with such Stockholder or Affiliates
of such Stockholder or other Person (other than the Company and its
Affiliates) of which such Specified Indemnitee is an officer,
director, partner, member, manager, employee, managing director or
Affiliate (collectively, the “
Secondary Indemnitors
”).
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:
(a)
The Company shall
be the indemnitor of first resort for any claims or proceedings
(collectively, “
Covered Claims
”) for
which any Specified Indemnitee is entitled, under the Charter or
otherwise, to indemnification by the Company (
i.e.
, the Company’s obligations
to each such Specified Indemnitee with respect to any Covered Claim
are primary and any obligations of any Secondary Indemnitor to
advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same
expenses or liabilities incurred by any such Specified Indemnitee
with respect Covered Claims are secondary).
(b)
Subject to Sections
1 and 2
of Article
IX
of the Charter, the
Company shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees and
expenses) incurred by any Specified Indemnitee in defending any
Covered Claim in advance of such Covered Claim’s final
disposition, without regard to any rights any such Specified
Indemnitee may have against any Secondary Indemnitor.
(c)
The Company hereby
irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases each Secondary
Indemnitor from any and all claims against such Secondary
Indemnitor for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of
any kind in respect of any Covered Claim.
The
Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by any
Secondary Indemnitor on behalf of any such Specified Indemnitee
with respect to any Covered Claim for which any such Specified
Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect
the foregoing and any such Secondary Indemnitor shall have a right
of contribution and/or subrogation to the extent of such
advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such
Specified Indemnitee against the Company. Any amendment, repeal or
modification of this
Section 4.16
shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Specified Indemnitee
or Secondary Indemnitor existing prior to such repeal or
modification.
Section 4.17
Rights and
Obligations of Transferees
. No Stockholder shall Transfer
any Equity Securities except in compliance with the Securities Act,
the Charter (as defined in the Merger Agreement), any applicable
state or foreign securities Laws and this Agreement, or if such
Transfer would violate the Communications Act or FCC Regulations
and such Stockholder has been so advised by the Company. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, no such Transfer shall be
made or recognized in the books and records of the Company if such
Transfer would result in a violation of the Communications Act or
FCC Regulations. Any Transfers in violation of this Agreement shall
be null and void.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Stockholders’ Agreement to be executed effective as of the
date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
BCHI
HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Name:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Title:
Manager
FTI STOCKHOLDERS
:
By:
/s/ Marvin S. Rosen
By:
/s/ Matthew S. Rosen
By:
/s/ Philip D. Turits
By:
/s/ Michal J. Del Giudice
By:
/s/ Jack Rosen
By:
/s/ William Rubin
By:
/s/ Paul C. O’Brien
By:
/s/ Larry Blum
EXHIBIT A
FORM
OF JOINDER TO
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
This
JOINDER to the Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of
__________, 2018 (the “
Stockholders’
Agreement
”), of Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
”), BCHI Holdings,
LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (“
Holding LLC
”) and the
other Persons set forth on
Schedule I
of the
Stockholders’ Agreement (the “
Initial FTI
Stockholders
”) is executed on behalf of the
undersigned (“
FTI
Stockholder
”), effective as of the date set forth on
the signature page below, with reference to the following
facts:
A. Capitalized
terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement.
B. FTI
Stockholder is, as of the date set forth below, an FTI
Director.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned
hereby agrees as follows:
1.
Agreement
to be Bound
. FTI Stockholder hereby agrees that upon
execution of this Joinder, FTI Stockholder shall become a party to
the Stockholders’ Agreement as an “FTI
Stockholder” and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all
of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Stockholders’
Agreement applicable to FTI Stockholder.
2.
Equity
Securities
. As of the date of this Agreement, the FTI
Stockholder owns [INSERT AMOUNT AND TYPE OF COMPANY EQUITY
SECURITIES OWNED BY STOCKHOLDER.]
3.
Counterparts
.
This Joinder may be executed in separate counterparts each of which
shall be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
4.
Notices
.
For purposes of
Section
4.6
of the Stockholders’ Agreement, all notices,
demands or other communications to FTI Stockholder shall be
directed to FTI Stockholder’s address set forth below FTI
Stockholder’s signature below.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, Stockholder has
executed this Joinder effective as of the date set forth
below.
FTI
STOCKHOLDER:
ADDRESS:
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
by and
among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
(f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.
and
LINGO MANAGEMENT, LLC
dated
as of
May
4
,
2018
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
This
Transition Services Agreement (this "
Agreement
"),
dated as of May 4, 2018, is entered into by and between
Fusion Connect, Inc. (f/k/a Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.)
, a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business at 420 Lexington
Avenue, Suite 1718, New York, NY 10170 (“
Fusion
”) and
Lingo Management, LLC
, a Georgia limited
liability company with its principal place of business at 3060
Peachtree Road NW, Suite 1065, Atlanta, GA 30305
(“
Lingo
”). Each of Fusion
and Lingo may be referred to herein individually as a
“
Party
”
and collectively as the “
Parties
.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS
, Fusion, Fusion BCHI
Acquisition, LLC (“
Merger Sub
”), and Birch
Holdings, Inc. (“
Birch Holdings
”) have
entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
August 26, 2017, as amended (the “
Merger Agreement
”), under
the terms of which Merger Sub will merge with and into Birch
Holdings, with Merger Sub being the survivor of that merger (the
“
Merger
”);
WHEREAS
, one of the conditions to
closing the Merger is the requirement that Birch Communications,
LLC (“
Birch
”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Birch Holdings, spin-off to the existing shareholders
of Birch Holdings, the Consumer/SMB Business; and
WHEREAS
, in order to facilitate the
transition of the Consumer/SMB Business to Lingo as well as to
facilitate the transfer of the remaining business of Birch to
Fusion (the “
Birch
Business/Cloud Business
”), the Parties have agreed to
provide the other Party with certain services, including
administrative and support services, until such time as any
remaining state approvals (as defined) are obtained, network
facilities and other assets have been appropriately transferred,
and the Parties can operate their respective businesses without the
need for the services specified contemplated by this Agreement
(collectively “
Services
”);
and
WHEREAS
, capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to such
terms in the Merger Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the Parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
SERVICES;
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE; END USERS
Section 1.01
Provision
of Services.
(a)
The Party providing
any Services (the “
Providing Party
”) agrees
to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide, or to cause its
one or more of its subsidiaries to provide, the Services set forth
on the exhibits attached hereto (as such exhibits may be amended or
supplemented pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, collectively,
the "
Service
Schedules
") to the Party receiving the Services (the
“
Receiving
Party
”) for the respective periods and on the other
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the
respective Service Schedules. As used in this Agreement and the
Service Schedules when describing the rights and obligations of the
Providing Parties, the “
Providing Parties
” shall
include the Providing Parties and its subsidiaries.
(b)
Notwithstanding the
contents of the Service Schedules, the Providing Parties agree to
respond in good faith to any reasonable request by the Receiving
Parties for access to any additional services that are necessary
for the operation of their business and which are not currently
contemplated in the Service Schedules, at a price to be agreed upon
after good faith negotiations between the Parties. Unless otherwise
agreed to by the Parties, any such additional services so provided
by the Providing Parties shall constitute Services under this
Agreement and be subject in all respect to the provisions of this
Agreement as if fully set forth on a Service Schedule as of the
date hereof.
(c)
The Providing Party
shall ensure that all personnel who provide Services hereunder on
its behalf have appropriate professional, technical, and skills,
training, and experience to enable them to perform their duties in
an efficient manner. Each Providing Party shall make commercially
reasonable efforts to provide sufficient staffing to enable the
Services to be performed in accordance with this Agreement and
shall reasonably maintain the continuity of the personnel assigned
to perform the Services hereunder. Any replacement personnel shall
have substantially equivalent or better qualifications than the
personnel being replaced.
(d)
The Parties
acknowledge the transitional nature of the Services. Accordingly,
as promptly as practicable following the execution of this
Agreement, the Receiving Parties agree to use commercially
reasonable efforts to make a transition of each Service to its own
internal organization or to obtain alternate third-party sources to
provide the Services so that the Services are transitioned no later
than the respective expiration dates in the Service
Schedules.
(e)
In the event and to
the extent that there is an inconsistency between the terms of this
Agreement and the Service Schedules, the Service Schedules shall
govern.
Section 1.02
Standard of
Service.
The
Providing Party
represents, warrants and agrees with the Receiving
Party that the Services shall be provided in a professional and
workmanlike manner with promptness and diligence in accordance with
the requirements of this Agreement and applicable law and, except
as specifically provided in the Service Schedules, in a manner
generally consistent with the historical provision of the Services
and with at least the same standard of care as historically
provided in connection with its business.
Section 1.03
Disclaimer of
Warranties.
Except as expressly
contemplated by Section 1.02 or set forth in any contract entered
into hereunder, including in any Service Schedules or attachment
thereto, each Party provides the Services on an as-is and where-is
basis, using commercially reasonable efforts, and makes no
representations and warranties of any kind,
WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR
STATUTORY, AS TO THE DESCRIPTION, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY,
COMPLETENESS OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE, OF ANY SERVICE PROVIDED
HEREUNDER OR DESCRIBED HEREIN, OR AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, ALL OF
WHICH WARRANTIES BY EACH PARTY ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED AND
DISCLAIMED
. The Receiving
Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not create a
fiduciary relationship, partnership, joint venture or relationships
of trust or agency between the Parties and that all Services are
provided by the Providing Parties as independent contractors. To
further clarify the foregoing, wherever this Agreement or any
schedule states that the Providing Parties shall provide a
particular Service or function, or perform or fulfill a particular
obligation, or make something available, the Providing Parties
shall do so using commercially reasonable efforts, and shall
neither guarantee nor insure any particular
result.
Section 1.04
Third-Party Service
Providers.
It is understood and
agreed that the Providing Parties have been retaining, and will
continue to retain, third-party service providers to provide some
of the Services to the Receiving Parties. In addition, the
Providing Parties shall have the right to hire other third-party
subcontractors to provide all or part of any Service hereunder. The
Providing Parties shall in all cases retain responsibility for the
provision to the Receiving Parties of Services to be performed by
any third-party service provider or subcontractor or by the
Receiving Party’s subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (a) in all cases where a Party changes its then-current
practice from either (i) providing a Service itself to providing it
through a third-party, or (ii) providing it by one third-party to
another third-party, it shall promptly notify the other Party of
such change, and (b) the Providing Parties will disallow the new or
continued Services of any of the Providing Parties of its
third-party subcontractors upon a showing of reasonable cause and
no undue hardship to the Providing Parties.
Section 1.05
Extension of Services.
The Parties agree that the Providing
Parties shall not be obligated to perform any Service after the
applicable end date (the “
End
Date
”) specified for that
Service in the applicable Service Schedule;
provided
,
however
, that if the Receiving Parties desire and the
Providing Parties agree to continue to perform any of the Services
after the applicable End Date, the Parties shall negotiate in good
faith to determine an amount that compensates the Providing Parties
for its on-going provision of such Services. The Services so
performed by the Providing Parties after the applicable End Date
shall continue to constitute Services under this Agreement and be
subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement for the
duration of the agreed-upon extension period.
Section 1.06
Terminated Services.
Upon termination or expiration of any
or all Services pursuant to this Agreement, or upon the termination
of this Agreement in its entirety, the Providing Parties shall have
no further obligation to provide the applicable terminated Services
and the Receiving Parties will have no obligation to pay any future
compensation or out-of-pocket costs relating to such Services
(other than for or in respect of Services already provided in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and received by the
Receiving Parties prior to such termination), or Services provided
by the Providing Parties at the Receiving Parties’ request
after such termination.
Section 1.07
(a) Access to Premises and
Assets.
In order to enable the
provision of the Services by the Providing Parties, the Receiving
Parties agree that for a period of six (6) months after the
execution of this Agreement, that they shall provide to the
Providing Parties and each of their subsidiaries' employees and any
third-party service providers or subcontractors who provide
Services, at no cost to the Providing Parties, access to the
facilities in all cases only upon prior written notice during
normal business hours to the extent necessary for the Providing
Parties to fulfill each of its obligations under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above, prior written notice shall not be
required for the Providing Party to grant access to those employees
of the Receiving Party who work on a day to day basis in the
Providing Party’s premise during normal business hours. All
third-party subcontractors shall at all times be under the direct
supervision of a supervisory-level employee of the Providing
Parties. The Providing Parties’ access to facilities of the
other Party shall at all times be subject to the approval and
direction of the senior executive officer of the Receiving Parties
then present at the facilities. The Parties agree that the
Providing Parties will indemnify, defend and hold harmless, the
Receiving Parties for any third party claims resulting from bodily
injury or property damage incurred by the Receiving Parties
employees, third party service providers or subcontractors who are
granted access to the premises of the Providing
Party
(b) Access to Books and
Records.
In order to enable the
provision of the Services by the Providing Parties, the Receiving
Parties agree that for a period of thirty six (36) months after
execution of this Agreement, they shall provide to the Providing
Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries' employees and
any third-party service providers or subcontractors retained by
such Party to review billing matters on its behalf, at no cost to
the Providing Parties, access to the books and records of the other
Party relevant to the Services in question along with the
underlying details and invoices for the Services provided by the
Providing Party pursuant this Agreement.
Section 1.08
System
Maintenance
. In the event that
a Providing Party determines that it is necessary to interrupt
Services or that there is a potential for Services to be
interrupted for the performance of system maintenance
(“Planned Interruption”), the Providing Party will use
good-faith efforts to notify the Receiving Party prior to the
performance of such maintenance and will schedule such maintenance
during non-peak hours (midnight to 6 a.m. local time). In no event
shall the Planned Interruption for system maintenance constitute a
failure of performance by the Providing Party.
ARTICLE II.
COMPENSATION
Section 2.01
Responsibility for Wages and
Fees.
Except as otherwise
contemplated in a schedule to this Agreement,
for such time as any employees of the Providing
Parties or any of its subsidiaries are providing the Services to
the Receiving Parties under this Agreement, (a) such employees will
remain employees of the Providing Parties or such subsidiaries, as
applicable, and shall not be deemed to be employees of the
Receiving Parties for any purpose, (b) the Providing Parties or
such subsidiaries, as applicable, shall be solely responsible for
the payment and provision of all wages, bonuses and commissions,
employee benefits, including severance and worker's compensation,
and the withholding and payment of applicable taxes relating to
such employment, and (c) the Providing Parties shall retain the
sole and exclusive right to manage said employees, including but
not limited to the ability and right to hire, terminate, promote,
demote and/or discipline said employees.
Section 2.02
Terms
of Payment and Related Matters.
(a)
As consideration
for provision of the Services, the Receiving Parties shall pay the
Providing Parties the amount specified for each Service on such
Service's respective Service Schedule. For any costs incurred for
Services that are not already set forth in any Service Schedule, in
the event that the Providing Parties or any of their subsidiaries
incur pre-approved (where possible) reasonable and documented
expenses necessary to provide any Service, including, without
limitation payments to third-party service providers or
subcontractors retained in accordance with Section 1.04 (such
included expenses, collectively, "
Additional
Costs
"), the Receiving Parties then shall reimburse the
Providing Parties for all such Additional Costs in accordance with
the invoicing procedures set forth in
Section
2.02(b)
.
(b)
As more fully provided in the Service
Schedules and subject to the terms and conditions
therein:
(i)
the Providing
Parties shall provide, no later than ten (10) days after the end of
each calendar month, the Receiving Parties, in accordance with
Section 6.01
of this Agreement, with monthly invoices dated the first of each
month ("
Invoices
"),
which shall set forth in reasonable detail, for each Service
covered by a Service Schedule, with such supporting documentation
as the Receiving Parties may reasonably request with respect to any
out-of-pocket costs incurred on behalf of the other Party, amounts
payable under this Agreement; and
(ii)
unless
otherwise provided for in the schedules hereto, payments pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made within thirty (30) days of the date
of an Invoice.
(c)
The Providing
Parties reserve the right to charge interest on any amount not paid
by the Receiving Parties by the due dates set forth herein that is
not being contested by the Receiving Parties in good faith at a
rate of one and one-half percent (1-1/2%) per month. Such interest
shall accrue from the thirty-first (31
th
) day after the
original Invoice due date through the date payment is
made.
Section 2.03
Invoice Disputes.
The
Receiving Party may raise a good faith dispute
with respect to an Invoice by delivering a written statement to the
Providing Party within ninety (90) days of the Receiving
Party’s receipt of the applicable Invoice. To be valid, the
required written statement must include a reasonably detailed
description of each disputed item. Amounts not disputed within such
ninety (90) day period shall be deemed accepted. In the event that
the Receiving Party raises a good faith dispute prior to the due
date of the applicable Invoice and submits the required written
statement, the Receiving Party may withhold the disputed amount
from the applicable Invoice payment and pay solely the undisputed
balance The Parties shall seek to resolve all such disputes
expeditiously and in good faith. Parties shall seek to resolve all
such disputes expeditiously and in good faith. All undisputed
portions of invoices shall be paid notwithstanding any dispute. Any
disputed amounts resolved in favor of a disputing Party shall be
credited to that Party’s account on the next Invoice
following resolution of the dispute. Any dispute arising out of or
relating to this Agreement that has not been resolved by the
good-faith efforts of the Parties shall be settled pursuant
to
Section 2.04
of this Agreement.
Section 2.04
Mandatory Arbitration of
Disputes
.
ANY BILLING DISPUTE OF ANY KIND
BETWEEN THE PARTIES, WILL BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING
ARBITRATION AS PRESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION. THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION
ACT, NOT STATE LAW, WILL GOVERN THIS PROCESS
. The arbitration will be conducted by and under
the then-applicable commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association (“
AAA
”) through the AAA Case Management Center
located in Washington, DC or other location as may be mutually
agreed by Parties. A single neutral arbitrator engaged in the
practice of law will conduct the arbitration. The arbitrator will
be selected according to the rules of the AAA or, alternatively,
may be selected by agreement of the Parties, who will cooperate in
good faith to select the arbitrator. All expedited procedures
prescribed by the applicable rules will apply. All required fees
and costs will be paid equally by the Parties as set forth in the
AAA commercial arbitration rules. The arbitrator’s decision
and award will be final and binding, and judgment on the award
rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court with
jurisdiction.
No dispute may be joined with another lawsuit,
claim, dispute, or arbitration brought by any other person. The
arbitrator may not award punitive damages. If any Party files a
judicial or administrative action to resolve a billing dispute
without first complying with the provisions of this Section and
another Party successfully stays such action and/or compels
arbitration, the Party filing that judicial or administrative
action must pay the other Party’s costs and expenses incurred
in seeking such stay and/or compelling arbitration, including
attorney’s fees.
Section 2.05
No Right of Setoff.
Each of the Parties hereby
acknowledges that it shall have no right under this Agreement to
offset any amounts owed (or to become due and owing) to the other
Party, whether under this Agreement, or otherwise, against any
other amount owed (or to become due and owing) to it by the other
Party.
Section 2.06
Taxes.
The Receiving Parties shall be responsible for all
fees, taxes or surcharges properly assessed by regulatory or
Governmental Entities on the Services or amounts due or payable
under this Agreement (excluding taxes on the Providing
Party’s net income), including but not limited to gross
receipts taxes, surcharges, franchise fees, business licenses,
occupational, excise, universal service fund, and other taxes (and
penalties and interest thereon), which shall be passed through to
the Receiving Party. Upon written request, the Providing Party will
furnish documentation to support the fees or charges payable by the
Receiving Party pursuant to this Section.
Section 2.07
Additional
Assurances
. If at any time
during the term of this Agreement there is a material and adverse
change in a Party’s financial condition, business prospects
or payment history, the invoicing Party may demand a security
deposit or increase the amount of the Security Deposit, as the case
may be, as security for the full and faithful performance of the
terms, conditions, and covenants of this Agreement;
provided,
however
, in no event shall the
amount of the security deposit exceed 45 days’ estimated or
actual usage charges, monthly recurring charges, and/or other
amounts payable by the Receiving Party to the Providing Party
hereunder.
ARTICLE III.
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 3.01
Limitation on Liability.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION HEREOF, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE
LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT,
CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, RELIANCE, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE
DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS,
LOST REVENUES, LOSS OF BUSINESS REPUTATION OR OPPORTUNITY, )
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO A BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT
AND
WHETHER
BASED ON STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT
ARISING FROM THE OTHER PARTY'S SOLE, JOINT, OR CONCURRENT
NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, CRIMINAL LIABILITY OR OTHER FAULT
.
FURTHERMORE, IN NO EVENT SHALL
EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER, EITHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT,
FOR PROTECTION FROM UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION, THEFT OR
DESTRUCTION OF CUSTOMER DATA FILES NOT CONTROLLED BY THE OTHER
PARTY.
In no event shall the
Providing Parties’ aggregate liability for direct damages to
the Receiving Party that arise out of or are related to this
Agreement, whether arising out of or related to breach of contract,
tort (including negligence) or otherwise, exceed $10,000.00; except
insofar as liability is predicated on the Providing Parties’
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 3.02
Indemnity
. Each Party hereby agrees to defend, indemnify
and hold the other Party and its Representatives, from and against
any and all losses, liabilities, claims, litigation, damages,
penalties, actions, demands and expenses incurred by such Party and
arising out of this Agreement to the extent attributable solely to:
(i) the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Party, (ii)
the performance or non-performance of such Party’s
obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) the negligence of such
Party in its performance or non-performance of its obligations
under this Agreement. This obligation to indemnify shall include
reasonable attorneys’ fees and investigation costs and all
other reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by a
Party or its counsel from the first notice that any claim or demand
is to be made or may be made.
Section 3.03
Indemnification
Procedures
. The Party seeking
indemnification under this Section must: (a) promptly notify the
other Party in writing of any claim, and in connection with third
party claims: (a) give the indemnifying Party full and complete
authority to resolve the matter, and (b) provide information and
assistance for the claim’s defense;
provided
further
, in the event of third
party claims, the indemnifying Party will retain the right, at its
option, to settle or defend the claim, at its own expense and with
its own counsel and will have the right, at its option, to
participate in the settlement or defense of the claim, with its own
counsel and at its own expense, but the indemnifying Party will
retain sole control of the claim’s settlement or defense. To
be indemnified under this Section, the Party seeking
indemnification must not by any act, including any admission or
acknowledgement, materially impair or compromise a claim’s
defence.
Section 3.04
Survival
. The indemnification obligations and covenants of
this
Article III
shall survive the termination of this
Agreement provided that the indemnified Person provides notice to
the indemnifying Party of any claim for indemnification under this
Agreement in writing setting forth the specific claim and the basis
therefore in reasonable detail prior to the six (6) month
anniversary of such date of termination.
Section 3.05
Special Indemnity –
Shared Agreements
. Each Party
recognizes that there are instances in which both Parties and/or
their respective subsidiaries or affiliates are utilizing shared
services performed by a third party provider. The Parties
acknowledge that in these instances each Party is obligated to pay
the portion of the invoice for the services procured by such Party
from the third party provider under the respective agreement. If a
Party fails to pay its portion of the invoice (whether to the third
party provider or other Party receiving the shared service) by the
invoice due date, such Party shall be required to indemnify the
other Party for any amounts paid by the other Party on the
nonpaying Party’s behalf. The Parties agree that all
indemnity obligations shall be satisfied within five (5) days of
receipt of written demand for payment with all payments being made
via electronic transfer of available funds. Nothing in this Section
3.05 shall prevent a Party from reserving its rights to dispute any
invoice or payment.
ARTICLE
IV.
TERMINATION
Section 4.01
Termination of this
Agreement.
Subject to
Section
4.04
, this Agreement shall
terminate in its entirety (i) on the date upon which the Providing
Parties shall have no continuing obligation to perform any Services
as a result of each of their expiration or termination in
accordance with
Section
4.02
,
or (ii) in accordance with
Section
4.02
.
Section 4.02
Breach.
Except as otherwise set forth in a Service
Schedule,
any Party (the "
Non-Breaching
Party
") may terminate this
Agreement with respect to any Service, in whole but not in part, at
any time upon prior written notice to the other Party (the
"
Breaching
Party
") if the Breaching Party
has failed (other than pursuant to
Section
4.05
) to perform any of its
material obligations under this Agreement relating to such Service,
and such failure shall have continued without cure for a period of
thirty (30) days (ten (10) days for non-payment by the Receiving
Parties, provided that the Receiving Parties shall not be entitled
to cure a non-payment breach more than once) after receipt by the
Breaching Party of a written notice of such failure from the
Non-Breaching Party seeking to terminate such Service. For the
avoidance of doubt, non-payment by the Receiving Parties for a
Service provided by the Providing Parties in accordance with this
Agreement that is not the subject of a good-faith dispute shall be
deemed a breach for purposes of this
Section
4.02
.
Section 4.03
Insolvency.
In the event that either Party or one or more of
its subsidiaries shall (i) file a petition in bankruptcy, (ii)
become or be declared insolvent, or become the subject of any
proceedings (not dismissed within sixty (60) days) related to its
liquidation, insolvency or the appointment of a receiver, (iii)
make an assignment on behalf of all or substantially all of its
creditors, or (iv) take any corporate action for its winding up or
dissolution, then the other Party shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement by providing written notice in accordance
with
Section
6.01
.
Section 4.04
Effect of Termination.
Upon termination of this Agreement in
its entirety pursuant to
Section
4.01
, all obligations of the
Parties shall terminate, except for the provisions of
Article
III
,
Article
V
and
VI
and Section
3.05
, which shall survive any
termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Section 4.05
Force Majeure.
The obligations of the Providing
Parties under this Agreement with respect to any Service shall be
suspended during the period and to the extent that the Providing
Parties are prevented or hindered from providing such Service, or
the Receiving Parties are prevented or hindered from receiving such
Service, due to any of the following causes beyond such Party's
reasonable control (such causes, "
Force Majeure
Events
"): (i) acts of God, (ii)
flood, fire or explosion, (iii) war, invasion, riot or other civil
unrest, (iv) governmental order or law, (v) actions, embargoes or
blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement, (vi)
action by any governmental entity, (vii) national or regional
emergency, (viii) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other
industrial disturbances, (ix) shortage of adequate power or
transportation facilities, or (x) any other similar event which is
beyond the reasonable control of such Party. The Party suffering a
Force Majeure Event shall give notice of suspension as soon as
reasonably practicable to the other Party stating the date and
extent of such suspension and the cause thereof, and the Providing
Parties shall resume the performance of each of its obligations as
soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause.
Neither the Receiving Parties nor the Providing Parties shall be
liable for the nonperformance or delay in performance of its
respective obligations under this Agreement when such failure is
due to a Force Majeure Event. The applicable End Date for any
Service so suspended shall be automatically extended for a period
of time equal to the time lost by reason of the
suspension.
CONFIDENTIALITY;
DATA PROTECTION
Section 5.01
Confidentiality.
(a)
During the term of
this Agreement and thereafter, the Parties shall, and shall
instruct, and take reasonable precautions to ensure that, they and
their respective officers, directors, managers, members,
shareholders, employees, agents, third-party contractors and other
representatives (collectively, “
Representatives
”) to,
maintain in confidence and not disclose the other Party's
financial, technical, sales, marketing, development, personnel, and
other information, records, or data, including, without limitation,
customer lists, supplier lists, trade secrets, designs, product
formulations, product specifications or any other proprietary or
confidential information, however recorded or preserved, whether
written or oral (any such information, "
Confidential
Information
"). This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits
and annexes attached hereto, and the Parties’ non-public
performance thereof, shall be deemed Confidential Information. Each
Party shall use the same degree of care, but no less than
reasonable care, to protect the other Party's Confidential
Information as it uses to protect its own Confidential Information
of like nature. Unless otherwise authorized in any other agreement
between the Parties, any Party receiving any Confidential
Information of the other Party (the “
Recipient
”) may use
Confidential Information only for the purposes of fulfilling its
obligations under this Agreement (the "
Permitted
Purpose
"). The Recipient may disclose such Confidential
Information only to its Representatives who have a need to know
such information for the Permitted Purpose and who have been
advised of the terms of this
Section 5.01
and the
Recipient shall be liable for any breach of these confidentiality
provisions by such persons;
provided
,
however
, that any Recipient may
disclose such Confidential Information to the extent such
Confidential Information is required to be disclosed by an order
issued by, or a rule or regulation of, a Governmental Entity
(“
Governmental
Order
”), and, in the case of an order issued by a
Governmental Entity, the Recipient shall promptly notify, to the
extent legally permitted, the disclosing Party (the "
Disclosing
Party
"), and take (at the expense of the Disclosing Party)
reasonable steps to assist in contesting such Governmental Order or
in protecting the Disclosing Party's rights prior to disclosure,
and in which case the Recipient shall only disclose such
Confidential Information that it is advised by its counsel it is
legally bound to disclose under such Governmental
Order.
(b)
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include any
information that the Recipient can demonstrate: (i) was publicly
known at the time of disclosure to it or its Representatives, or
has become publicly known through no act of the Recipient or its
Representatives in breach of this
Section 5.01
; (ii) was
rightfully received from a third party without a duty of
confidentiality; or (iii) was developed by it or its
Representatives without any reliance on the Confidential
Information.
(c)
Within five (5)
days written demand by the Disclosing Party at any time, or upon
expiration or termination of this Agreement with respect to any
Service, the Recipient agrees promptly to return or destroy, at its
option, all Confidential Information. If such Confidential
Information is destroyed, an authorized officer of the Receiving
Party shall certify as to such destruction.
(d)
Because money
damages may be insufficient in the event of a breach or threatened
breach of this
Section
5.01
, the affected Party may be entitled to seek an
injunction or restraining order in addition to such other rights or
remedies as may be available under this Agreement, at law or in
equity, including but not limited to money damages.
Section 5.02
Data Ownership and
Protection.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, all data or information provided by,
accessed from or through a Party and all data resulting from the
other Party processing or aggregation of any such data or
performing Services for the other Party is, or will be, and will
remain, the property of such Party, and will be deemed Confidential
Information of such Party.
Both Parties shall employ adequate and
commercially reasonable, industry standard physical and software
security measures to maintain the security (and prevent the
disclosure) of any Confidential Information of the other Party in
its possession and adhere to applicable policies relating to
security of and access to Confidential Information of the other
Party as may be communicated by the other Party from time to
time.
ARTICLE
VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.01
Notices.
All Invoices, notices, requests, consents, claims,
demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered
by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received
by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight
courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the third
(3
rd
)
day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be
sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice
given in accordance with this
Section
6.01
):
(a) if to
Lingo:
Lingo
Management, LLC
3060
Peachtree Road NW, Suite 1065,
Atlanta, GA
30305
Attention: Vinnie
Oddo
with a
copy to:
Lingo
Management, LLC
3060
Peachtree Road NW, Suite 1065,
Atlanta, GA
30305
Attention: Michelle
Ansley
(b) if to
Fusion
Fusion
Connect, Inc. (f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.)
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, NY 10170
Attention: General
Counsel
with a
copy to:
Fusion
LLC
695
Route 46 West, Suite 200
Fairfield, New
Jersey 07004
Attention: Jon
Kaufman
Section 6.02
Headings.
The headings in this Agreement are for reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this
Agreement.
Section 6.03
Severability.
If any term or provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or
render unenforceable such term or provision in any other
jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Parties shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a
mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions
contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to
the greatest extent possible.
Section 6.04
Entire Agreement.
This Agreement, including all Service
Schedules, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the Parties
with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes
all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both
written and oral, with respect to such subject
matter.
Section 6.05
Successors and Assigns.
This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Subject to the following
sentence, neither Party may assign its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed. Other than where consent is granted or deemed granted
under this
Section
6.05
, no assignment shall
relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.
The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event of a transfer, directly
or indirectly, sale of a controlling interest in, or the transfer,
directly or indirectly, sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of, Lingo and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, the third-party acquiring such controlling interest in, or
all or substantially all of such assets, must assume all
obligations and responsibilities of the Party /or its subsidiaries
under this Agreement.
Section 6.06
No Third-Party
Beneficiaries.
This Agreement
is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or
implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any
legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature
whatsoever, under or by reason of this
Agreement.
Section 6.07
Amendment and Modification;
Waiver.
This Agreement and the
schedules and exhibits attached hereto may only be amended,
modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by both
Parties. No waiver by a Party of any of the provisions hereof shall
be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by
the Party so waiving. No failure to exercise, or delay in
exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this
Agreement shall operate or be construed 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.
Section 6.08
Change in Law; Compliance with
Law
.
(a)
This
Agreement is subject to all present and future valid orders and
regulations of any governmental or regulatory body having
jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof and to the laws of the
United States of America, any of its states, or any foreign
governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Parties. In the
event this Agreement shall be found contrary to or in conflict with
any such order, rule, regulation, or law, the Parties agree to
modify and amend this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply
with any such order, rule, regulation, or law consistent with the
form, intent, and purpose hereof.
(b)
In the event the Federal Communications Commission
(“
FCC
”), Congress, a state legislature or
regulatory body (such as a utilities commission) or a court of
competent jurisdiction issues a rule, regulation, law or order that
has the effect of increasing the cost to provide the Services
hereunder or canceling, changing or superseding any material term
or provision of this Agreement (each a “
Regulatory
Requirement
”), then the
Parties shall modify this Agreement in such a way as the Parties
mutually agree is consistent with the form, intent, and purpose of
this Agreement and is necessary to comply with the Regulatory
Requirement. In the event the Parties fail to reach agreement on an
amendment to reflect the Regulatory Requirement, then any Party
may, to the extent practicable, terminate, in writing, that portion
of this Agreement impacted by the Regulatory Requirement, or the
entire Agreement.
(c)
Each
Party shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations
concerning the provision and use of the Services provided
hereunder. Each Party represents and warrants that it has obtained,
and will maintain at its own cost throughout the term of this
Agreement, all certifications and other authorizations necessary
for use and provision of the Services. No Party shall use the
Services in a manner inconsistent with applicable law or use the
Services, or permit the Services to be used, for any illegal
purpose or in any unlawful manner. Any transmission of material in
violation of any federal, state or local law, order or regulation
is prohibited, and shall constitute grounds for termination of this
Agreement.
Section 6.09
Escalation
Lists; Dispute Resolution; Governing Law; Submission to
Jurisdiction.
(a)
Escalation Lists
. Within three
(3) days of the date of this Agreement, the Providing Parties will
provide to the Receiving Parties a written escalation contact list
and associated escalation procedures (together, the
“
Escalation
Procedures
”). The Escalation Procedures will be
designed to allow the rapid escalation and resolution of any
“Service Affecting Issue” (as hereinafter defined)
experienced by the Receiving Parties in their use (or their
customers’ use) of the network and Services provided
hereunder, and the Providing Parties will utilize reasonable
commercial efforts to assure the resolution of any Service
Affecting Issue within a period of twelve (12) hours or less (the
“
Escalation
Period
”) from the time such Service Affecting Issue is
reported by the Receiving Parties to the Providing Parties. In the
event that any Service Affecting Issue is not resolved to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Providing Parties within the
Escalation Period, then the Receiving Parties may immediately
resort to any
equitable
remedies to which they are entitled under New York law as described
in
Section 6.09(c)
,
without regard to the provisions of
Section 6.09(a)
. The parties
acknowledge that any service issues caused by underlying carrier
network or circuit issues will be handled as provided for herein
but do not give rise to
equitable
remedies as such issues are
beyond the reasonable control of the Providing
Parties.
(b)
Dispute Resolution
.
Except with respect to a billing dispute, if at any time there is a
dispute between the Parties regarding this Agreement and
performance hereunder, and such dispute cannot be resolved pursuant
to Subsection (a) above, the Parties agree that they will within
ten (10) days following receipt of written notice of a dispute,
engage in face-to-face negotiations in an attempt to resolve the
dispute and shall, upon failing to negotiate a resolution, choose a
mutually agreeable third party neutral, who shall mediate the
dispute between the Parties. Mediation shall be non-binding and
shall be confidential. The Parties shall refrain from court and
arbitration proceedings during the mediation process insofar as
they can do so without prejudicing their legal rights. The Parties
shall participate in good faith in accordance with the
recommendations of the mediator and shall follow the procedures for
mediation as suggested by the mediator. All expenses of mediation
except expenses of the individual Parties, shall be shared equally
by the Parties. Each Party shall be represented in the mediation by
a person with authority to settle the dispute. If the Parties are
unable to resolve the dispute in good faith within three (3) months
of the date of the initial demand by either Party then the dispute
shall be finally determined in accordance with the procedures set
forth in
Section
6.09(c)
below.
(c)
Governing Law;
Jurisdiction
. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any
jurisdiction other than those of the State of New York. Any legal
suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted
in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts
of the State of New York in each case located in the city of New
York and each Party irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
Service of process, summons, notice or other document by mail to
such Party's address set forth herein shall be effective service of
process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any
such court. The Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any
objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any
proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to
plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may
seek equitable relief in any appropriate court of competent
jurisdiction to enjoin violations or threatened violations, or
compel specific performance of breaches or threatened breaches, of
this Agreement for which there is no adequate remedy at
law.
Section 6.10
Waiver of Jury Trial.
Each Party irrevocably and
unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in
respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the Services to be provided hereunder. Each Party
certifies and acknowledges that (a) no Representative of the other
Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other
Party would not seek to enforce the foregoing waiver in the event
of a legal action, (b) such Party has considered the implications
of this waiver, (c) such Party makes this waiver voluntarily, and
(d) such Party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by,
among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in
this
Section
6.10
.
Section 6.11
Interpretation
.
Any reference to this “Agreement” shall include the
body of this Agreement together with all attachments hereto,
including all Service Schedules. The terms defined in this
Agreement include the plural as well as the singular. Unless
otherwise expressly stated, the words “herein,”
“hereof,” and “hereunder” and other words
of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Section, Subsection or other subdivision. The words
“include” and “including” and the
abbreviation “e.g.” shall not be construed as terms of
limitation. The words “day,” “month,” and
“year” mean, respectively, calendar day, calendar month
and calendar year. All fees, expenses, charges and other amounts
stated in this Agreement are references to United States Dollars
unless otherwise specifically indicated.
Section 6.12
Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts (including by means of facsimile or other electronic
transmission), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
This
Agreement, to the extent
signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by other
electronic transmission of a manual signature (by portable document
format (pdf) or other method that enables the recipient to
reproduce a copy of the manual signature), shall be treated in all
manner and respects as an original
agreement or instrument and shall be considered to
have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original
signed version thereof delivered in person.
[signatures appear on the next page]
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
, the Parties have
caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written
above by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized.
|
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
(f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.)
|
|
By
/s/ James P.
Prenetta, Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and
General
Counsel
LINGO MANAGEMENT, LLC
By
/s/
Gordon P. Williams, Jr.
Name:
Gordon P. Williams, Jr.
Title:
Manager
|
NON-SOLICITATION AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AGREEMENT
This
Non-Solicitation and Right of
First Refusal Agreement
(the
“
Agreement
”),
dated as of May 4,
2018 (the “
Effective
Date
”), is made and
entered into by and between
Fusion Connect, Inc.
(f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc.), a Delaware corporation
(“
Fusion
”),
and
Lingo
Management, LLC,
a Georgia
limited liability company (“
Lingo
”).
Fusion and Lingo are sometimes hereinafter referred to collectively
as the “
Parties
”
and individually as a “Party.” Capitalized terms used
in this Agreement and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning
assigned to each such term in the Merger Agreement (as defined
below).
WHEREAS, Fusion, Birch Communications Holdings,
Inc., a Georgia corporation (“
BCHI
”),
and Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, previously entered into that certain Merger Agreement,
dated as of August 25, 2017, as amended (the “Merger
Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to closing the Merger,
BCHI
was obligated to spin-off its Consumer/SMB
Business to BCHI Holding LLC, in accordance with the Merger
Agreement and as further agreed by the Fusion and BCHI (the
“
Spin-Off
”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Spin-Off was accomplished by BCHI through the formation of
Lingo, the transfer of certain assets (including the stock of
certain Subsidiaries of BCHI) to Lingo and the distribution of the
membership interests in Lingo to BCHI Holding LLC; and
WHEREAS,
the Parties acknowledge that the execution of this Agreement is a
condition precedent to the closing of the Merger.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and mutual promises
and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
a.
For
a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date, each Party
agrees that it will not, either directly or indirectly (including
through its Affiliates (which, for purposes of this provision, does
not include Fusion and its Subsidiaries)) or as an agent on behalf
of, or in conjunction with any Person: (A) solicit for employment
or in any way induce or attempt to induce to leave the employ of,
or engagement by, the other Party, any individual who is, on the
date of the solicitation or attempted inducement, a director,
officer, employee or consultant to the other Party; or (B) induce
or attempt to induce any Person who is a director, officer,
employee or consultant to the other Party to leave the employ of,
or terminate or breach their respective agreements with, the other
Party, or in any other way deliberately interfere with the
relationship between the other Party and any such Person; provided,
however, that no general advertisement or general solicitation of
employment not targeted to the directors, officers, employees or
consultants of the other Party shall be deemed to be a solicitation
of such Persons in violation of this Section; and provided further
that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to the hiring of
employees by a Party from the other Party as contemplated by the
terms of the Transition Services Agreement, date the date hereof,
by and between Fusion and Lingo.
b.
In
recognition of the various services to be performed by Lingo and
Fusion for each other pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement
of even date herewith, including the sharing of computer systems
that include customer records (the period of time during which such
sharing of systems and records continues being referred to herein
as the “
Shared Records
Period
”), each Party
agrees that it will not, either directly or indirectly (including
through Affiliates (provided, that for purposes of this Agreement,
Lingo and its Subsidiaries are not deemed to be Affiliates of
Fusion and its Subsidiaries)) or as an agent on behalf of, or in
conjunction with any Person, during the Specified Period (as
defined below), (A) solicit, attempt to solicit, or assist any
other Person in soliciting or attempting to solicit, any customer
of the other Party as of the date hereof or that is subsequently
acquired by the other Party after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the end of the Shared Records Period, or (B) take any
action to deliberately interfere with the relationship between the
other Party and any Person who is a lessor, licensor, customer,
supplier, licensee or other business associate or relation of the
other Party. As used hereinabove, Specified Period shall mean the
period ending 24 months after the end of the Shared Records Period,
but in no event ending later than the 3
rd
anniversary of the Effective
Date.
2.
Right of First
Refusal
.
a.
Until
the sooner to occur of the 3
rd
anniversary of the Effective Date, or
a Change of Control (defined below) as to Lingo, neither Lingo nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into a binding agreement with
any third party that either owns or is the provider, either
directly or indirectly, of communications services (whether
regulated or unregulated) or cloud services, in each case to
business customers (each such Person, a “
Third
Party
”), relating to an
Acquisition without first offering Fusion the opportunity to effect
the Acquisition on the same economic terms as Lingo or its
Subsidiary, as the case may be, is prepared to effect that
Acquisition as reflected in a written letter of intent between
Lingo or its Subsidiary, as applicable, and that Third Party. The
offer to Fusion shall remain open for a period of twenty (20) days
from Lingo’s submission of a copy of the offer to Fusion (the
“
Right of First Refusal
Period
”). The offer to
Fusion shall set forth substantially all of the material terms of
the proposed Acquisition that would be included in a customary
letter of intent, including, but not limited to, price (including
any earnouts our other contingent consideration), whether payable
in cash or securities or other consideration, and whether the
transaction is structured as a tax free transaction and, such offer
shall be accompanied by a copy of any letter of intent signed by
Lingo or its Subsidiary with the Third Party and, if available, the
current draft of proposed agreement for the Acquisition. If, during
the Right of First Refusal Period, Fusion elects to proceed with
the Acquisition, for such election to be effective, it must include
a confirmation that such acquisition is permitted under is credit
facilities or that it has obtained an amendment or waiver in this
regard. Upon such an election, Lingo, or its Subsidiary, as
applicable, shall (i) advise the Third Party of Fusion’s
election, (ii) assign any existing letter of intent to Fusion,
(iii) provide Fusion with all applicable contact details for the
Third Party and its counsel, if known, and (iv) forward Fusion any
draft acquisition agreement. If, during the Right of First Refusal
Period, Fusion elects not to proceed with the Acquisition, or fails
to timely notify Lingo as to its election, Lingo or its Subsidiary,
as the case may be, may proceed with the Acquisition on terms
substantially consistent with the terms notified to Fusion. In the
event that Lingo or its Subsidiary subsequently negotiate terms
that are materially more beneficial to it than those previously
notified to Fusion, Lingo shall be obligated to reoffer the
opportunity to Fusion and the Right of First Refusal Period shall
commence once again. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
“
Acquisition
”
means any transaction in which Lingo or any of its Subsidiaries
will acquire, either directly or indirectly, all or substantially
all of the assets of a Third Party, whether by purchase of assets,
shares or other equity securities, or through a proposed merger or
similar transaction with such Third Party. A
“
Change of
Control
” as to Lingo
shall be deemed to have occurred should Holcombe T. Green, Jr. and
R. Kirby Godsey no longer own, directly or indirectly, at least a
majority of the equity interests of Lingo.
b.
In
the event that Lingo enters into an Acquisition permitted under
Section 3a, such acquired Third Party (an
“
Acquired
Entity
”) shall become
subject to the terms of this Agreement. Neither Lingo nor any of
its Affiliates shall disclose Confidential Information of Fusion or
its Subsidiaries to any Acquired Entity or its officers, directors,
employees, managers, agents or representatives who are not already
privy to such Confidential Information (without being in breach of
this Section 3b), or use any such Confidential Information to
compete with Fusion or its Subsidiaries or in a manner that is in
any way detrimental to Fusion or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of
this Agreement “Confidential Information” shall include
any financial, technical, sales, marketing, development, personnel,
and other confidential or proprietary information, records, or
data, however recorded or preserved, whether written or oral,
including, without limitation, customer lists, supplier lists,
trade secrets, designs, product formulations, product
specifications, and personnel information. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, “
Confidential
Information
” shall not
include information to the extent that the recipient thereof can
demonstrate: (i) was publicly known at the time of disclosure to
it, or has become publicly known through no act of the recipient in
breach of this Section 3b, or (ii) was rightfully received from a
third party without a duty of confidentiality.
3.
Authority
for Judicial Enforcement
. The
Parties acknowledge and agree that the covenants of each Party set
forth above in paragraphs 1 through 4 are reasonable in geographic
and temporal scope and in all other respects, and (ii) have been
made in order to induce Fusion and BCHI to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and that Fusion
and BCHI would not have consummated the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement, but for such covenants. If, at any time of
enforcement of the provisions of paragraphs 1 through 3, a
Governmental Entity determines that the duration, scope or area
restrictions stated herein are not enforceable under applicable
Law, the Parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area (as
applicable) permitted by applicable Law shall be substituted for
the duration, area or scope (as applicable) stated herein and the
Governmental Entity shall be authorized by the Parties to revise
the restrictions contained herein to cover such maximum duration,
area or scope.
4.
Remedies
Upon Breach
. It is expressly
agreed by the Parties that monetary damages would be inadequate to
compensate a Party for a breach by the other Party of its covenants
and agreements in this Agreement. Accordingly, the Parties
acknowledge and agree that any such violation or threatened
violation will cause irreparable injury to the other and that, in
addition to any other remedies which may be available, such Party
shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief against any threatened
breach of this Agreement or the continuation of any such breach
without the necessity of providing actual damages and without
posting any bond or other security, and may seek to specifically
enforce the terms of this Agreement.
5.
Notices
.
All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written
confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if
sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier; or (c) on the
third (3
rd
)
day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be
sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice
given in accordance with this section:
if
to Lingo:
Lingo
Management, LLC
3060
Peachtree Road NW, Suite 1065,
Atlanta,
GA 30305
Attention:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
if
to Fusion:
Fusion
Connect, Inc. (f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.)
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, NY 10170
Attention:
General Counsel
6.
Assignability
and Binding Effect
. Neither
Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement.
7.
Waivers/Remedies
.
Failure of either Party to insist upon the strict compliance by the
other Party with any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this
Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach. The election by either Party of any right or remedy
contained in this Agreement is not exclusive of any other rights or
remedies at law or in equity other than as may be limited
explicitly in this Agreement.
8.
Severability
.
The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any provision of
this Agreement is held, by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be
invalid or unenforceable or to conflict with any federal, state or
local law, such portion or portions of this Agreement are hereby
declared to be of no force or effect in such jurisdiction, and this
Agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and be
construed as if such portion had not been included. In the event
that any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable
for being unduly broad as written, such provision shall be deemed
amended to narrow its application to the extent necessary to make
the provision enforceable according to applicable law and shall be
enforced as amended to the maximum legal and equitable
extent.
9.
Entire
Agreement
. This Agreement is
the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and this Agreement supersedes and replaces
any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations,
promises or understandings of any kind between the Parties with
respect thereto. No modification, amendment or waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing
and signed by both Parties.
10.
Interpretation
of Agreement.
The Parties
acknowledge and agree that (1) this Agreement and its reduction to
final written form are the result of good faith negotiations
between the Parties through their respective counsel; (ii) said
counsel have carefully reviewed and examined this Agreement before
execution by said Parties; and (iii) any statute or rule of
construction that ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
Agreement.
11.
Governing
Law/Waiver of Trial By Jury Venue
. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York without regard to its conflict of law principles. Each
Party hereby voluntarily and irrevocably waives trial by jury in
any action or other proceeding brought in connection with this
Agreement.
12.
Counterparts/Electronic
Signatures
. This Agreement may
be executed in one or more counterparts with the same effect as if
both Parties had signed the same document. Each counterpart shall
be construed together and shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. Electronic signatures shall have the same force and
effect as originals, for all purposes.
13.
Third
Party Beneficiaries
. None of
the provisions of this Agreement is for the benefit of, or
enforceable by, any third-party beneficiary.
14.
Further
Assurances
. The Parties agree
to give such further assurances and to execute such documents as
may be necessary to correct, confirm and effectuate the intent and
purpose of this Agreement.
15.
Headings
.
The captions of the paragraphs of this Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be considered or referenced in
resolving questions of construction or
interpretation.
[signatures appear on the following page]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
LINGO
MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:
/s/ Gordon P. Williams,
Jr.
Name:
Gordon P. Williams, Jr.
Title:
Manager
[Lingo
Non-Solicitation Agreement]
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
by and among
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
(“Seller”)
and
XCOMIP LLC
(“Purchaser”)
and
FUSION GLOBAL SERVICES LLC
(the “Company”)
dated as of May 4, 2018
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
THIS MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT
(this “
Agreement
”)
is made and entered into as of this 4th day of May 2018 (the
“
Effective
Date
”) by and between
Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.
(to be renamed Fusion Connect, Inc.)
,
a corporation formed under the laws of
the state of Delaware (the “
Seller
”),
XcomIP LLC
, a limited
liability company formed under the laws of the state of Delaware
(the “
Purchaser
”),
and
Fusion Global Services
LLC
, a limited liability company formed under the laws of
the state of Delaware (the “
Company
”).
Seller, Purchaser and the Company are sometimes hereinafter
referred to individually as a “
Party
”
and collectively as the “
Parties.
”
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the
meanings set forth in Section One hereof.
RECITALS
A. Seller
currently owns sixty percent (60%) of the issued and outstanding
Membership Interests (the “
Fusion Membership
Interests
”) in the Company;
B. Purchaser
currently owns forty percent (40%) of the issued and outstanding
Membership Interests in the Company; and
C. Seller
wishes to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser wishes to purchase from
Seller, the Fusion Membership Interests pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree
as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning set
forth after each such term.
1.1
“
Additional Purchase Price
Consideration
” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
1.2
“
Affiliate
” means with
respect to any Person, any other Person that is controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with (directly or indirectly
through any Person) the Person referred to. The term
“
control
”
(including, with correlative meaning, the terms “
controlled
by
” and “
under common
control with
”) as used with respect to any Person,
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of fifty one (51%)
percent or more of the voting power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such
Person.
1.3
Agreement
” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
1.4
“
Business Day
” means any
day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial
banks located in New York, New York are authorized or required by
Law to be closed for business.
1.5
“
Capital Securities
” means
(a) as to any Person that is a company or corporation, the
authorized shares of such Person’s capital securities,
including all classes of common, preferred, voting and nonvoting
capital securities, and, as to any Person that is not a corporation
or an individual, the ownership or membership interests in such
Person, including, without limitation, the right to share in
profits and losses, the right to receive distributions of cash and
property, and the right to receive allocations of items of income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit and similar items from such
Person, whether or not such interests include voting or similar
rights entitling the holder thereof to exercise control over such
Person, and (b) warrants, options or other securities, evidences of
indebtedness or other obligations of a Person that are, directly or
indirectly, convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
securities of or other interest in such Person as described in
clause (a) of this definition.
1.6 “
Certificate
of Amendment
” has the meaning set forth in
Section
4.2
.
1.7 “
Closing
”
means the closing of the purchase of the Fusion Membership
Interests by the Purchaser, which shall occur simultaneously upon
the execution of this Agreement and the Amended and Restated
Secured Promissory Note (the “
Note
”) of even date
hereof issued by the Company to the Seller.
1.8 “
Closing
Date
” means the date of the Closing.
1.9 “
Company
”
has the meaning given such term in Preamble.
1.10
“
Effective
Date
” has the meaning specified in the
Preamble.
1.11
“
ERISA
”
means the Employees Retirement Income Security Act of
1974.
1.12
“
Fusion Membership
Interests
” has the meaning given such term in
Recital
A
.
1.13
“
Governmental
Entity
” means any court, arbitrator, administrative or
other governmental department, agency, commission, authority or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
1.14
“
Initial Purchase
Price
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2
.
1.15
“
Law
”
means any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree or
agency requirement of any Governmental Entity.
1.16
“
Lien
”
means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
charge, claim, option, right to acquire, adverse interest,
encumbrance, restriction, lien (statutory or other), or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of
any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement, any financing lease involving
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and
the filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial
Code or comparable Law of any jurisdiction).
1.17 “
Material
Adverse Effect
” means any event reasonably expected to
(i) result in a material adverse effect on the properties,
business, results of operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), or affairs of the Company, or (ii) in any manner, draw
into question the validity of this Agreement.
1.18
“
Member
” or
“
Members
” mean the holders
of any Membership Interests.
1.19 “
Membership
Interests
” means the common membership interests of
the Company and all other securities of the Company that may be
exchangeable for, convertible into or issued in exchange for or in
respect of the membership interest (combination, reclassification,
reorganization or any other means).
1.20 “
Net
Profits
” means the net positive income as reflected in
the Company’s annual statements (i.e. gross revenue minus
salaries, expenses, cost of sales, all operating costs, and minus
any distributions previously made in any given year) as reflected
in information delivered to Seller in accordance with Section
6.3(d), minus excess cash required as working capital for
Company’s ongoing operations as determined by Company’s
Manager.
1.21 “
New
Membership Interests
” means (a) any Capital Securities
of the Company or any Subsidiary issued after the date hereof, (b)
Capital Securities of the Company or any Subsidiary issued to the
manager or other officers or employees of, or other service
providers to, the Company or the Subsidiaries pursuant to any form
of incentive compensation plan authorized by the Members, (c)
Capital Securities of the Company or any Subsidiary issued in
connection with a split, dividend or the like, (d) Capital
Securities of the Company or any Subsidiary issued in conjunction
with equipment financing or debt financing authorized by the
Members, (e) Capital Securities of the Company or any Subsidiary
issued in connection with acquisitions of the Capital Securities or
assets of other entities, including, without limitation, by way of
merger, consolidation or purchase authorized by the Members, (f)
Capital Securities of a Subsidiary issued by such Subsidiary to the
Company or any other Subsidiary, (g) Capital Securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary issued in connection with any strategic
alliance, joint venture or similar arrangement authorized by the
Members, and (h) Capital Securities of the Company or any
Subsidiary subsequently issued on conversion, exercise or exchange
of those Capital Securities.
1.22 “
Person
”
includes any individual, company, corporation, association,
partnership (general or limited), joint venture, trust, estate,
limited liability company, or other legal entity or organization,
including any governmental entity
1.23 “
Plan
”
or “
Plans
” means any plan or
arrangements of the Company which constitutes an “employee
benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3 (3) of
ERISA.
1.24 “
Proceeding
”
has the meaning provided in
Section 9.8(b)
.
1.25 “
Purchase
Price
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2
.
1.26 “
Subsidiary
”
or “
Subsidiaries
” means as of
any time any Person of which Company at such time owns, directly or
indirectly, at least a majority of the outstanding Capital
Securities of such Person entitled to vote on matters involving
such Person.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE/SALE OF THE FUSION MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
Section
2.1.
Purchase and Sale of
Fusion Membership Interests.
At the Closing, the Seller will
sell, convey, transfer and deliver to the Purchaser, and the
Purchaser will purchase and receive from the Seller the Fusion
Membership Interests, which Membership Interests shall represent
all of the issued and outstanding Membership Interests in the
Company owned by the Seller as of Closing.
Section
2.2.
Purchase
Price.
At the Closing, the Purchaser shall pay the Seller,
in cash, the sum of One US Dollar (US$1.00) for the Fusion
Membership Interests (the “
Initial Purchase
Price
”). In addition, Purchaser agrees to pay Seller
the following: (i) sixty percent (60%) of the Net Profits of the
Company; (ii) sixty percent (60%) of any distributions being made
by the Company to its Members only to the extent such amounts are
not distributed as part of the distribution of Net Profits set
forth in (i); and (iii) sixty percent (60%) of the net proceeds
received by the Members from a sale of the Company to a third party
(collectively, the “
Additional Purchase
Price Consideration
” and together with the Initial
Purchase Price, collectively, the “
Purchase
Price
”). Purchaser agrees to remit each payment of
Additional Purchase Price Consideration as follows: (a) any
payments made pursuant to (ii) above shall be made to the Seller
within fifteen (15) calendar days following the applicable event;
and (b) any payments made pursuant to (iii) above shall be made to
the Seller within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the net
proceeds received by Purchaser. In the case of amounts to be
remitted under (i) above, the Company agrees to remit the required
amount to Seller on no less than an annual basis within thirty (30)
days of the end of the fiscal year, and may, in its sole
discretion, remit such payments on a quarterly basis during the
relevant year. Failure to remit payments due under this Section 2.2
within the required period shall be deemed a material breach of
this Agreement.
Section
2.3
Net Loss
Recapture
. It is expressly understood by the Parties hereto
that at the end of each fiscal year the distribution of Net Profits
set forth above shall take into account the prior year’s
profits and losses to determine the current year’s
distribution amount. For example, Year 1, the Company has losses of
$5,000.00; Year 2, the Company has net income of $8,000.00; the
distribution of Net Profits would be based upon an overall gain of
$3,000.00 for Year 2.
Section
2.4
Adjustments to Additional Purchase
Price Consideration Percentages.
In the event of a sale of
Membership Interests in accordance with
Section 7.4(iii)
, the
Additional Purchase Price Consideration to which Seller shall be
entitled to receive shall be appropriately adjusted downward on a
pro rata basis to give effect to each such sale.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section
3.1
Representations and
Warranties of the Seller
. The Seller represents and warrants
to the Purchaser that:
3.1.1
Due Incorporation/Good
Standing
. The Seller has been duly organized, and is validly
existing and is in good standing under the Laws of the state of
Delaware.
3.1.2
Power and
Authority
. Seller has all requisite corporate power and
corporate authority to execute, deliver, and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
3.1.3
Membership
Interests
. Seller owns the Fusion Membership Interests and
at the Closing the Fusion Membership Interests will be free and
clear of all Liens.
3.1.4
Validity of
Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed, and delivered by the Seller and constitutes a
valid and legally binding agreement of the Seller, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at Law) and, as to rights of
indemnification, by principles of public policy or federal or state
securities Laws relating thereto.
3.1.5
No Conflict
. The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the
Seller and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
will not violate, conflict with, or result in a breach or violation
of the organizational documents of Seller or any of the terms or
provisions thereof, or constitute a default or cause an
acceleration of any obligation under, or result in the imposition
or creation of (or the obligation to create or impose) a Lien with
respect to the organizational documents of the Seller; any bond,
note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness or any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, or other agreement or
instrument to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound, or
to which any properties of the Seller is or may be subject; or
contravene any order of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Seller or any of its properties; or
violate or conflict with any statute, rule or regulation, or
administrative or court decree applicable to the Seller or any of
its properties; except for any such violations, conflicts,
breaches, or defaults which, singularly or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.1.6
No Broker
. Seller
has not incurred any liability for finder’s, agent’s or
brokerage fees, commissions or compensation in connection with this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.2
Representations and
Warranties of the Purchaser.
The Purchaser represents and
warrants to Seller that:
3.2.1
Due Incorporation/Good
Standing
. The Purchaser has been duly formed, is validly
existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing
under the Laws of the state of Delaware.
3.2.2
Power and
Authority
. The Purchaser has all requisite corporate power
and corporate authority to execute, deliver, and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
3.2.3
Validity of
Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed, and delivered by the Purchaser and
constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Purchaser,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at Law) and, as to rights of
indemnification, by principles of public policy or federal or state
securities Laws relating thereto.
3.2.4
No Conflict
. The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the
Purchaser and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby will not violate, conflict with, or result in a
breach or violation of the organizational documents of the
Purchaser or any of the terms or provisions thereof, or constitute
a default or cause an acceleration of any obligation under, or
result in the imposition or creation of (or the obligation to
create or impose) a Lien with respect to the organizational
documents of the Seller; any bond, note, debenture, or other
evidence of indebtedness or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
or other agreement or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party
or by which it is bound, or to which any properties of the
Purchaser is or may be subject; or contravene any order of any
court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Purchaser or any of its properties; or violate or conflict with any
statute, rule or regulation, or administrative or court decree
applicable to the Purchaser or any of its properties; except for
any such violations, conflicts, breaches, or defaults which,
singularly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3.2.5
Investment Intent
.
The Purchaser is acquiring the Fusion Membership Interests for its
own account and not with a view to the distribution of those
interests within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
3.2.6
No Broker
.
Purchaser has not incurred any liability for finder’s,
agent’s or brokerage fees, commissions or compensation in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
3.3
Representations and
Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and
warrants to the Seller and Purchaser that:
3.3.1
Due Incorporation/Good
Standing
. The Company has been duly formed, is validly
existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing
under the Laws of the state of Delaware.
3.3.2
Power and
Authority
. The Company has all requisite limited liability
power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
3.3.3
Validity of
Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company and constitutes
a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at Law) and, as to rights of
indemnification, by principles of public policy or federal or state
securities Laws relating thereto.
3.3.4
No Conflict
. The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not violate, conflict with, or result in a breach or
violation of the certificate of formation or operating agreement of
the Company or any of the terms or provisions thereof, or
constitute a default or cause an acceleration of any obligation
under, or result in the imposition or creation of (or the
obligation to create or impose) a Lien with respect to its
certificate of formation or operating agreement or any bond, note,
debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness or any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, or other agreement or instrument to which
the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or to which any
properties of the Company is or may be subject; or contravene any
order of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; or violate
or conflict with any statute, rule or regulation, or administrative
or court decree applicable to the Company or any of its properties;
except for any such violations, conflicts, breaches, or defaults
which, singularly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
3.4
Survival
of Representation and Warranties.
The representation and
warranties given by the Purchaser, the Seller and the Company do
not survive the Closing.
ARTICLE IV
CLOSING DELIVERIES OF SELLER
Section
4.1. At Closing, the Seller shall deliver to Purchaser the
following:
(a) the
Fusion Membership Interests, duly endorsed for transfer to
Purchaser, or if uncertificated, an assignment of the Fusion
Membership Interests in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to Purchaser;
(b) a
certificate of the Seller (i) listing the officers of Seller
authorized to execute this Agreement and any documents contemplated
by this Agreement, and (ii) confirming that, as of the Closing,
Seller has duly performed each applicable covenant set forth
herein, and that all of Seller’s representations and
warranties herein are true and correct as of the
Closing;
(c) a
copy of the Non-Solicitation Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit
A
executed by the Seller; and
(d) such
other documents as may reasonably be requested by the
Purchaser.
ARTICLE V
CLOSING DELIVERIES OF PURCHASER
Section
5.1. At Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver to the
Seller the following:
(a) a
certificate of the Purchaser (i) listing the officers/manager of
Purchaser authorized to execute this Agreement and any documents
contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) confirming that, as of the
Closing, the Purchaser has duly performed each applicable covenant
set forth herein, and that all of Purchaser’s representations
and warranties herein are true and correct as of the
Closing;
(b) a
copy of
Exhibit A
hereto duly executed and delivered by Fusion Global Services, LLC
and XcomIP, LLC;
(c) a
duly authorized, executed and signed Note; and
(d) such
other documents as may reasonably be requested by the
Seller.
ARTICLE VI
POST-CLOING COVENANTS
Section
6.1.
Further
Assurances; Access to Information.
Each Party agrees to
execute and deliver any and all further agreements, documents or
instruments reasonably necessary or convenient to effectuate this
Agreement and the transactions referred to herein or contemplated
hereby or reasonably requested by the another Party to perfect or
evidence its rights hereunder. Each Party will promptly notify the
other Parties of any information delivered to, or obtained by, such
Party which would prevent the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or would indicate a breach of the
representations or warranties of any of the Parties or as to which
any Party intends to seek indemnity under any of the terms of this
Agreement.
Section
6.2.
Delivery of Minutes;
Execution and Delivery of the Certificate of Amendment to the
Company’s Certificate of Formation; Use of Fusion
Name
. Within thirty (30) days of the date hereof, the
Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller (i) resolutions adopted by
the Members and manager (if required) authorizing the Company to
change its name from Fusion Global Services LLC to a name selected
by the Manager that does not include the name “Fusion”
(the “
Certificate of
Amendment
”), and (ii) execute and deliver to Seller,
for filing by Seller, the Certificate of Amendment, substantially
in the form of
Exhibit B
hereto with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which
Certificate of Amendment will be filed by Seller at its expense and
confirmation of such name change shall be promptly sent to Company
and Purchaser. Within sixty (60) days of the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall cease using any marketing materials
that reference the “Fusion” name and/or logo and within
twelve (12) months from the date of this Agreement shall have used
reasonable efforts to amend all existing contracts (both customer
and vendor) to reflect the new name of the Company and provided its
customers and vendors with written notice of such name
change.
Section
6.3
Information
Rights
. The Purchaser agrees to cause the Company to provide
each of the Seller’s Chief Executive Officer and President
(at their respective offices) with the following, and such being
provided for informational purposes only:
(a)
Annual Statements
. Within one
hundred and twenty (120)
days after the close of each
fiscal year of the Company, commencing with the fiscal year ending
on December 31, 2018, the Company will deliver to the Seller
internally prepared (unaudited) financial statements of the Company
and any consolidated Subsidiaries, including without limitation
unaudited consolidated balance sheets and statements of income and
retained earnings and of cash flows of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and any related materials, which annual financial
statements shall show the financial condition of the Company and
any consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year
and the results of the Company’s operations during such
fiscal year.
(b)
Quarterly Statements
. Within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the
Company will deliver to the Seller an unaudited consolidated and
consolidating balance sheet of the Company and any consolidated
Subsidiaries and the related consolidated and consolidating
statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for such
fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal
year ended as of such fiscal quarter, setting forth in comparative
form, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the prior
year (if any), the corresponding portion of the Company’s
previous fiscal year and the Company’s budget for the current
fiscal year.
(c)
Monthly Statements
. Within
thirty (30) days after the end of each month, the Company will use
reasonable efforts to deliver to the Seller a management report of
the Company and any consolidated subsidiaries, including profit and
loss reports and statements of outstanding intercompany
indebtedness, however, any failure to do so within the time set
forth herein shall not be considered a material breach of this
Agreement.
(d)
Budget; Other Information
. As
soon as available but in any event no later than thirty (30) days
after the end of the prior fiscal year, the Company shall deliver
to the Seller a projected income statement for the Company and any
consolidated Subsidiaries for the upcoming fiscal year on a
quarter-by-quarter basis that has been approved by a majority of
the Membership Interest.
(e)
Member and Manager Written Consents;
Meeting Minutes
. Within thirty (30) calendar days following
the adoption of a written consent of the Members or the Manager of
the Company, the Company shall provide via email a copy of that
written consent to the Seller. In addition, within thirty (30)
calendar days following the occurrence of a meeting of the Members,
a copy of any meeting minutes generated as a result of such meeting
shall also be provided to the Seller via email.
Section
6.4.
Approval
Requirements.
As
a significant inducement to Seller entering into this Agreement and
selling the Fusion Membership Interests to the Purchaser, the
Purchaser and the Company agree that the Company may not take any
of the following actions without the prior written consent of the
Seller:
(i)
replace
Yehuda “Jay” Adams as the sole Manager;
(ii)
increase the salary, bonus or other compensation paid to the
Manager, except that the Manager’s salary may be increased to
$300,000.00 as of the Effective Date of this Agreement and may be
increased on an annual basis thereafter by two percent (2%)
annually, after the Note is paid back in full and so long as the
Company is profitable (profitability to be measured by net profit
of the Company at the end of the prior fiscal year of the
Company).
(iii)
until such time as the Company has paid the Note in full, issue any
New Membership Interests that would constitute more that fifteen
percent (15%) of the Membership Interests outstanding on the date
of this Agreement (it being expressly understood
that any sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s Membership Interests, subject to Section 6.9
herein, that results in Company receiving net proceeds that allow
for the full repayment of the outstanding balance due under the
Note is permitted at any time without Seller’s
consent
);
(iv)
comingle its assets with those of a Member, or hold any
assets in a name other than its own; or
(v)
fail to
maintain its books and records accurately and separate from those
of its Members.
Section
6.5
Observer Rights;
General Rights to Interact with Manager
. The Company and the
Purchaser each agree that the Seller shall have the right to
advance written notice of, and the right to send a representative
to attend and observe, each meeting of its Members; Seller to bear
the costs of attending any such meeting(s). Notice of each such
meeting must be provided by the Company at least five (5) Business
Days prior to the scheduled meeting date. The Seller’s
initial representative shall be Gordon Hutchins, Jr. The Seller may
appoint a replacement representative at any time and from time to
time, but shall provide the Company with written notice of any
change in its designated representative, and such designated
representative shall be subject to Company’s reasonable
consent and not a familial relation of Manager. The Company also
agrees that the Seller’s representative shall have the right
to regularly communicate with the Manager either by phone or
through in person meetings in order to obtain regular updates
regarding the Company’s business activities and the Company
agrees to cause the Manager to engage in these regular
communications. So long as Mr. Hutchins is employed by Seller,
Seller agrees to make Mr. Hutchins available to the Company from
time to time to provide consultation and/or business advice. These
services will be provided by Mr. Hutchins at no cost to the
Company.
Section
6.6
Right of
Transfer.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Purchaser, as a Member of the
Company, may transfer all or any portion of the Membership
Interests acquired from the Seller hereunder to any partnership,
corporation, limited liability company, Affiliate, or other entity
in which the Purchaser owns a controlling interest.
Section
6.7
Non-Solicitation
. As partial
consideration for the transfer of the Fusion Membership Interests
and as a material inducement to the Seller and Purchaser to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Seller, the
Purchaser and the Company will enter into a non-solicitation
agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
A.
Section
6.8
Working Capital
Adjustment
.
Within
thirty (30) days following the execution of this Agreement by the
Parties, the Parties agree to complete the working capital analysis
contemplated by Section 6 of that certain Members Agreement, dated
as of September 1, 2017, by and among the Seller, the Company (the
“
Members
Agreement
”) and, within five (5) Business Days
following the completion of that analysis, for the
“owing” Party to make any required payment to the other
Party in cash. In the event the Parties are unable to agree on the
amount of the working capital adjustment, if any is required, the
Parties shall submit the matter to an independent accounting firm
or other qualified valuation firm, mutually agreed upon by the
Parties, for a final decision to be rendered within ten (10)
Business Days following retention of such accounting or valuation
firm. In the event that any monies required to be paid under this
Section are not timely paid, then if Purchaser is the owing Party
the Seller may add any amounts owed it to the principal under the
Note; and if Seller is the owing Party, then the Seller shall
deduct the amount so owed by it from the principal amount
outstanding under the Note.
Section
6.9.
Right of First
Refusal
. In the event of a proposed sale of the Company to
an unaffiliated bona fide third party purchaser, whether such sale
is accomplished through the sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets, all of the Company’s Membership
Interests or through the merger of the Company with another entity,
the Seller shall have a right of first refusal to timely complete
that transaction on the same terms offered by the bona fide
purchaser. The Company must provide Seller with written notice of
the proposed transaction and must include with that notice a copy
of the proposed offer and a draft of any negotiated agreement with
respect to that transaction. Seller shall have ten (10) Business
Days from the date of receipt of the proposed offer to determine
whether it wishes to exercise this right of first refusal. Should
Seller not respond within the required ten-day period, then the
Purchaser and the Company may proceed with the proposed transaction
on the terms indicated. In the event there is any material change
in the offer received by the Company and Purchaser then the
Purchaser must reoffer the opportunity to Seller and the above
procedures shall apply once again. In addition, in the event the
Members of the Company decide to voluntarily dissolve or otherwise
winddown the Company, within five (5) Business Days of any such
decision the Members of the Company shall offer Seller the right to
take over ownership of Company and to continue to operate the
Company as a going concern. The Seller shall have five (5) Business
Days of receipt of written notice of such a decision by the Members
to determine whether it wishes to assume the operation of the
Company and take over the Members interests therein.
Section 6.10
Use of
Switch
.
The Company shall have the right to continue to
use the Switches (as defined in that certain Asset Contribution
Agreement, dated as of the 20
th
day of July, 2017 by and between the
Seller and the Company) and associated billing systems, free of
charge, so long as customers of the Company continue to be serviced
through the Switches but in no event for a period of more twelve
(12) months from the date of this Agreement.
Section 6.11
Additional Profit
Share.
The Company and
Purchaser agree that the terms of this Agreement only pertain to
the Company’s engagement in the wholesale carrier business
(the “
Business
”).
Should the Purchaser choose to enter the cellular business or any
other communications or technology business, it may do so through
the Company, an Affiliate of the Company, or an independent entity
controlled by the Manager (the “
New
Business
”). In such
event and only if the New Business uses any equipment, software, or
personnel (other than the Manager, who may engage in other business
activities other than the Business) of the Company, then
Purchaser’s sole obligation will be to remit fifty (50%)
percent of the Net Profits of any such New Business to Seller on an
annual basis within thirty (30) days of the end of the fiscal
year.
Section 6.12
Seller
Support
. In recognition of the
on-going profit share arrangement contemplated by this Agreement,
Seller agrees to provide the Manager and other senior level
personnel of the Company, as well as the manager and senior level
personnel of any New Business, with reasonable access to Matthew D.
Rosen, Gordon Hutchins and James P. Prenetta (for so long as such
individuals are employed by the Seller), for the purpose of seeking
general business advice and in the case of Mr. Prenetta, general
legal advice and counsel, In addition, the Seller agrees to provide
access to, and use of, one office and the conference room (on an as
available basis) at the Seller’s office located at 420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718, New York New
York.
Section 6.13
Company
Services
. To the extent that
Seller has future requirements as to any current or future services
offered by the Company or by any New Business (including, but not
limited to, cellular services), Seller agrees to provide the
Company with a reasonable opportunity to compete for the provision
of those services and agrees to provide management of the Company
with access to appropriate personnel at Seller to discuss and
understand Seller’s requirements and Seller further agrees to
provide the Company with due consideration during such procurement
process.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
7.1.
Notices
.
(a) All
notices, requests, demands, waivers and other communications
required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (1) upon
personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (2) upon two (2)
Business Days when sent by email followed by certified or
registered mail; or (3) upon two (2) Business Days after being sent
by nationally recognized overnight carrier to the addresses below
as follows:
Notices to the
Purchaser:
XcomIP,
LLC
Yehuda
“Jay” Adams
c/o
Meryl Ravitz
303
West 66
th
Street, Suite 18BW
New
York, NY 10023
Email:
jay@xcomip.com
Notices to
Seller:
Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.
Attn.:
General Counsel
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, NY 10170
E-mail:
legal@fusionconnect.com
Notices
to the
Company:
Fusion Global Services LLC
Yehuda “Jay” Adams
c/o Meryl Ravitz
303 West 66
th
Street, Suite 18BW
New York, NY 10023
E-mail:
jay@xcomip.com
(b)
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, notices to Purchaser and the Company (and required
copies thereof) may be contained in a single notice to all of them,
respectively.
(c)
It is expressly
understood that the above addresses may change in the future and
each Party will provide the other Party with its updated address in
a timely manner.
Section
7.2.
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the Parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral and
written, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof except for the provisions, which, by their terms, survive
termination. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the
Members Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement
shall prevail.
Section
7.3.
Amendments.
Any amendment
hereof must be in writing. Any provision hereof may be waived in
writing by the Party entitled to the benefit of such provision. No
waiver of the breach of any provision shall be deemed or construed
to be a waiver of other or subsequent breaches. Nothing herein is
intended to confer any rights or remedies upon any Person not a
party hereto, except as expressly provided to the contrary
herein.
Section
7.4.
Delays and
Omissions; Waiver
.
No
delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing
to either Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of
any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right,
power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor
shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default,
or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or
default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single
breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default
theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or
approval of any kind or character on the part of either Party of
any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the
part of either Party of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the
extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either
under this Agreement or by Law or otherwise afforded to any Party,
shall be cumulative and not alternative.
Section
7.5.
Severability
. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision shall
not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the other
provisions hereof. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as
closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that
the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section
7.6.
Successors;
Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
benefits, or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any Party
(whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior
written consent of the other Parties. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of, and be enforceable by a Party and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. Nothing herein, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or
equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under
or by reason of this Agreement.
Section
7.7.
Counterparts; Email
Signatures.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered by email
signature.
Section
7.8.
Choice of Law
and Enforcement
.
(a) This
Agreement and any and all matters arising directly or indirectly
here from shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the internal Laws of the state of New York,
without giving effect to the conflict or choice of Law principles
thereof.
(b) The
Parties hereby irrevocably:
(i)
consent and submit
to the sole exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York and/or the state court
in New York City (and of the appropriate appellate courts from any
of the foregoing) in connection with any legal action, lawsuit,
arbitration, mediation, or other legal or quasi legal proceeding
directly or indirectly arising out of, or relating to, this
Agreement (“
Proceeding
”);
(ii)
waive, to the
fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection a Party may now or
hereafter have to the venue of any such Proceeding in any such
court or that any such Proceeding which is brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum;
(iii)
waive, to the
fullest extent permitted by Law, any immunity from jurisdiction of
any such court or from any legal process therein;
(iv)
waive, to the
fullest extent permitted by Law, any right to a trial by jury in
connection with a Proceeding;
(v)
agree not to
commence any Proceeding other than in such court; and
(vi)
agree that service
of any summons, complaint, notice or other process relating to such
Proceeding may be effected in the manner provided for the giving of
notice as set forth herein.
Section
7.9.
Specific
Enforcement
. The Parties agree that irreparable damage may
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise materially breached. It is accordingly agreed that any of
the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions
to prevent material breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of
Article IV
and
Article VII
. The provisions of
this Section shall be in addition to any other remedy to which they
are entitled at Law or in equity.
Section
7.10.
Joint Participation
in the Drafting
. The Parties acknowledge and confirm that
each of their respective attorneys has participated jointly in the
drafting, review and revision of this Agreement and that it has not
been written solely by counsel for any Party and that each Party
has had the benefit of its independent legal counsel’s advice
with respect to the terms and provisions hereof and its rights and
obligations hereunder. Each Party, therefore, stipulates and agrees
that the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities
are to be or may be resolved against the drafting Party shall not
be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement to favor any
Party against another and that no Party shall have the benefit of
any legal presumption or the detriment of any burden of proof by
reason of any ambiguity or uncertain meaning contained in this
Agreement.
Section
7.11.
No Third Party
Beneficiaries.
No Person not a party hereto shall have any
rights hereunder, it being the intent of the Parties that there
shall be no third party beneficiaries.
Section
7.12.
Gender;
Number.
Except where the context otherwise requires, words
used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the
singular number includes the plural, and the plural the
singular.
Section
7.13.
Expenses.
Seller agrees to
reimburse Purchaser for its reasonable and documented expenses
incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby including (i) its legal fees directly incurred
in connection with this Agreement and in the preparation of a new
operating agreement for the Company, (ii) invoiced fees and
expenses of UHY directly associated with their analysis of the tax
implications of the sale of Seller’s Membership Interests
hereunder to Purchaser
,
(iii) fees and expenses associated with the filing of the
Certificate of Amendment (to the extent not handled by Seller), and
associated with the transfer or abandonment of any 214 License,
(iv) any taxes or other costs, such as FCC fees, imposed or
incurred as a direct result of the consummation of the transaction
contemplated herein; (v) for a period of up to 12 months from the
date of this Agreement, the costs associated with the
Company’s existing corporate email service that is hosted by
Google, and (vi) all preapproved, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld, costs associated with the name change
including any costs incurred to change websites, URLs, marketing
and printed materials and contracts. In the event that Seller fails
to promptly reimburse Purchaser for any of the foregoing costs and
expense, Purchaser shall be entitled to off-set such amounts
against amounts owed by it to the Seller under the Note of even
date hereof.
Section
7.14
Indemnification
. It is the
Purchaser’s understanding that the Company has been advised
by UHY that due to any profit sharing arrangement contemplated by
this Agreement, the Company (or any New Business) will be required
to issue the Seller a K-1 at the end of each fiscal year to reflect
any profits that are paid to the Seller under this Agreement.
Seller agree that it shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser
and any Affiliate or other New Business for any costs, expenses, or
losses incurred as a result of any filings or reporting made or
omitted by Seller, or any failure to pay taxes to the Internal
Revenue Service or any state taxing authority, in connection with
amounts reported by the Company to Seller hereunder.
[Signatures
appear on the following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the Parties have
executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
|
FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
|
|
|
By:
__/s/ James P. Prenetta, Jr.
|
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
EVP and General Counsel
|
XCOMIP
LLC
|
|
By: /s/
Yehuda “Jay” Adams
|
Name: Yehuda
“Jay” Adams
Title:
Manager
|
FUSION
GLOBAL SERVICES LLC
|
|
By: /s/
Yehuda “Jay” Adams
|
Name:
Yehuda “Jay” Adams
Title:
Manager
|
Exhibit A
NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
This Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Agreement
”),
is made and entered into by and between Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Fusion
”)
and Fusion Global Services, LLC, and XcomIP, LLC (collectively, the
“
Counterparty
”).
As used herein, “the parties to this Agreement” or
“the parties” shall refer collectively to Fusion and
the Counterparty. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined
shall have the meaning assigned each such term in the Membership
Interest Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS
, on the date hereof, Fusion,
XcomIP, LLC (“
Xcom
”)
and Fusion Global Services, LLC (“
Fusion
Global
”), are entering into a Membership Interest
Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “
Membership Interest
Agreement
”) by and among Fusion, Xcom and Fusion
Global under which Xcom will purchase from Fusion and Fusion will
sell and transfer to Xcom, all of its membership interests in
Fusion Global); and
WHEREAS
, the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Fusion and Counterparty is a condition precedent
to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Membership
Interest Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
covenants and mutual promises and agreements contained in this
Agreement, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
1.
Non-Solicitation
.
For a period of three (3) years from the date hereof, each of
Fusion and Counterparty agrees that it will not, either directly or
indirectly (including through its Affiliates) or as an agent on
behalf of, or in conjunction with any Person: (A) solicit for
employment or in any way induce or attempt to induce to leave the
employ of, or engagement by, the other party hereto, any individual
who is, on the date of the solicitation or attempted inducement, a
director, officer, employee or consultant to the other party
hereto; or (B) induce or attempt to induce any Person who is a
director, officer, employee or consultant to the other party to
leave the employ of, or terminate or breach their respective
agreements with, the other party, or in any other way deliberately
interfere with the relationship between the other party and any
such Person; provided, however, that no general
advertisement or general solicitation of employment not targeted to
the directors, officers, employees or consultants of the other
party shall be deemed to be a solicitation of such Persons in
violation of this Section.
2.
Acknowledgment
.
Each of Fusion and the Counterparty acknowledges that this
Agreement and the obligations contained herein are essential to the
protection of the business of the other party and its subsidiaries
and is a material inducement to the other party to enter into the
Membership Interest Agreement and to closing the transactions
contemplated thereby.
3.
Remedies Upon
Breach
.
The parties
acknowledge and agree that, in the event of a material breach of
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to preclude or limit any party from
asserting claims or filing a lawsuit for the purpose of enforcing
their rights under this Agreement, or pursuing any other rights and
remedies available to them under law, including equitable relief,
injunctive relief, and damages.
4.
Assignability
and Binding Effect
.
The rights and obligations of the parties shall be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.
5.
Waiver
of Breach
.
A waiver
by any party of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other
provision of this Agreement or of any subsequent breach of the same
or any other provision of this Agreement. The understandings and
representations of the parties set forth in this Agreement shall
survive any breach of this Agreement and be enforceable by the
non-breaching party.
6.
Severability
.
The
provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any portion of this
Agreement (other than Section 1) is held, by a court of competent
jurisdiction, to be invalid or unenforceable or to conflict with
any federal, state or local law, such portion or portions of this
Agreement are hereby declared to be of no force or effect in such
jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall otherwise remain in full
force and effect and be construed as if such portion had not been
included. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held
to be unenforceable for being unduly broad as written, such
provision shall be deemed amended to narrow its application to the
extent necessary to make the provision enforceable according to
applicable law and shall be enforced as amended to the maximum
legal and equitable extent.
7.
Entire Agreement
. This
Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof and this Agreement supersedes and
replaces any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
representations, promises or understandings of any kind between the
parties with respect thereto. No modification, amendment or waiver
of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing and signed by both parties.
8.
Interpretation of
Agreement
.
The
parties acknowledge and agree that (i) this Agreement and its
reduction to final written form are the result of good faith
negotiations between the parties through their respective counsel;
(ii) said counsel have carefully reviewed and examined this
Agreement before execution by said parties, or any of them; and
(iii) any statute or rule of construction that ambiguities are to
be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the
interpretation of this Agreement.
9.
Governing
Law
.
This Agreement
and any disputes arising under or in connection with it shall be
construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.
10.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts with the
same effect as if both parties had signed the same document. All
counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one
and the same Agreement. This Agreement, to the extent signed and
delivered via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as
an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have
the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed
version thereof delivered in person.
11.
Further
Assurances
.
The
parties agree to give such further assurances and to execute such
documents as may be necessary to correct, confirm and effectuate
the intent and purpose of this
Agreement
12.
Captions
.
The captions of the paragraphs of this Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be considered or referenced in
resolving questions of construction or interpretation.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the parties
hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year set
forth below.
|
Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.
Name: Gordon
Hutchins, Jr.
Title:
President
XcomIP, LLC
Name: Yehuda
“Jay” Adams.
Title:
Manager
Fusion Global Services, LLC
Name: Yehuda
“Jay” Adams.
Title:
Manager
|
Exhibit B
Form of Certificate of Amendment
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
FUSION GLOBAL SERVICES LLC
The
undersigned, for the purpose of amending a certificate of formation
of a limited liability company pursuant to Section 18-202 of the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, certifies
that:
1.
The name of the limited liability company is
Fusion Global Services, LLC (the “
Company
”).
2.
Article
1 of the Certificate of Formation of the Company is hereby amended
to read as follows:
“1.
The name of the limited liability company is
“[
]”.
3.
The aforesaid amendment was duly adopted by the sole Member of the
Company.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
, the Company has caused
this Certificate of Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the
duly authorized person on this ___ day of _______,
2018.
FUSION GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC
By:
______________________________
Name:
Yehuda “Jay” Adams
Title:
Manager
May 4,
2018
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Fusion
Connect, Inc. (f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.)
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference is made
to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 26, 2017
(as it may be amended or modified from time to time in the future,
the “
Merger
Agreement
”), by and among Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Company
”),
Birch Communications Holdings, Inc., a Georgia corporation, and
Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning
given to them in the Merger Agreement. This letter agreement amends
and restates the indemnification letter agreement delivered by BCHI
Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company
(“
Holdings
”), to the
Company, dated August 26, 2017, in its entirety.
Subject
to the occurrence of the Closing, for a period of eighteen (18)
months following the Closing (the “
Indemnity Period
”),
Holdings agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company for and
against any and all losses in excess of $500,000 that are related
to, or arise from, any of the pending matters listed below that are
incurred during the Indemnity Period; provided, that in no event
will Holdings be responsible for any such losses exceeding
$25,000,000 in the aggregate (the “
Cap
”). Holdings shall
have the right to assume the defense of these matters and shall
have the right to settle such matters so long as such settlement
does not involve any monetary payment by the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries and does not otherwise have a material adverse effect
on the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Amounts owed
by Holdings under this indemnity may be paid in cash or through the
transfer to the Company of a number of shares of Company Common
Stock equal to (rounded up or down to the nearest whole share) (1)
the amount of such obligation divided by (2) the greater of (A)
$2.00, or (B) the weighted average daily closing bid price of the
Company Common Stock, as reported by NASDAQ (or any successor to
such exchange), for five (5) consecutive trading days ending
immediately prior to the third (3
rd
) Business Day preceding the date of
such transfer. Any cash payment and/or return of shares of Company
Common Stock shall be completed within five (5) Business Days of
the date that the Company’s (or its subsidiary’s)
liability has been determined. During the Indemnity Period,
Holdings shall, at all times, maintain in its name liquid assets
and shares of Company Common Stock with an aggregate value of no
less than the Cap; provided, that for the purposes of determining
the value of shares of Company Common Stock, such shares will not
be deemed to have a value of less than $2.00 per share, regardless
of the then-current market price for such shares.
1.
EB-IHD-17-00023706,
Federal Communications Commission Letter of Inquiry to Birch
Communications, Inc. (dated May 2, 2017).
2.
California Public
Utilities Commission Data Request No. 1 (dated October 1, 2015),
Data Request No. 2 (dated March 8, 2016), Data Request No. 3 (dated
March 7, 2017); Data Request No. 4 (dated July 27, 2017) to Birch
Telecom of the West, Inc. and Cbeyond Communications,
LLC.
3.
Wyoming Universal
Service Fund Audit Notification Letter (dated August 1,
2017).
4.
Kansas Corporation
Commission Docket No. 18-BTKT-033-KSF,
Audit of Birch Telecom of Kansas, Inc. by the
Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) Administrator Pursuant to
K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 66-2010(b) for KUSF Operating Year 20, Fiscal
Year March 2016-February 2017
.
5.
Kansas Corporation
Commission Docket No. 18-TEMT-043-KSF,
Audit of Tempo Telecom, LLC by the Kansas
Universal Service Fund (KUSF) Administrator Pursuant to K.S.A. 2016
Supp. 66-2010(b) for KUSF Operating Year 20, Fiscal Year March
2016-February 2017
.
6.
Kansas Corporation
Commission Docket No. 18-ICIT-041-KSF,
Audit of Ionex Communications, Inc. by the
Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) Administrator Pursuant to
K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 66-2010(b) for KUSF Operating Year 20, Fiscal
Year March 2016-February 2017
.
7.
Richard W. Huskey v. Birch Communications, Inc., Ionex
Communications, Inc., Birch Telecom of Missouri, Inc and certain
named individual defendants (Circuit Court of St. Louis County,
Missouri)
8.
Riepen v. Cbeyond, Inc. et al
9.
EB-TCD-15-00020193,
Federal Communications Commission Letter of Inquiry to Birch
Communications, Inc. (dated February 23, 2018).
10.
CenturyLink Communications, LLC, and Level 3
Communications, LLC, v. Birch Communications, Inc.
, Formal
Complaint, Proceeding No. 18-73, Bureau ID No. EB-18-MD-002 (filed
with Federal Communications Commission on March 23,
2018).
11.
Attorney General of the State of Illinois,
People of the State of Illinois v. Birch
Telecom of the Great Lakes, Inc.
, Subpoena Duces Tecum (ref:
Document #2018005), served via U.S. Mail April 17,
2018.
12.
State of Oklahoma Office of Attorney General,
Investigation of Birch Telecom of Oklahoma,
LLC
, Investigative Demand to Produce Documentary Material or
Physical Evidence and Furnish a Report (issued April 25,
2018).
This
letter agreement will be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the internal Laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to any applicable conflict of laws principles
(whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction). This
letter agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all
of which will be considered one and the same agreement and will
become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the
parties hereto and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that each party need not sign the same
counterpart.
If you
agree with the foregoing, please sign and return a copy of this
letter agreement, which will constitute our agreement with respect
to the subject matter hereof.
Very
truly yours,
BCHI
HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
Name:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Title:
Manager
AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
(f/k/a
Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.)
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and
General
Counsel
May
4, 2018
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Fusion Connect, Inc
.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Attention:
General Counsel
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Merger Agreement, dated
as of August 25, 2017, as amended (the
“
Merger
Agreement
”),
by and among the Fusion Connect, Inc. (formerly known as Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc
.
), a Delaware
corporation (“
Fusion
”),
Birch Communications Holdings, Inc
.,
a Georgia
corporation, and Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“
Fusion
BCHI
”). Capitalized terms
used but not defined herein have the meaning given to them in the
Merger Agreement.
For a period of twenty four (24) months following
the Closing (the
“
Indemnity
Period
”),
BCHI Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company
(“
Holdings
”),
agrees
to indemnify and hold
harmless Birch Communications, LLC (“
BCLLC
'')
and each other subsidiary that remained a subsidiary of BCLLC after
the Closing (BCLLC and each such other subsidiary of BCLLC
hereinafter collectively referred to as a
“
Covered
Subsidiar
y
”
)
from and against any and all asserted and/or actual liabilities for
unpaid state income
or
franchise taxes, late fees and
penalties and interest owed for 2017 and prior years and paid by
BCLLC after the
Closing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Fusion
BCHI agrees that Fusion BCHI shall cover the initial
$1
,
000,000 of any actual tax liabilities (but not any
late fees, penalties and interest associated therewith). Holdings
shall have the right to assume the defense of these matters and
shall have the right to settle such matters so long as such
settlement does not involve any monetary payment by the Company
and/or its Subsidiaries and does not otherwise have
a
material adverse effect on the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to any state
taxes.
Amounts owed by Holdings under the foregoing
indemnity may be paid in cash or through the transfer to Fusion of
a number of shares of Fusion common stock equal to (rounded up or
down to the nearest whole share) (1) the amount of such obligation
divided by (2) the greater of (A) $3.00, or (B) the weighted
average daily closing bid price of the
Fusion
common
stock, as reported by NASDAQ (or any successor to such exchange),
for five (5) consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to
the third (3rd) business day preceding the date of such transfer.
Any cash payment and/or return of shares of Fusion common stock
shall be completed within five (5) business days of the date that
the
Covered
Subsidiary's liability has been
determined
.
During the Indemnity Period, Holdings
shall,
at all times, maintain in its name liquid assets
and shares of Fusion common stock with an aggregate value of no
less than $5.0 million; provided, that for the purposes of
determining the value of shares of Fusion common stock, such shares
will not be deemed to have a value of less than $3.00 per share,
regardless of the then-current market price for such shares.
Amounts owed by Holdings under this indemnity shall be settled
within ten (10) days of the liability being
incurred.
This
letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced
in accordance with, the internal Laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to any applicable conflict of laws principles
(whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction). This
letter agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which will be considered one and the same agreement and will
become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the
parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that
each party need not sign the same counterpart.
[Signatures
are on the following page]
If you
agree with the foregoing, please sign and return a copy of this
letter agreement, which will constitute our agreement with respect
to the subject matter hereof.
Very
truly yours,
BCHI
HOLDINGS, LLC
By:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green.
Jr.
Name:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Title:
Manager
ACKNOWLEDGED AND
AGREED to
as of
this 4
th
day of May, 2018:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
[Signature Page to Side Letter]
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
dated as of May 4, 2018,
among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.,
as Borrower,
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF FUSION CONNECT, INC.,
as Guarantor Subsidiaries,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
________________________________________________________
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
and
MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
as Syndication Agent
________________________________________________________
$595,000,000 Senior Secured First Lien Credit
Facilities
________________________________________________________
THE
TRANCHE B TERM LOANS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT WERE ISSUED
WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ.
OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED FROM
TIME TO TIME. BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING
DATE, A LENDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE TRANCHE B TERM
LOANS BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE
BORROWER AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SCHEDULE 10.01.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1.
|
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
1.1.
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2.
|
Accounting Terms; Pro Forma Calculations
|
70
|
1.3.
|
Interpretation, Etc
|
71
|
1.4.
|
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
|
72
|
1.5.
|
Conditionality Testing Date
|
72
|
1.6.
|
Effectuation of Transactions
|
72
|
SECTION 2.
|
LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT
|
73
|
2.1.
|
Term Loans
|
73
|
2.2.
|
Revolving Loans
|
74
|
2.3.
|
Letters of Credit
|
75
|
2.4.
|
Pro Rata Shares; Obligations Several; Availability of
Funds
|
81
|
2.5.
|
Use of Proceeds
|
82
|
2.6.
|
Evidence of Debt; Register; Notes
|
82
|
2.7.
|
Interest on Loans and Letter of Credit Disbursements
|
83
|
2.8.
|
Conversion/Continuation
|
84
|
2.9.
|
Default Interest
|
85
|
2.10.
|
Fees
|
85
|
2.11.
|
Scheduled Installments; Repayment on Maturity Date
|
86
|
2.12.
|
Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions; Call
Protection
|
87
|
2.13.
|
Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions
|
89
|
2.14.
|
Application of Prepayments; Waivable Mandatory
Prepayments
|
93
|
2.15.
|
General Provisions Regarding Payments
|
94
|
2.16.
|
Ratable Sharing
|
95
|
2.17.
|
Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
96
|
2.18.
|
Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy and Liquidity
|
98
|
2.19.
|
Taxes; Withholding, Etc
|
100
|
2.20.
|
Obligation to Mitigate
|
103
|
2.21.
|
Defaulting Lenders
|
103
|
2.22.
|
Replacement of Lenders
|
107
|
2.23.
|
Incremental Facilities
|
107
|
2.24.
|
Extension/Modification Offers
|
111
|
2.25.
|
Refinancing Facilities
|
113
|
SECTION 3.
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
115
|
3.1.
|
Closing Date
|
115
|
3.2.
|
Each Credit Extension
|
118
|
SECTION 4.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
118
|
4.1.
|
Organization; Requisite Power and Authority;
Qualification
|
119
|
4.2.
|
Equity Interests and Ownership
|
119
|
4.3.
|
Due Authorization
|
119
|
4.4.
|
No Conflict
|
119
|
4.5.
|
Governmental Approvals
|
119
|
4.6.
|
Binding Obligation
|
120
|
4.7.
|
Historical Financial Statements; Projections; Pro Forma Financial
Statements
|
120
|
4.8.
|
No Material Adverse Effect
|
120
|
4.9.
|
Adverse Proceedings
|
120
|
4.10.
|
Payment of Taxes
|
121
|
4.11.
|
Properties
|
121
|
4.12.
|
Environmental Matters
|
121
|
4.13.
|
No Defaults
|
121
|
4.14.
|
Investment Company Act
|
122
|
4.15.
|
Federal Reserve Regulations
|
122
|
4.16.
|
Employee Benefit Plans
|
122
|
4.17.
|
Solvency
|
123
|
4.18.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
123
|
4.19.
|
Disclosure
|
123
|
4.20.
|
Collateral Matters
|
123
|
4.21.
|
Sanctioned Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; PATRIOT Act
|
124
|
4.22.
|
Communications Regulatory Matters
|
124
|
SECTION 5.
|
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
125
|
5.1.
|
Financial Statements and Other Reports
|
125
|
5.2.
|
Existence, Licenses, Etc
|
129
|
5.3.
|
Payment of Taxes
|
129
|
5.4.
|
Maintenance of Properties
|
129
|
5.5.
|
Insurance
|
129
|
5.6.
|
Books and Records; Inspections
|
130
|
5.7.
|
Lenders Meetings
|
130
|
5.8.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
130
|
5.9.
|
Environmental Matters
|
130
|
5.10.
|
Subsidiaries
|
131
|
5.11.
|
Additional Collateral
|
131
|
5.12.
|
Further Assurances
|
131
|
5.13.
|
Maintenance of Ratings
|
131
|
5.14.
|
Use of Proceeds
|
131
|
5.15.
|
Post-Closing Matters
|
132
|
5.16.
|
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account
|
132
|
SECTION 6.
|
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
132
|
6.1.
|
Indebtedness
|
132
|
6.2.
|
Liens
|
138
|
6.3.
|
No Further Negative Pledges
|
141
|
6.4.
|
Restricted Junior Payments
|
142
|
6.5.
|
Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
|
144
|
6.6.
|
Investments
|
145
|
6.7.
|
Financial Covenants
|
148
|
6.8.
|
Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets; Equity Interests of
Subsidiaries
|
150
|
6.9.
|
Sales and Leasebacks
|
151
|
6.10.
|
Transactions with Affiliates
|
152
|
6.11.
|
Conduct of Business
|
152
|
6.12.
|
Hedge Agreements
|
152
|
6.13.
|
Amendments or Waivers of Organizational Documents and Certain
Agreements
|
152
|
6.14.
|
Fiscal Year
|
152
|
SECTION 7.
|
GUARANTEE
|
153
|
7.1.
|
Guarantee of the Obligations
|
153
|
7.2.
|
Indemnity by the Borrower; Contribution by the
Guarantors
|
153
|
7.3.
|
Liability of Guarantors Absolute
|
154
|
7.4.
|
Waivers by the Guarantors
|
155
|
7.5.
|
Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution,
Etc
|
156
|
7.6.
|
Continuing Guarantee
|
156
|
7.7.
|
Authority of the Guarantors or the Borrower
|
156
|
7.8.
|
Financial Condition of the Credit Parties
|
157
|
7.9.
|
Bankruptcy, Etc
|
157
|
7.10.
|
Keepwell
|
158
|
SECTION 8.
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
158
|
8.1.
|
Events of Default
|
158
|
SECTION 9.
|
AGENTS
|
161
|
9.1.
|
Appointment of Agents
|
161
|
9.2.
|
Powers and Duties
|
161
|
9.3.
|
General Immunity
|
162
|
9.4.
|
Acts in Individual Capacity
|
164
|
9.5.
|
Lenders’ and Issuing Banks’ Representations, Warranties
and Acknowledgments
|
164
|
9.6.
|
Right to Indemnity
|
165
|
9.7.
|
Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
|
166
|
9.8.
|
Collateral Documents and Obligations Guarantee
|
167
|
9.9.
|
Withholding Taxes
|
170
|
9.10.
|
Administrative Agent May File Bankruptcy Disclosure and Proofs of
Claim
|
170
|
9.11.
|
Certain ERISA Matters
|
171
|
9.12.
|
Concerning the Vector Facility Arrangements
|
173
|
SECTION 10.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
174
|
10.1.
|
Notices
|
174
|
10.2.
|
Expenses
|
176
|
10.3.
|
Indemnity
|
176
|
10.4.
|
Set-Off
|
177
|
10.5.
|
Amendments and Waivers
|
178
|
10.6.
|
Successors and Assigns; Participations
|
182
|
10.7.
|
Independence of Covenants
|
188
|
10.8.
|
Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
|
189
|
10.9.
|
No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative
|
189
|
10.10.
|
Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
|
189
|
10.11.
|
Severability
|
190
|
10.12.
|
Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights
|
190
|
10.13.
|
Headings
|
190
|
10.14.
|
APPLICABLE LAW
|
190
|
10.15.
|
CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
|
190
|
10.16.
|
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
191
|
10.17.
|
Confidentiality
|
192
|
10.18.
|
Usury Savings Clause
|
193
|
10.19.
|
Counterparts
|
193
|
10.20.
|
Effectiveness; Entire Agreement
|
193
|
10.21.
|
PATRIOT Act
|
193
|
10.22.
|
Electronic Execution of Assignments
|
193
|
10.23.
|
No Fiduciary Duty
|
194
|
10.24.
|
Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
|
194
|
10.25.
|
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial
Institutions
|
195
|
SCHEDULES:
2.1
Commitments
2.3
Letter of Credit Issuing Commitments
4.2
Equity Interests and Ownership
4.11(b)
Real Estate
6.1
Indebtedness
6.2
Liens
6.3
Negative Pledges
6.5
Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
6.6
Investments
6.10
Affiliate Transactions
10.1
Notices
EXHIBITS:
A
Assignment
Agreement
B
Closing
Date Certificate
D
Conversion/Continuation
Notice
G
Intercompany
Indebtedness Subordination Agreement
I
Intercreditor
Agreement
K
Pledge
and Security Agreement
M
Supplemental
Collateral Questionnaire
O-1
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
O-2
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For
US Federal Income Tax Purposes
O-3
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
O-4
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
FIRST LIEN CREDIT
AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
dated as of May 4, 2018, among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, a
Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”),
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER
party hereto, as Guarantor Subsidiaries, the
LENDERS
party hereto and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington
Trust
”), as Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent.
The
Lenders have agreed to extend credit facilities to the Borrower in
an aggregate principal amount of $595,000,000, consisting of
Tranche A Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of
$45,000,000, Tranche B Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount
of $510,000,000 and Revolving Commitments in an aggregate initial
amount of $40,000,000.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the
premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION
1.
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
1.1.
Definitions
.
As
used in this Agreement (including the recitals hereto), the
following terms have the meanings specified below:
“
Acquired Company
” means Birch
Communications Holdings, Inc., a Georgia corporation.
“
Acquired Company Indemnity Letter
Agreement
” means the letter agreement dated August 26,
2017, pursuant to which BCHI Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company, agreed to indemnify the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries with respect to certain Adverse Proceedings, as such
letter agreement is in effect on the Closing Date.
“
Acquisition
” means the purchase or
other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions,
including pursuant to any merger or consolidation) of all or
substantially all the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in,
or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially
all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line
or line of business of), any Person.
“
Acquisition Consideration
” means,
with respect to any Acquisition, the purchase consideration for
such Acquisition, whether paid in Cash or other property (valued at
the fair value thereof, as determined reasonably and in good faith
by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower), but excluding any
component thereof consisting of Equity Interests in the Borrower
(other than any Disqualified Equity Interests) and whether payable
at or prior to the consummation of such Acquisition or deferred for
payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment
is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and including (a)
any earnouts and other agreements to make any payment the amount of
which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect
subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flows or
profits (or the like) of the Person or assets being acquired,
provided
that any
such future payment that is subject to a contingency shall be
considered Acquisition Consideration only to the extent of the
reserve, if any, required under GAAP to be established by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect thereof at the
time of the consummation of such Acquisition, and (b) the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with such Acquisition.
“
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate
” means,
for any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per
annum obtained by dividing (a) (i) the rate per annum
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate that appears
on the page of the Reuters Screen that displays the London
interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark
Administration (or any other Person that takes over the
administration of such rate) (such page currently being LIBOR01
page) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars,
determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the
Interest Rate Determination Date for such Interest Period, or
(ii) in the event the rate referred to in the preceding
clause (i) does not appear on such page or if the Reuters
Screen shall cease to be available, the rate per annum determined
by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other
page or other service that displays the London interbank offered
rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other
Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for
deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period)
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars,
determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Interest Rate Determination Date, by (b) an amount equal to
one minus the Applicable Reserve Requirement;
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, (A) if the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, determined
as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be deemed to be zero and (B) in
the case of Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans, the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall at no time be less than 1.00% per
annum.
“
Administrative Agent
” means
Wilmington Trust, in its capacity as administrative agent for the
Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and its
successors in such capacity as provided in Section 9.
“
Administrative Agent Fee Letter
”
means the Fee Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, between
Wilmington Trust and the Borrower.
“
Adverse Proceeding
” means any
action, suit, proceeding, hearing or investigation, in each case
whether administrative, judicial or otherwise, by or before any
Governmental Authority or any arbitrator, that is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, threatened in
writing against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any
property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“
Affected Lender
” as defined in
Section 2.17(b).
“
Affected Loans
” as defined in
Section 2.17(b).
“
Affiliate
” means, with respect to
any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling,
Controlled by or under common Control with the Person specified;
provided
that for
purposes of Section 6.10, the term “Affiliate”
also means any Person that directly or indirectly beneficially owns
Equity Interests in the Person specified representing 10% or more
of the aggregate ordinary voting power or the aggregate equity
value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in
the Person specified and any Person that would be an Affiliate of
any such beneficial owner pursuant to this definition (but without
giving effect to this proviso).
“
Agent
” means each of (a) the
Administrative Agent, (b) the Collateral Agent, (c) the Syndication
Agent, (d) the Arrangers and (e) any other Person appointed under
the Credit Documents to serve in an agent or similar capacity,
including any Auction Manager.
“
Aggregate Amounts Due
” as defined
in Section 2.16.
“
Aggregate Payments
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
Agreement
” means this First Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018.
“
Anti-Corruption Laws
”
as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
Applicable ECF Percentage
” means,
with respect to any Fiscal Year, (a) 50% if the Total Net Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is greater than
2.90:1.00, (b) 25% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the
last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than 2.90:1.00 but
greater than 2.40:1.00 and (c) 0% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio
as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than
2.40:1.00.
“
Applicable Rate
” means, on any
day, (a) with respect to any Tranche A Term Loan, (i) 4.00%
per annum, in the case of a Base Rate Loan, and (ii) 5.00% per
annum, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) with respect to
any Tranche B Term Loan, (i) 6.50% per annum, in the case of a
Base Rate Loan, and (ii) 7.50% per annum, in the case of a
Eurodollar Rate Loan, (c) with respect to any Revolving Loan,
(i) from the Closing Date until the third Business Day
following the date of the delivery of the financial statements
pursuant to Section 5.1(b) for the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30,
2018, and of the related Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section
5.1(c), (A) 4.00% per annum, in the case of a Base Rate Loan, and
(B) 5.00% per annum, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan and
(ii) thereafter, as set forth in the table below, as
determined based on the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the end
of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements
have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) and the
related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to
Section 5.1(c), in each case, at least three Business Days
prior to such day, and (d) with respect to Loans of any other
Class, the rate per annum specified in the Incremental Facility
Agreement, the Extension/Modification Agreement or the Refinancing
Facility Agreement, as the case may be, establishing Loans of such
Class.
Pricing Level
|
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio
|
Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate
Loans
|
Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate
Loans
|
1
|
>
2.45:1.00
|
5.00%
|
4.00%
|
2
|
≤
2.45:1.00
but
> 1.70:1.00
|
4.75%
|
3.75%
|
3
|
≤
1.70:1.00
|
4.50%
|
3.50%
|
Any
increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans
resulting from a change in the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall
become effective as of the third Business Day following the date
the financial statements and the related Compliance Certificate are
delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c);
provided
that if the Borrower
has not delivered to the Administrative Agent any financial
statements or Compliance Certificate required to have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or 5.1(c), from
and after the date such financial statements or Compliance
Certificate were required to have been so delivered the Applicable
Rate for Revolving Loans shall be determined by reference to
Pricing Level 1 in the table above and shall continue to so apply
to and including the third Business Day following the date such
financial statements and related Compliance Certificate are so
delivered (and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in
accordance with this definition shall apply) and (b) as of the
first Business Day after an Event of Default under
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans shall be
determined by reference to Pricing Level 1 in the table above, and
shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such
Event of Default shall cease to be continuing (and thereafter the
pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this
definition shall apply).
If any
financial statements or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant
to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or 5.1(c) shall prove to have been
inaccurate, and such inaccuracy shall have resulted in the payment
of interest hereunder at lower rates than those that would have
been paid but for such inaccuracy, then (i) the Borrower shall
promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent corrected financial
statements and a corrected Compliance Certificate for such period
and (ii) the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Revolving Lenders, the interest that
should have been paid but were not paid as a result of such
inaccuracy. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender under Section 2.9 or
8.
“
Applicable Reserve Requirement
”
means, at any time, for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the maximum rate,
expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including any basic,
marginal, special, supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are
required to be maintained by member banks of the United States
Federal Reserve System against “Eurocurrency
liabilities” (as such term is defined in Regulation D) under
regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors or
other applicable banking regulator. Without limiting the effect of
the foregoing, the Applicable Reserve Requirement shall reflect any
other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks with
respect to (a) any category of liabilities that includes deposits
by reference to which the applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
any other interest rate for a Loan is to be determined or (b) any
category of extensions of credit or other assets that includes
Eurodollar Rate Loans. A Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be deemed to
constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed
subject to reserve requirements without the benefit of credits for
proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to
time to the applicable Lender. The rate of interest on Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Applicable Reserve
Requirement.
“
Approved Cost Savings
” means
“run rate” net cost savings, operating expense
reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
attributable to (a) the Transactions and reflected in the model
delivered to the Arrangers prior to the Closing Date or (b) the
Specified Acquisition and reflected in the quality of earnings
report delivered to the Arrangers in respect of the Specified
Acquisition prior to the Closing Date;
provided
that, in the case of
this clause (b), (i) such Acquisition is consummated on or prior to
December 31, 2018 and (ii) the Approved Cost Savings permitted by
this clause (b) shall not exceed $16,700,000 in the
aggregate.
“
Approved Electronic
Communications
” means any notice, demand,
communication, information, document or other material that any
Credit Party, or its counsel or advisors, provides to any Agent
that is distributed to any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by
means of electronic communications pursuant to Section
10.1(b).
“
Arrangers
” means Goldman Sachs,
MSSF and MUFG, each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and
joint bookrunner for the credit facilities established under this
Agreement.
“
Asset Sale
” means any Disposition
of assets (other than Dispositions made in reliance on Section
6.8(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii)), other than
any such Disposition (or series of related Dispositions) resulting
in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding $5,000,000 during any
Fiscal Year.
“
Assignment Agreement
” means an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A
,
with such amendments or modifications thereto as may be approved by
the Administrative Agent.
“
Assignment Effective
Date
”
as
defined in Section 10.6(b).
“
Auction
” as defined in Section
10.6(i)(i).
“
Auction Manager
” means (a) the
Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution agreed
to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (whether or not an
Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an auction manager
in connection with any Auction;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Manager
without the prior 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 Manager).
“
Authorized Officer
” means, with
respect to any Person, any individual holding the position of chief
executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer,
secretary, assistant secretary, executive vice president or senior
vice president of such Person;
provided
that, when such term
is used in reference to any document executed by, or a
certification of, an Authorized Officer, the secretary or assistant
secretary of such Person shall have delivered an incumbency
certificate to the Administrative Agent as to the authority of such
individual.
“
Available Basket Amount
” means, as
of any date:
(a) the
Available Excess Cash Flow Amount as of such date;
plus
(b) the
Declined Mandatory Prepayment Retained Amount as of such date;
plus
(c) [reserved];
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount of Returns and, without duplication, dividends,
distributions and other returns on capital received in Cash or Cash
Equivalents as of such date in respect of any Acquisition or other
Investments made (or deemed made pursuant to the definition of the
term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”) using the Available
Basket Amount,
provided
that the aggregate
amount by which the Available Basket Amount is increased pursuant
to this clause (d) in respect of any Acquisition or other
Investment shall not exceed the amount by which the Available
Basket Amount shall have been reduced on account of the Acquisition
Consideration with respect to such Acquisition or the original
amount of any such other Investment;
plus
(e) without
duplication of amounts otherwise increasing the Available Basket
Amount pursuant to clause (d) above, in the event any Unrestricted
Subsidiary has been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or has
been merged or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary (where the surviving entity in such merger or
consolidation is the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), or
transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or
is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, on or
prior to such date, the lesser of (i) the amount of all Investments
made using the Available Basket Amount in such Unrestricted
Subsidiary (including any such Investment deemed made pursuant to
the definition of the term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”),
net of the aggregate amount, if any, by which the Available Basket
Amount shall have been increased prior to such time in respect of
such Investments pursuant to clause (d) above, and (ii) the fair
value of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (as determined reasonably and
in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) at the time
it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or the time of such
merger, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or liquidation, as
applicable;
minus
(f) the
portion of the Available Basket Amount utilized after the Closing
Date and on or prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.4(j)
or 6.6(n), with the utilization pursuant to Section 6.6(n) for
any Acquisition being the Acquisition Consideration in respect
thereof and the utilization pursuant to Section 6.6(n) for any
other Investment (or any deemed Investment in respect of any
designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) being the amount thereof
as of the date the applicable Investment is made, determined in
accordance with the definition of “Investment” (or the
definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”).
“
Available Excess Cash Flow Amount
”
means, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum, for the Fiscal
Years of the Borrower in respect of which financial statements and
the related Compliance Certificate have been delivered in
accordance with Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(c), and for which
prepayments required by Section 2.13(e) (if any) have been made, in
each case on or prior to such date (commencing with the Fiscal Year
ending December 31, 2019), of the products of (a) the amount of
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow (to the extent such amount exceeds
zero) for each such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(b) the
Retained ECF Percentage for such Fiscal Year (it being understood
that the Retained ECF Percentage of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
for any such Fiscal Year shall be included in the Available Excess
Cash Flow Amount regardless of whether a prepayment is required for
such Fiscal Year under Section 2.13(e)).
“
Bail-In Action
” means the exercise
of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA
Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA
Financial Institution.
“
Bail-In Legislation
” means, with
respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of
Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member
Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In
Legislation Schedule.
“
Bankruptcy Code
” means
Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
“Bankruptcy”.
“
Base Rate
” means, for any day, the
rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in
effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect
on such day plus ½ of 1% per annum and (c) the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate that would be applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan
with an Interest Period of one month commencing on such day plus
1%;
provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Base Rate,
determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than 1.00%
per annum, then the Base Rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum
and (ii) in the case of Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B
Term Loans, the Base Rate shall at no time be less than 2.00% per
annum. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime
Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate shall be effective on the effective day of such change in the
Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate, as the case may be.
“
Base Rate Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Base Rate Loans.
“
Base Rate Loan
” means a Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base
Rate.
“
Board of Governors
” means the
Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve
System.
“
Borrower
” as defined in the
preamble hereto.
“
Borrowing
”
means Loans of the same Class and
Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case
of Eurodollar Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is
in effect.
“
Business Day
” means any day other
than a Saturday or Sunday, a day that is a legal holiday under the
laws of the State of New York or a day on which banking
institutions located in such State are authorized or required by
law to remain closed;
provided
that, with respect to
all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection
with the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such
day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar
deposits in the London interbank market.
“
Capital Lease Obligations
” of any
Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other
amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the
right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof,
which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for
as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person in conformity
with GAAP, subject to Section 1.2(a). The amount of such
obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in
conformity with GAAP, subject to Section 1.2(a), and the final
maturity of such obligations shall be the date of the last payment
due under such lease (or other arrangement) before such lease (or
other arrangement) may be terminated by the lessee without payment
of a premium or penalty. For purposes of Section 6.2, a Capital
Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the
property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned
by the lessee.
“
Cash
” means money, currency or a
credit balance in any demand or deposit account.
“
Cash Collateralize
” means, with
respect to any Obligation, to provide and pledge (as a first
priority perfected security interest) cash collateral or Cash
Equivalents in Dollars, at a location and pursuant to documentation
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank. The term “
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, as at any
date of determination, any of the following: (a) marketable
securities (i) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as
to interest and principal by the United States of America or (ii)
issued by any agency of the United States of America and backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in each
case maturing within one year after such date; (b) marketable
direct obligations issued by any State of the United States of
America or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision of
any such State or District or any public instrumentality thereof,
in each case maturing within one year after such date and having,
at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1
from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (c) commercial
paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of creation
thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a
rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from
Moody’s; (d) time deposits, certificates of deposit or
bankers’ acceptances maturing within 270 days after such date
and issued or accepted by any Revolving Lender or by any commercial
bank organized or licensed to conduct a banking business under the
laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the
District of Columbia that (i) is at least “adequately
capitalized” (as defined in the regulations of its primary
Federal banking regulator) and (ii) has Tier 1 capital (as defined
in such regulations) of not less than $500,000,000; (e) fully
collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than
30 days from such date for securities described in clause (a) or
clause (b) above and entered into with a financial institution
satisfying the criteria described in clause (d) above; (f) shares
of any money market mutual fund that (i) has substantially all
its assets invested continuously in the types of investments
referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above, (ii) has net
assets of not less than $5,000,000,000 and (iii) has ratings of at
least AA+ from S&P or at least Aa1 from Moody’s; and (g)
in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, other short-term investments
that are analogous to the foregoing, are of comparable credit
quality and are customarily used by companies in the jurisdiction
of such Foreign Subsidiary for cash management
purposes.
“
Cash Management Services
” means
cash management and related services provided to the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary, including treasury, depository, return
items, overdraft, controlled disbursement, cash sweeps, zero
balance arrangements, merchant stored value cards, e-payables,
electronic funds transfer, interstate depository network and
automatic clearing house transfer (including the Automated Clearing
House processing of electronic funds transfers through the direct
Federal Reserve Fedline system) services and credit cards, credit
card processing services, debit cards, stored value cards and
commercial cards (including so-called “‘purchase
cards”, “procurement cards” or
“p-cards”) arrangements.
“
Cash Management Services Provider
”
means any Person that (a) is, or was on the Closing Date, an
Agent, an Arranger, an Issuing Bank or any Affiliate of any of the
foregoing, whether or not such Person shall have been an Agent, an
Arranger or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing at the time the
applicable agreement in respect of Cash Management Services was
entered into, (b) is a counterparty to an agreement in respect of
Cash Management Services in effect on the Closing Date and is a
Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or
(c) becomes a counterparty after the Closing Date to an
agreement in respect of Cash Management Services at a time when
such Person is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.
“
CFC
” means (a) any Person that is
a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning
of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code), but only if a Credit
Party or a “United States person” (within the meaning
of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) that is an
Affiliate of a Credit Party is, with respect to such Person, a
“United States shareholder” (within the meaning of
Section 951(b) of the Internal Revenue Code) described in Section
951(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and (b) each Subsidiary of
any Person described in clause (a).
“
CFC Holding Company
” means each
Subsidiary that is treated as a partnership or a disregarded entity
for United States federal income tax purposes and that has no
material assets other than assets that consist (directly or
indirectly through disregarded entities or partnerships) of Equity
Interests or indebtedness (as determined for United States tax
purposes) in one or more CFCs or CFC Holding
Companies.
“
Change in Law
” means the
occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a)
the adoption or taking effect of any rule, regulation, treaty or
other law, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or
other law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation
or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the
making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental
Authority;
provided
that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all
requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in
connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or
directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements,
the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or
similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory
authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case
be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the
date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.
“
Change of Control
” means (a) the
acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or
of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the
Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder), other than
Permitted Holders, of Equity Interests in the Borrower representing
more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by
the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower, or (b)
the occurrence of any “change of control” (or similar
event, however denominated) with respect to the Borrower under and
as defined in any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness Document, any
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness or in any indenture or other agreement or instrument
evidencing, governing the rights of the holders of or otherwise
relating to any other Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
“
Claiming Guarantor
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
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, Tranche A
Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans or Loans of another
“Class” established pursuant to Section 2.23, 2.24 or
2.25 as contemplated below, (b) any Commitment, refers to
whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, a Tranche A Term
Loan Commitment or a Tranche B Term Loan Commitment or a
Commitment of another “Class” established pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 as contemplated below and (c) any
Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a
particular Class. Additional Classes of Loans, Borrowings,
Commitments and Lenders may be created pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 and, as provided in Section 2.23,
2.24 or 2.25, any Incremental Term Loans, any Extended/Modified
Term Loans or any Refinancing Term Loans may be treated as a single
Class with any other Class of Term Loans having the same terms as
such Incremental Term Loans, Extended/Modified Term Loans or
Refinancing Term Loans, as applicable.
“
Closing Date
” means the date on
which the conditions specified in Section 3.1 have been
satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.5).
“
Closing Date Certificate
” means a
Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit B
.
“
Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance
” means the issuance and sale, on the Closing
Date, by the Borrower of shares of its common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, for gross cash proceeds of
$4,999,998.50.
“
Closing Date Preferred Stock
”
means a new series of preferred stock of the Borrower, designated
as Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
issued and sold on the Closing Date by the Borrower to Holcombe T.
Green, Jr. (or an entity majority-owned and Controlled by Holcombe
T. Green, Jr.), for gross cash proceeds of
$14,700,000.
“
Closing Date Prepayment
” means the
prepayment on or prior to the Closing Date of a portion of the
Existing Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount of
$3,000,000, plus a further reduction on the Closing Date in the
aggregate principal amount of the Existing Subordinated Notes
resulting from the set-off against the aggregate principal amount
thereof on the Closing Date of a $920,000 receivable owed by one or
more of the holders of the Existing Subordinated
Notes.
“
Closing Date
Refinancing
” means (a) the payment
and discharge of the principal of and interest accrued on all
outstanding Indebtedness and all other amounts outstanding or
accrued, including all prepayment premium, under the Existing Debt
Documents, the termination of the commitments thereunder and the
cancellation or termination, or the cash collateralizing or
backstopping with Letters of Credit in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of all letters of credit
outstanding thereunder, (b) the termination and release of all
Guarantees and Liens supporting or securing any of the Indebtedness
or other obligations referred to in the foregoing clause (a) or
created under the documentation governing any such Indebtedness and
(c) the making of the Closing Date Prepayment.
“
Collateral
” means, collectively,
all of the property (including Equity Interests) on which Liens are
purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as
security for the Obligations.
“
Collateral Agent
”
means Wilmington Trust, in its
capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties under the
Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity as provided
in Section 9.
“
Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement
” means, at any time, the requirement
that:
(a) the
Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement
duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (ii) in
the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after
the Closing Date, a Counterpart Agreement duly executed and
delivered on behalf of such Person;
(b) the
Collateral Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary (i) either (A) a counterpart of the Pledge
and Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of
such Person, or (B) in the case of any Person that becomes a
Designated Subsidiary after the Closing Date, a supplement to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly
executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, and (ii) an
acknowledgment of the Intercreditor Agreement and, if then in
effect, each other Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, in each case,
in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on
behalf of such Person;
(c) in
the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after
the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received, to
the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, documents,
opinions and certificates of the type referred to in
Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(d), 3.1(e), 3.1(f) and 3.1(k) with
respect to such Designated Subsidiary;
(d) all
Equity Interests owned by or on behalf of any Credit Party shall
have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement
(
provided
that the
Credit Parties shall not be required to pledge (i) more than 65% of
the outstanding voting Equity Interests in any CFC or CFC Holding
Company or (ii) Equity Interests that constitute Excluded
Property), and the Collateral Agent shall, to the extent required
by the Pledge and Security Agreement, have received certificates or
other instruments representing all such Equity Interests, together
with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with
respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(e) (i)
the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary shall have duly
executed and delivered a counterpart of each of the Intercompany
Note and the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(ii) all Indebtedness of any other Person in a principal amount of
$1,000,000 or more that is owing to any Credit Party shall be
evidenced by a promissory note, and the Intercompany Note, each
other promissory note (if any) evidencing Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Credit Party and each
promissory note referred to in clause (ii) above shall, in each
case, have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge and Security
Agreement and the Collateral Agent shall have received the
Intercompany Note and all such other promissory notes, together
with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed
in blank;
(f) all
instruments and documents, including UCC financing statements
(including transmitting utility financing statements), required by
applicable law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to
be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be
created by the Collateral Documents and to perfect such Liens to
the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the
Collateral Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded;
and
(g) the
Collateral Agent shall have received (i) a Mortgage with respect to
each Material Real Estate Asset, if any, duly executed and
delivered by the record owner of such Material Real Estate Asset,
(ii) a fully paid policy or policies of title insurance issued by a
nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of
each Mortgage as a valid and enforceable Lien on the Material Real
Estate Asset described therein, free of any other Liens other than
Permitted Liens, which policies shall be in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, together with such
endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably request, (iii) a completed Flood Certificate with
respect to each Material Real Estate Asset, which Flood Certificate
shall be addressed to the Collateral Agent and shall otherwise
comply with the Flood Program and if the Flood Certificate with
respect to any Material Real Estate Asset states that any
“Building” (as defined in 12 CFR Chapter III, Section
339.2) included as part of such Material Real Estate Asset is
located in a Flood Zone, (A) a written notification from the
applicable Credit Party to the Collateral Agent as to the existence
of such Material Real Estate Asset and as to whether the community
in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located is
participating in the Flood Program and (B) if such Material Real
Estate Asset is located in a community that participates in the
Flood Program, evidence that the applicable Credit Party has
obtained a policy of flood insurance that is in compliance with all
applicable requirements of the Flood Program and other applicable
law (including as to the amount of insurance coverage required
thereunder),
provided
that the foregoing
requirements of this clause (iii) shall be completed (and copies of
such Flood Certificate and, if applicable, such acknowledgement and
evidence of flood insurance shall have been made available to the
Lenders) at least 20 Business Days (or such shorter period within
which each of the Revolving Lenders shall have advised the
Collateral Agent that its flood insurance due diligence and flood
insurance compliance have been completed) prior to the execution
and delivery of a Mortgage with respect to such Material Real
Estate Asset, (iv) with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset
encumbered by a Lien that is to be subordinated to the Lien created
in accordance with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents,
an amendment or agreement of subordination duly executed and
delivered with respect to any Lien or encumbrance that, but for
such subordination, would have priority over the Mortgage delivered
to the Collateral Agent and (v) such surveys, abstracts,
appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgage or
Material Real Estate Asset.
The
foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection
of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title
insurance, legal opinions, consents, approvals or other
deliverables with respect to, any particular assets of the Credit
Parties if and for so long as the Collateral Agent, in consultation
with the Borrower, determines that the cost of creating or
perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or
obtaining such deliverables shall be excessive in relation to the
benefit that would be afforded to the Lenders therefrom. The
Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and
perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title
insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to
particular assets or the provision of any Obligations Guarantee by
any Restricted Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Closing
Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Restricted
Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Closing Date) where it
determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue
effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise
be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the Collateral
Documents.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this
Agreement or any other Credit Document to the
contrary:
(aa)
the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to any of
the following assets (collectively, the “
Excluded Property
”; each
capitalized term used in this clause (aa) but not defined in this
Agreement having the meaning given to it in the Pledge and Security
Agreement): (i) any Leasehold Property and any Real Estate Asset
that is not a Material Real Estate Asset, (ii) any motor vehicles
and other assets subject to certificates of title, except to the
extent perfection of a security interest therein may be
accomplished by the filing of UCC financing statements or an
equivalent thereof in appropriate form in the applicable
jurisdiction, (iii) any Commercial Tort Claim as to which the claim
thereunder is less than $2,000,000, (iv) (A) any assets if,
for so long as and to the extent a security interest may not be
granted in such assets as a matter of applicable law, (B) any
lease, license (including any License), contract or other agreement
or any rights or interests thereunder if, for so long as and to the
extent the grant of a security interest therein would (x)
constitute or result in (1) the unenforceability of any right,
title or interest of the applicable Credit Party in or (2) a breach
or termination pursuant to the terms of, or a default under, such
lease, license, contract or other agreement or (y) require a
consent, approval, license or authorization not obtained from a
Governmental Authority or third party, except, in each case under
this clause (B), to the extent that such breach or default is
ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law or principles of
equity, and (C) any property subject to a Lien securing any
purchase money obligation or Capital Lease Obligation (or any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) if, for so long as and
to the extent the grant of a security interest therein would
constitute or result in a breach or a default under the related
agreements,
provided
that this
clause (C) shall apply only if such Lien and such purchase
money obligation or Capital Lease Obligation are permitted
hereunder, except, in each case under this clause (iv) to the
extent that such law or the terms in such lease, license, contract
or other agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, right of
termination or default or requiring such consent, approval, license
or authorization is ineffective under the UCC or other applicable
law or principles of equity,
provided
further
that this clause (iv)
shall not exclude Proceeds thereof and Accounts and Payment
Intangibles arising therefrom the assignment of which is deemed
effective under the UCC, (v) any governmental licenses or
state or local franchises, charters and authorizations of a
Governmental Authority if, for so long as and to the extent the
grant of a security interest therein is prohibited or restricted by
applicable law (including the CPCN issued in Colorado to Cbeyond
Communications LLC and to Fusion LLC (formerly known as Network
Billing Systems, LLC)), except, in each case under this clause (v),
to the extent that such prohibition or restriction is ineffective
under the UCC or other applicable law or principles of equity,
provided
that this
clause (v) shall not exclude Proceeds thereof and Accounts and
Payment Intangibles arising therefrom the assignment of which is
deemed effective under the UCC, (vi) Equity Interests in any Person
that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary if, for so long as
and to the extent (A) the Organizational Documents of such
Person or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or similar
agreement prohibits or restricts such pledge without the consent of
any Person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (it
being understood that none of the Credit Parties shall be required
to seek the consent of third parties thereunder), or (B) in
the case of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), such Equity Interests have
been pledged in connection with any Indebtedness of such Person
(but only to the extent that such Equity Interests remain pledged
in connection with such Indebtedness), (vii) any “intent to
use” trademark application for which a statement of use has
not been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
but only to the extent that the grant of a security interest
therein would invalidate such trademark application, (viii) any
Letter-of-Credit Rights (except to the extent constituting a
Supporting Obligation of other Collateral as to which perfection of
a security interest therein may be accomplished solely by the
filing of a UCC financing statement in the applicable jurisdiction
(it being understood that no actions shall be required to perfect a
security interest in a Letter-of-Credit Rights, other than the
filing of a UCC financing statement)), and (ix) the deposit
account, and all Cash on deposit therein, pledged or assigned as
collateral to East West Bank to secure the Existing EWB Letter of
Credit, and in each case of this clause (aa) other than any
Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of the foregoing (unless
such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements themselves would
constitute assets described in clauses (i) through (ix)
above);
provided
,
in each case, that such assets shall constitute Excluded Property
only if they are not subject to any Lien securing any Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness; and
(bb) (i)
no delivery of certificates or other instruments representing
Equity Interests in any Subsidiaries that are not Material
Subsidiaries shall be required, (ii) other than with respect to the
Escrow Cash Collateral as provided in Section 3.1(r) and the Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account as required by Section
5.16, there shall be no requirement to obtain any control
agreements with respect to any deposit accounts or securities
accounts, (iii) there shall be no requirement to obtain any
landlord waivers, estoppels, collateral access letters or similar
third party agreements and (iv) no security or pledge agreements
governed under the laws of any non-US jurisdiction shall be
required, and no actions in any non-US jurisdiction shall be
required in order to create or perfect any security interest in
assets located or titled outside the United States.
“
Collateral Documents
” means the
Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if any, the
Intellectual Property Security Agreements, the Escrow Cash
Collateral Control Agreement, the Vector Subordinated Note Cash
Collateral Control Agreement, and all other instruments, documents
and agreements delivered by or on behalf of any Credit Party
pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents in
order to grant to, or perfect in favor of, the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a Lien on any property of
such Credit Party as security for the Obligations.
“
Collateral Questionnaire
” means
the Collateral Questionnaire delivered by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 3.1(d).
“
Commitment
” means a Revolving
Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.
“
Commitment Fee Rate
” means, on any
day, (a) with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the applicable
rate per annum set forth below based on the First Lien Net Leverage
Ratio as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which
financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)
or 5.1(b) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered
pursuant to Section 5.1(c), in each case, at least three
Business Days prior to such day,
provided
that, for purposes of
this clause (a), until the third Business Day following the date of
the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(b)
for the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2018, and of the related
Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 5.1(c), the Commitment
Fee Rate shall be determined by reference to Pricing Level 1 in the
table below, and (b) with respect to any Extended/Modified
Commitments or Refinancing Revolving Commitments of any Class, the
rate or rates per annum specified in the applicable
Extension/Modification Agreement or Refinancing Facility
Agreement.
Pricing Level
|
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio
|
Commitment Fee Rate
|
1
|
>
1.70:1.00
|
0.500%
|
2
|
≤
1.70:1.00
|
0.375%
|
Any
increase or decrease in the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from a
change in the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective
as of the third Business Day following the date the financial
statements and the related Compliance Certificate are delivered to
the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b)
and Section 5.1(c);
provided
that if the Borrower
has not delivered to the Administrative Agent any financial
statements or Compliance Certificate required to have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or 5.1(c), from
and after the date such financial statements or Compliance
Certificate were required to have been so delivered the Commitment
Fee Rate shall be determined by reference to Pricing Level 1 in the
table above and shall continue to so apply to and including the
third Business Day following the date such financial statements and
related Compliance Certificate are so delivered (and thereafter the
pricing level otherwise determined in accordance with this
definition shall apply) and (b) as of the first Business Day
after an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or
8.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing, the Commitment Fee
Rate shall be determined by reference to Pricing Level 1 in the
table above, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the
date on which such Event of Default shall cease to be continuing
(and thereafter the pricing level otherwise determined in
accordance with this definition shall apply).
If any
financial statements or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant
to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or 5.1(c) shall prove to have been
inaccurate, and such inaccuracy shall have resulted in the payment
of fees hereunder at lower rates than those that would have been
paid but for such inaccuracy, then (i) the Borrower shall promptly
deliver to the Administrative Agent corrected financial statements
and a corrected Compliance Certificate for such period and (ii) the
Borrower shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Revolving Lenders, the fees that should have been
paid but were not paid as a result of such inaccuracy. Nothing in
this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender under Section 2.9 or 8.
“
Commodity Exchange Act
” means the
Commodity Exchange Act (7 USC. § 1
et
seq
.).
“
Communications Laws
” means (a) the
Communications Act of 1934, (b) the rules and regulations of the
FCC promulgated under Title 47 of the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to
time and decisions, policies, reports and orders issued pursuant to
the adoption of such rules and regulations, (c) the Communications
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, codified at 47 U.S.C.
§1001, et. seq., (d) such other laws of the United States
codified or otherwise included in Title 47 of the U.S. Code as may
be applicable to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries, (e) any other law of any Governmental
Authority with jurisdiction over telecommunications related
matters, including all laws administered by any State PUC, and (f)
the terms and conditions of any License granted or issued to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries.
“
Compliance Certificate
” means a
Compliance 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, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period,
plus
(a)
without duplication
and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to
clause (viii) or (xvii) below, to the extent not already included
in Consolidated Net Income), the sum for the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries of the following amounts for such
period:
(i)
total interest
expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest
expense, any losses on Hedge Agreements entered into for the
purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and
gains on such Hedge Agreements, and bank and letter of credit fees
and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing
activities,
(ii)
provision
for Federal, state and foreign taxes based on income, profits or
capital gains, including in respect of repatriated
funds,
(iii)
depreciation
and amortization, including amortization of intangible assets
established through purchase accounting and amortization of
deferred financing fees or costs, but excluding amortization of any
other prepaid cash expense that was paid and not expensed in a
prior period,
(iv)
non-cash
charges, including impairment charges and any other write-down or
write-off of assets, noncash fair value adjustments of Investments
and noncash stock-based and similar incentive-based compensation
(including with respect to any profits interest relating to
membership interests in any partnership or limited liability
company), but excluding any such noncash charge or loss to the
extent that it represents an amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid and not expensed in a prior period or write-down or
write-off with respect to accounts receivable (including any
addition to bad debt reserves or bad debt expense) or
inventory,
(v)
extraordinary
losses, determined in conformity with GAAP,
(vi)
unusual
or non-recurring charges, including, in each case, to the extent
unusual or non-recurring, operating expenses directly attributable
to the implementation of cost savings initiatives, merger costs,
severance costs, relocation costs, integration and
facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or
completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to
closure/consolidation of facilities, costs associated with tax
projects/audits and costs consisting of professional, consulting or
other fees relating to any of the foregoing;
provided
that the aggregate
amount added back pursuant to this clause (vi) and pursuant to
clauses (vii), (xiii) and, other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test Period shall
not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to
December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test
Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of
each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to
any addback pursuant to this clause (vi) or pursuant to clause
(vii), (viii) or (xiii) of this definition,
(vii)
restructuring
charges, accruals and reserves (including restructuring charges
related to the Merger or to Acquisitions consummated after the
Closing Date);
provided
that the aggregate
amount added back pursuant to this clause (vii) and pursuant to
clauses (vi), (xiii) and, other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test Period shall
not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to December
31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period
and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of each of
clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to any
addback pursuant to this clause (vii) or pursuant to clause (vi),
(viii) or (xiii) of this definition,
(viii)
the
amount of “run rate” net cost savings, operating
expense reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
reasonably projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized
in connection with the Transactions or any other Pro Forma Event or
the implementation of any operational initiative, including the
termination, abandonment or discontinuance of operations and
product lines (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost
savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements
and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable
Test Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during
such period from such actions;
provided
that (A) such
cost savings, operating expense reductions and other operating
improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable, factually
supportable and reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months
after the Closing Date or within 12 months after the consummation
of such other Pro Forma Event or the adoption of such initiative,
as applicable, (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions
and other operating improvements and synergies shall be added
pursuant to this clause (viii) to the extent duplicative of any
items otherwise added in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
whether pursuant to the requirement of Section 1.2(b) or otherwise,
for such period and (C) other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this
clause (viii) and pursuant to clauses (vi), (vii) and (xiii) of
this definition for any Test Period shall not exceed (x) for any
Test Period ending on or prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period and (y) for any
Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
for such Test Period, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y),
calculated prior to giving effect to any addback pursuant to this
clause (viii) or pursuant to clause (vi), (vii) or (xiii) of this
definition,
(ix)
the
amount of any noncontrolling interest consisting of income of any
Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower
attributable to noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in
such Restricted Subsidiary,
(x)
after-tax losses
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business),
(xi)
the
amount of any net losses from discontinued operations, determined
in conformity with GAAP,
(xii)
(A)
transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the Transactions prior to the Closing Date, (B) transaction fees,
costs and expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000
incurred in connection with the Transactions after the Closing Date
but prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date and
(C) transaction fees, costs and expenses in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $1,000,000 incurred on or prior to December
31, 2018 in connection with the Specified Acquisition (whether or
not the Specified Acquisition is consummated),
(xiii)
transaction
fees, costs and expenses incurred during such period, or any
amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any
Acquisition, any Investment (other than intercompany Investments in
the ordinary course of business), any Disposition (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), any incurrence,
repayment or refinancing of Indebtedness (or any amendment or other
modification of any Indebtedness) or any issuance of Equity
Interests, including any such transaction consummated prior to the
Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed;
provided
that the
aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (xiii) and
pursuant to clauses (vi), (vii) and, other than with respect to the
Approved Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test
Period shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior
to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
Test Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of
each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to
any addback pursuant to this clause (xiii) or pursuant to clause
(vi), (vii) or (viii) of this definition,
(xiv)
any
loss attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement,
(xv)
any
unrealized loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB
Accounting Standards Codification 815, as amended,
(xvi)
any
unrealized loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting
from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830,
(xvii)
any
expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or
other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment,
Acquisition or Disposition (other than in the ordinary course of
business) permitted under the Credit Documents or in connection
with any Insurance/Condemnation Event (disregarding the exception
in the definition of such term), including lost profits covered by
business interruption insurance, in each case, to the extent (A)
actually reimbursed by the applicable third party insurer or other
third party during such period or (B) (1) the Borrower has received
notification from the applicable third party insurer or other third
party that it intends to reimburse such expenses, charges or losses
or such lost profits and (2) there exists reasonable evidence that
such expenses, charges or losses or lost profits will in fact be
reimbursed by such insurer or other third party within 270 days
after the related amount is first added to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xvii),
provided
that no amount may be
added pursuant to this clause (xvii) to the extent that (x) such
insurer or other third party shall have denied in writing
reimbursement for such amount and (y) such amount has not actually
been reimbursed within 270 days after it is first added to
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xvii) (with a
deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so
reimbursed within such 270 days),
(xviii)
any
contingent or deferred payments (including earnout payments,
noncompete payments and consulting payments) actually made to
sellers during such period in connection with any Acquisition, and
any losses for such period arising from the remeasurement of the
fair value of any liability recorded with respect to any earnout or
other contingent or deferred consideration arising from any
Acquisition,
less
(b)
without duplication
and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to clause (ix) below,
to the extent not already deducted from Consolidated Net Income),
the sum for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
following amounts for such period:
(i)
non-cash gains or
items of income (other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary
course), excluding any non-cash items of income in respect of which
Cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future
period,
(ii)
extraordinary
gains or items of income, determined in conformity with
GAAP,
(iii)
unusual
or non-recurring gains or items of income,
(iv)
gains
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business),
(v)
the amount of any
net income from discontinued operations, determined in conformity
with GAAP,
(vi)
any
gain attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement,
(vii)
any
unrealized gain attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB
Accounting Standards Codification 815, as amended,
(viii)
any
unrealized gain attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting
from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 830,
and
(ix)
the
amount of any noncontrolling interest consisting of losses of any
Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower
attributable to noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in
such Restricted Subsidiary.
For
purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any
period, if during such period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition or a
Material Disposition, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period
shall be calculated after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto in
accordance with Section 1.2(b).
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, but subject to the immediately preceding paragraph,
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for (A) the Fiscal Quarter ended March
31, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to $37,350,000, (B) the
Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to
$40,745,000, (C) the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2017,
shall be deemed to be equal to $39,783,000 and (D) the Fiscal
Quarter ended December 31, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to
$43,778,000.
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;
provided
that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include any
expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net Proceeds
reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) or (b) that
constitute an Acquisition permitted under Section 6.6;
provided
further
that, except for
purposes of calculating Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any
period, in the event the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall
not include any such expenditures made by any Person, business
unit, division, product line or line of business acquired pursuant
to such Acquisition, in each case, prior to the date of the
consummation of such Acquisition.
“
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
”
means, for any period, an amount equal to:
(a)
the sum, without
duplication, of:
(i)
Consolidated Net
Income for such period;
(ii)
the
aggregate amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation
expense, amortization expense and deferred tax expense), to the
extent deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net
Income;
(iii)
the
sum of (A) the amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working
Capital decreased during such period (except as a result of the
reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice
versa) and (B) the net amount, if any, by which the consolidated
deferred revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
increased during such period, in each case, other than any such
decreases or increases, as applicable, arising from an Acquisition
or from a Disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course
of business) by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries
completed during such period;
(iv)
the
aggregate amount of net non-cash loss on any Disposition of assets
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), to the extent
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income;
(v)
the aggregate
amount of cash payments received in respect of Hedge Agreements
during such period, to the extent not included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income;
(vi)
the
aggregate amount of any non-cash loss for such period attributable
to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements, to
the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income;
(vii)
income
tax expense, to the extent deducted in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income;
minus
(b)
the sum, without
duplication, of:
(i)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at Consolidated
Net Income;
(ii)
without
duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in
any prior period, the Consolidated Capital Expenditures made by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such
period, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources;
(iii)
the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries repaid or prepaid (including, to the extent
of Cash spent, through repurchases and redemptions) by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period
(including (A) the principal component of payments in respect
of Capital Lease Obligations, (B) scheduled Installments of Term
Loans made pursuant to Section 2.11, (C) the amount of any
mandatory prepayment of Term Loans or any Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness actually made with the Net Proceeds of an
Asset Sale or an Insurance/Condemnation Event, in each case, to the
extent such Net Proceeds resulted in an increase to Consolidated
Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, and
(D) to the extent of Cash spent, repurchases by the Borrower of
Term Loans pursuant to Section 10.6(i)(ii), but excluding
(1) all other repayments or prepayments (including repurchases
and redemptions) of Term Loans and Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness, (2) all repayments or prepayments (including
repurchases and redemptions) of any revolving credit loans (other
than in respect of any revolving credit facility to the extent
there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments
thereunder, other than in connection with a refinancing thereof)
and (3) repayments or prepayments (including repurchases and
redemptions) of Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness or any other
Junior Indebtedness (it being understood and agreed that any amount
excluded pursuant to clauses (1) through (3) above may not be
deducted under any other clause of this definition)), except to the
extent financed with Excluded Sources;
(iv)
the
aggregate amount of net non-cash gain on any Disposition of assets
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), to the extent
included in arriving at Consolidated Net Income;
(v)
the sum of (i) the
amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital increased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (ii) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries decreased during such
period, in each case, other than any such increases or decreases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period;
(vi)
the
aggregate amount of any non-cash gain for such period attributable
to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or
other derivative instruments, to the extent included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income;
(vii)
the
aggregate amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term
liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other
than Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources;
(viii)
without
duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in
any prior period, the aggregate amount of Cash paid by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period to consummate
any Acquisition or Investment (other than intercompany Investments)
permitted under Section 6.6(l), 6.6(m) or 6.6(o), except to the
extent financed with Excluded Sources;
(ix)
the
aggregate amount of Restricted Junior Payments permitted by Section
6.4(e), 6.4(g)(i) or 6.4(i) paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash during such period, except to the extent
financed with Excluded Sources;
(x)
the aggregate
amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid
in Cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period that are required to be made in connection with any
prepayment of Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with
Excluded Sources;
(xi)
without
duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in any prior
period, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in Cash by
the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to
binding contracts (the “
Contract Consideration
”)
entered into prior to or during such period relating to
Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures, in each case, to
be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period;
provided
that to
the extent that the aggregate amount of Cash actually utilized to
finance such Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures
during such period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters is less than
the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be
added to the calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow at the
end of such period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters;
(xii)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
directors’ fees (including salary and bonus) and board
consulting fees and related reimbursement of reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
(xiii)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the Transactions or any Acquisition paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
(xiv)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
income taxes, including penalties and interest, paid by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
and
(xv)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, the
aggregate amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Hedge Agreements during such
period.
“
Consolidated First Lien Net Debt
”
means, as of any date, without duplication:
(a) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date that is secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually
subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant
to the Credit Documents), in the amount that would be required to
be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP (but subject to
Section 1.2(a)), consisting solely of Indebtedness for
borrowed money, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes
or similar instruments and purchase money indebtedness,
plus
(b) the
aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date,
plus
(c) to
the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)), the aggregate
amount of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition,
in each case, that are secured by any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are
contractually subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent
created pursuant to the Credit Documents),
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party, in each case that are
secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually subordinated to
the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Credit
Documents),
plus
(e) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date that are secured by any Lien on any
asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
Liens that are contractually subordinated to the Liens of the
Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Credit Documents),
plus
(f) Guarantees
outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a)
through (e) above of any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not such Indebtedness is secured)
if such Guarantees (including letters of credit providing for such
Guarantees) are secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually
subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant
to the Credit Documents),
minus
(g) the
aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date).
“
Consolidated Fixed Charges
” means,
for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period, (b) the aggregate amount of
scheduled principal payments made during such period in respect of
Long-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary),
(c) the aggregate amount of principal payments (other than
scheduled principal payments) made during such period in respect of
Long-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary),
to the extent that such payments reduced any scheduled principal
payments that would have become due within one year after the date
of the applicable payment, (d) the aggregate amount of principal
payments on Capital Lease Obligations, determined in conformity
with GAAP, made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
during such period and (e) Consolidated Capital Expenditures
for such period (except to the extent financed by incurring
Long-Term Indebtedness).
“
Consolidated Interest Expense
”
means, for any period:
(a) the
sum, without duplication, of (i) the total interest expense
(including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease
Obligations) for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period, determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with
GAAP, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and
charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’
acceptance financing and net payments, if any, made (less net
payments, if any, received) pursuant to obligations under Hedge
Agreements in respect of any Indebtedness, and (ii) any interest or
other financing costs becoming payable during such period in
respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary to the extent such interest or other financing costs
shall have been capitalized rather than included in total interest
expense for such period in accordance with GAAP,
minus
(b)
cash interest income of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP,
minus
(c) to
the extent included in clause (a) for such period, the sum, without
duplication, of (i) amortization or write-down of capitalized
interest, deferred financing costs or debt issuance costs,
commissions, fees and expenses, pay-in-kind interest expense, the
amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance
of Indebtedness below par and any other amounts of non-cash
interest (including as a result of the effects of purchase
accounting), (ii) the accretion or accrual of discounted
liabilities during such period, (iii) non-cash interest expense
attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of
obligations under Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments
pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815, (iv) any
one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of Hedge
Agreements for interest rates, (v) all additional interest or
liquidated damages then owing pursuant to any registration rights
agreement and any comparable “additional interest” or
liquidated damages with respect to any securities designed to
compensate the holders thereof for a failure to publicly register
such securities, (vi) any expense resulting from the discounting of
any Indebtedness in connection with the application of
recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting,
(vii) fees and expenses associated with the consummation of the
Transactions and (viii) commitment and other financing fees
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the commitment fees in
respect of the Revolving Commitments).
For
purposes of calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for any
period, if during such period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition (other
than the Transactions) or a Material Disposition, Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving
Pro Forma Effect thereto in accordance with Section
1.2(b).
Notwithstanding the
foregoing (but subject to the immediately preceding paragraph),
Consolidated Interest Expense shall be deemed to be (A) for the
four Fiscal Quarter period ended on the last day of the first
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for such Fiscal Quarter multiplied by four, (B) for the
four Fiscal Quarter period ended on the last day of the second
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for the two Fiscal Quarters then most recently ended
multiplied by two, and (C) for the four Fiscal Quarter period ended
on the last day of the third Fiscal Quarter ending after the
Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense for the three Fiscal
Quarters then most recently ended multiplied by 4/3;
provided
that, in the event the
Closing Date shall have occurred after the first day of the first
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for such Fiscal Quarter shall be deemed, for purposes of
clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, to be Consolidated Interest Expense
for the period from and including the Closing Date to and including
the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, multiplied by a fraction equal
to (x) 90 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from
and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of
such Fiscal Quarter.
“
Consolidated Net Income
” means,
for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP;
provided
that there shall be
excluded, without duplication, (a) the cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principles during such period and (b) the net
income (or loss) of any Person (including any Unrestricted
Subsidiary or any Person accounted for under the equity method of
accounting) that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
except, in the case of net income, to the extent of the amount of
Cash dividends or similar Cash distributions actually paid by such
Person to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such
period.
“
Consolidated Total Assets
” means,
as of any date, the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently
ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior
to the first such delivery, for which financial statements are
included in the Historical Financial Statements), determined on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP, but excluding therefrom
any Escrow Cash Collateral. Consolidated Total Assets as of any
date prior to the Closing Date shall be determined on a Pro Forma
basis to give effect to the Merger and the other Transactions to
occur on the Closing Date.
“
Consolidated Total Debt
” means, as
of any date, without duplication:
(a) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)),
consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and
purchase money indebtedness,
plus
(b) the
aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date,
plus
(c) to
the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)), the aggregate
amount of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition,
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party,
plus
(e) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date,
plus
(f) Guarantees
outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a)
through (e) above of any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
“
Consolidated Total Net Debt
”
means, as of any date, without duplication:
(a) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)),
consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and
purchase money indebtedness,
plus
(b) the
aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date,
plus
(c) to
the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)), the aggregate
amount of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition,
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party,
plus
(e) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date,
plus
(f) Guarantees
outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a)
through (e) above of any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary,
minus
(g) the
aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date);
provided
that, with respect to the calculation of Consolidated Total Net
Debt for purposes of testing the covenant set forth in Section
6.7(a) (including any such testing to determine compliance
therewith on a Pro Forma Basis as required by any other provision
hereof), the aggregate amount of such Unrestricted Cash deducted
pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed
$30,000,000.
“
Consolidated Working Capital
”
means, as of any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all
amounts (other than Cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in
conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption
“total current assets” (or any like caption) on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding all amounts attributable to
Unrestricted Subsidiaries), but excluding, without duplication, (i)
assets relating to current and deferred income taxes and (ii) the
effects from applying purchase accounting,
less
(b) the sum of all
amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite
the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like
caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding all amounts
attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries), excluding, without
duplication, (i) the current portion of any Long-Term
Indebtedness, (ii) all Indebtedness (including letter of
credit obligations) under any revolving credit facility, to the
extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion
of interest, (iv) the current portion of current and deferred
income Taxes, (v) non-cash compensation liabilities and
(vi) the effects from applying purchase
accounting.
“
Consumer/SMB Business
” means the
“Consumer/SMB Business” as defined in the Merger
Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.
“
Contractual Obligation
” means,
with respect to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by
such Person or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract,
undertaking or other agreement or instrument to which such Person
is a party or by which such Person or any of its properties is
bound or to which such Person or any of its properties is
subject.
“
Control
” means, with respect to
any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies, or
the dismissal or appointment of the management, of such Person,
whether through the ability to exercise voting power, the ownership
of Securities, by contract, or otherwise. The words
“Controlling”, “Controlled by” and
“under common Control with” have correlative
meanings.
“
Conversion/Continuation Date
”
means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the
case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation
Notice.
“
Conversion/Continuation Notice
”
means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit D
.
“
Counterpart Agreement
” means a
First Lien Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit E
.
“
Credit Date
” means the date of any
Credit Extension.
“
Credit Document
” means each of
this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement, the Counterpart Agreements, the Extension/Modification
Agreements, the Incremental Facility Agreements, the Refinancing
Facility Agreements, the Permitted Intercreditor Agreements and,
except for purposes of Section 10.5, the Notes, if any, any
documents or certificates executed by the Borrower in favor of any
Issuing Bank relating to Letters of Credit (including any fee
letter relating to the fees payable to such Issuing Bank pursuant
to Section 2.10(b)), the Collateral Questionnaire and all other
documents, certificates, instruments or agreements executed and
delivered by or on behalf of any Credit Party for the benefit of
any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection herewith on
or after the date hereof and which are designated as “Credit
Documents” pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent.
“
Credit Extension
” means the making
of a Loan or the issuance, amendment (if increasing the face amount
thereof) or extension of a Letter of Credit.
“
Credit Parties
” means the Borrower
and the Guarantor Subsidiaries.
“
Debtor Relief Laws
” means the
Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship,
bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
arrangement (including under corporate statutes), rearrangement,
receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief
laws of the United States of America or other applicable
jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“
Declined Mandatory Prepayment Retained
Amount
” means any portion of the amount of any
mandatory prepayment of Loans required pursuant to Section 2.13(a),
2.13(b) or 2.13(e) that has been declined by the Lenders in
accordance with Section 2.14(c), but only to the extent retained by
the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.14(c).
“
Default
” means a condition or
event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
an Event of Default.
“
Defaulting Lender
” means, subject
to Section 2.21(b), any Lender that (a) has failed (i) to 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 good
faith in writing that such failure is the result of such
Lender’s 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) to pay to the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any
Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder
(including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit)
within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank in writing
that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations
hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless
such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s
obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position
is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition
precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with 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) is, or a direct or indirect parent
company of such Lender is, (i) the subject of a Bail-In
Action, (ii) 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 or (iii) the subject of a proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Laws, or a receiver, trustee, conservator,
intervenor or sequestrator or the like (including the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal
regulatory authority acting in a like capacity with respect to such
Lender) has been appointed for such Lender or its direct or
indirect parent company, or such Lender or its direct or indirect
parent company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating
its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or
appointment;
provided
that a Lender shall
not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or
acquisition of any Equity Interest in such Lender or any direct or
indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long
as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such
Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the
United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of
attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such
Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm
any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any
determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a
Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d)
above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and
such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to
Section 2.21(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such
determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and each
Lender.
“
Designated Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, including the Acquired
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (a) any
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, (c) any
Subsidiary of a CFC or CFC Holding Company, (d) any Subsidiary
that is not a Material Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary that is
prohibited by applicable law or, in the case of any Subsidiary
acquired after the Closing Date, any Contractual Obligation in
effect at the time such Subsidiary is acquired (and not entered
into in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition)
from providing an Obligations Guarantee (including any such
prohibition arising from any requirement to obtain a consent,
approval (including regulatory approval), license or authorization
of any Governmental Authority that has not been obtained in order
to provide such Obligations Guarantee);
provided
that to the extent any
such consent, approval, license or authorization is required from
the FCC or any State PUC, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts (including
by making all applicable filings and submitting all applicable
notices) to obtain the same promptly after such Restricted
Subsidiary is otherwise required to become a Designated Subsidiary,
(f) any captive insurance company, (g) any not-for-profit
Subsidiary or (h) any Subsidiary where the burden or cost of
providing an Obligations Guarantee by such Subsidiary is excessive
in relation to the benefit that would be afforded to the Lenders
thereby, as determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation
with the Borrower;
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Subsidiary shall be a Designated Subsidiary if
such Subsidiary shall be an obligor (including pursuant to a
Guarantee) in respect of any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness,
any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, any
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness or any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither
Primus Management ULC, a British Columbia unlimited liability
company, nor Bircan Management ULC, a British Columbia unlimited
liability company, shall be a “Designated Subsidiary”
unless so designated by the Borrower in writing to the
Administrative Agent.
“
Disposition
” means any sale,
transfer, lease or other disposition (including any sale or
issuance of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary) of any property by
any Person, including any sale, transfer or other disposition, with
or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any
rights and claims associated therewith. “
Dispose
” has the meaning
correlative thereto.
“
Disqualified Equity Interest
”
means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such
Person 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, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder
thereof), or upon the occurrence of any event or condition,
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely
for Equity Interests in such Person that are not Disqualified
Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of fractional shares of such
Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or
otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that
do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of
fractional shares of such Equity Interests), in whole or in part,
or is required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder
thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that
do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of
fractional shares of such Equity Interests) or (c) is or becomes
convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily or at the
option of the holder thereof, Indebtedness or any other Equity
Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person
that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in
lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), in each case,
prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest Maturity Date
(determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of
any such Equity Interests outstanding on the date hereof, the date
hereof), except, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), as a result of
a “change of control” or “asset sale”, so
long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of
such a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the
prior payment in full of all Obligations described in clause (a) of
the definition of “Obligations”, the cancelation or
expiration of all Letters of Credit and the termination of the
Commitments;
provided
that an Equity
Interest in any Person that is issued to any employee or to any
plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such
employees shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest
solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person
or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory
or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s
termination, death or disability;
provided
further
that the Closing Date
Preferred Stock shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity
Interest.
“
Disqualified Institution
” means
(a) such competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as have
been identified by name in writing by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent from time to time and (b) any Affiliate of any
such Person identified pursuant to clause (a) above (i) that
has been identified by name in writing by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent from time to time or (ii) where such
Affiliate’s relationship to such Person is readily apparent
on its face on the basis of the name of such Affiliate, in each
case under this clause (b), other than any such Affiliate that is a
bona fide fixed income investor or debt fund that is engaged in the
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial
loans, bonds or similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course
of business;
provided
that no Person shall
be a Disqualified Institution until the date on which the list of
Disqualified Institutions that have been so identified by name
pursuant to this definition shall have been made available to the
Lenders on the Platform. It is understood and agreed that any
identification by the Borrower pursuant to this definition shall
not apply retroactively to disqualify any assignment or
participation to any Person that shall have become a Lender or a
participant prior thereto (but that no further assignments or
delegations to, or sales of participations by, may be made to any
such Person thereafter and such Person shall thereafter for all
other purposes be a Disqualified Institution). The Administrative
Agent will promptly make such list available on the Platform upon
the written request of the Borrower that it do so. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the parties
hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall
not have any duty to ascertain, monitor or enforce compliance with
the list of Disqualified Institutions and shall not have any
liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a
Disqualified Institution.
“
Dollars
” and the sign
“
$
” mean the
lawful money of the United States of America.
“
Domestic Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia.
“
EEA Financial Institution
” means
(a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any
EEA Member Country that is subject to the supervision of an EEA
Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member
Country that is a parent of an institution described in clause (a)
above, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA
Member Country that is a subsidiary of an institution described in
clause (a) or (b) above 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 (a) any
Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Related Fund (any two
or more Related Funds of any Lender being treated as a single
Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereof) and (b) any
commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or
other Person that is an “accredited investor” (as
defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and that
extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of business;
provided
that in no
event shall any natural person (or any holding company, investment
vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit
of, a natural person), any Defaulting Lender, any Disqualified
Institution, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of
the Borrower be an Eligible Assignee.
“
Employee Benefit Plan
” means any
of (a) an “employee benefit plan”, as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Parts II, III or IV of
Title I of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA and that is or was sponsored,
maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to
by, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates, (b) a “plan” as defined in
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”, in
each case, other than a Foreign Plan.
“
Engagement Letter
”
means the Engagement Letter dated
February 13, 2018, among Goldman Sachs Bank USA, MSSF, The Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and the Borrower.
“
Environmental Laws
” means all
applicable laws (including common law), statutes, ordinances,
orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations
or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to
pollution or to the protection of the environment, natural
resources, threatened or endangered species or human health and
safety.
“
Environmental Liability
” means all
liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits,
judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs,
(including administrative oversight costs, natural resource
damages, monitoring and remediation costs and reasonable fees and
expenses of attorneys and consultants), whether contingent or
otherwise, arising out of or relating to: (a) compliance
or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the
generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment,
recycling, disposal (or arrangement for such activities) of any
Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials,
(d) the presence or Release of any Hazardous Materials or
(e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement
pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to
any of the foregoing.
“
Equity Interests
” means any and
all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however
designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all
equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a
corporation), including partnership interests and membership
interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase
or acquire any of the foregoing (other than, prior to the date of
such conversion, Indebtedness that is convertible into any such
Equity Interests).
“
ERISA
” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“
ERISA Affiliate
” means, with
respect to any Person, (a) any corporation that is a member of
a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section
414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which such Person is a
member, (b) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
that is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common
control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of which such Person is a member and (c) any member of
an affiliated service group within the meaning of
Section 414(m) or 414(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which
such Person, any corporation described in clause (a) above or any
trade or business described in clause (b) above is a member. Any
Person that was, but has since ceased to be, an ERISA Affiliate
(within the meaning of the previous sentence) of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary shall continue to be considered an ERISA
Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary within the
meaning of this definition with respect to the period such Person
was an ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities arising after such
period for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could
be liable under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.
“
ERISA Event
” means (a) the
occurrence of a “reportable event” within the meaning
of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with
respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the
provision for 30 day notice to the PBGC has been waived by
regulation), (b) the failure of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates to meet the
minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue
Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan
(whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a
required installment under Section 430(j) of the Internal Revenue
Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure of the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates to make any required contribution to a
Multiemployer Plan, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an
application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with
respect to any Pension Plan, (d) the provision by the administrator
of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a
notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination
described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA, (e) the withdrawal by the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more
contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan
resulting in liability to the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary
or any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or
4064 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a
“substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA, (f) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate any Pension Plan, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Pension Plan, (g) the incurrence by the Borrower,
any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or
partial withdrawal from any Pension Plan, (h) the imposition of
liability on the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or
4069 of ERISA, (i) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a
complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203
and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any
liability therefor, (j) the receipt by the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice
from any Multiemployer Plan (i) that such Multiemployer Plan is in
insolvency pursuant to Section 4245 of ERISA, (ii) that such
Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered” or
“critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of
the Internal Revenue Code or Section 305 of ERISA) or (iii) that
such Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate or has terminated
under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA, (k) a determination that any
Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (as defined in
Section 430(i)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 303(i)(4)
of ERISA) with respect to any plan year, (l) the occurrence of an
act or omission that could reasonably be expected to give rise to
the imposition on the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or
related charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or
under Section 409, Section 502(c), 502(i) or 502(l), or Section
4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan, (m) the
assertion of a claim (other than routine claims for benefits)
against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan
or the assets thereof, or against the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in
connection with any Employee Benefit Plan, (n) receipt from the IRS
of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee
Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of
any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, (o) the imposition of
a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or
Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the
Internal Revenue Code or (p) the occurrence of a non-exempt
“prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 4975 of
the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to
which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates is a “disqualified person”
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code)
or a “party in interest” (within the meaning of Section
406 of ERISA).
“
Escrow Cash Amount
” means
$62,000,000.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral
” means Cash
proceeds from the borrowing of the Tranche B Term Borrowings in an
aggregate amount equal to the Escrow Cash Amount that has been
deposited into the Escrow Cash Collateral Account, together with
any interest or profits thereon.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Account
” as
defined in Section 3.1(r).
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement
” as defined in Section 3.1(r).
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Outside
Date
” as defined in Section 2.13(d).
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Termination
Date
” as defined in Section 2.13(d).
“
Escrow Cash Release Conditions
”
means:
(a) (i)
the Arrangers shall have received a copy of the definitive
Specified Acquisition Agreement, together with all closing
deliverables thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower as complete and correct; (ii) the Specified Acquisition
shall have been (or substantially concurrently with the release of
the Escrow Cash Collateral from the Escrow Cash Collateral Account
shall be) consummated in accordance with and on the terms set forth
in the draft of the Specified Acquisition Agreement provided to the
Arrangers via email at 5:43 p.m. (New York City time) on
May 1, 2018, and without giving effect to amendments,
supplements, waivers or other modifications to (including any
consents under) the Specified Acquisition Agreement from the draft
so provided to the Arrangers that are adverse in any material
respect to the Lenders and that have not been approved by the
Arrangers (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed
or conditioned) (it being understood and agreed that any increase
in or reduction of the purchase price in respect of the Specified
Acquisition (other than in accordance with the terms of the draft
Specified Acquisition Agreement so provided to the Arrangers
(including, without limitation, working capital adjustments)) will,
in each case, be deemed to be adverse in a material respect to the
Lenders;
provided
that (A) any such increase, when taken together with all prior such
increases, of 5.0% or less in the purchase price in respect of the
Specified Acquisition from the amount set forth in the draft
Specified Acquisition Agreement so provided to the Arrangers will
be deemed not to be adverse in a material respect to the Lenders so
long as such increase is in the form of Equity Interests in the
Borrower (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests) or is
funded with the Net Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied)
by the Borrower after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date
of consummation of the Specified Acquisition from any issuance and
sale of Equity Interests in the Borrower (other than any
Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Equity Interests
issued or sold to any Subsidiary of the Borrower) and (B) any
such decrease, when taken together with all prior such decreases,
of 5.0% or less in the purchase price in respect of the Specified
Acquisition from the amount set forth in the draft Specified
Acquisition Agreement so provided to the Arrangers will be deemed
not to be adverse in a material respect to the Lenders); and (iii)
not less than $10,000,000 of the consideration for the Specified
Acquisition shall have been funded with Equity Interests in the
Borrower (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests) or the Net
Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower after
the Closing Date but on or prior to the date of consummation of the
Specified Acquisition from any issuance and sale of Equity
Interests in the Borrower (other than any Disqualified Equity
Interests and other than any Equity Interests issued or sold to any
Subsidiary of the Borrower);
(b) (i)
since January 1, 2017, no event or events shall have occurred that
have had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in
the Specified Acquisition Agreement provided to the Arrangers as
described in clause (a)(ii) above); and (ii) the Specified
Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct as
and to the extent required by the definition of such
term;
(c) if
requested by the Arrangers, the Arrangers shall have received (i)
solely to the extent available to the Borrower, (A) audited
consolidated financial statements of the Person to be acquired
pursuant to the Specified Acquisition and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the fiscal year most recently ended at least 90
days prior to the date of consummation of the Specified Acquisition
(and the related audit report) and (B) unaudited consolidated
financial statements of the Person to be acquired pursuant to the
Specified Acquisition and its consolidated Subsidiaries for each
subsequent fiscal quarter ended at least 45 days prior to the date
of consummation of the Specified Acquisition, and (ii) a customary
pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma
consolidated statement of operations of the Borrower, as of the end
of or for the latest period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ended at least 45 days prior to the date of consummation of the
Specified Acquisition (90 days prior to the date of consummation of
the Specified Acquisition in the case the last such fiscal quarter
is the fourth fiscal quarter of the fiscal year), prepared after
giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Specified
Acquisition Agreement and this Agreement in respect of the
Specified Acquisition as if they had occurred as of the end of such
period (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of
such period (in the case of such statement of operations);
and
(d) at
least five days prior to the date of consummation of the Specified
Acquisition, the Lenders shall have received all documentation and
other information with respect to the Person to be acquired
pursuant to the Specified Acquisition and its Subsidiaries required
by bank regulatory authorities under applicable
“know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules
and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.
“
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.
“
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans.
“
Eurodollar Rate Loan
” means a Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate.
“
Event of Default
” means any
condition or event set forth in Section 8.1.
“
Exchange Act
” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
“
Excluded Property
” as defined in
the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement”.
“
Excluded Sources
” means the
proceeds of any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness by, or the
issuance of any Equity Interests by, or the making of capital
contributions to, the Borrower or any of the Restricted
Subsidiaries, the proceeds of any Disposition outside the ordinary
course of business and any other proceeds not included in
Consolidated Net Income.
“
Excluded Swap Obligation
” means,
with respect to any Guarantor at any time, any obligation (a
“
Swap
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,
if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of
such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security
interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof)
is illegal at such time 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 Guarantor’s failure for any reason
to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as
defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time such guarantee or
grant of a security interest becomes effective with respect to such
related Swap Obligation.
“
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, US 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
requested by the Borrower under Section 2.22) or (ii) such Lender
changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that,
pursuant to Section 2.19, amounts with respect to such Taxes were
payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before
such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or
Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its
lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s
failure to comply with Section 2.19(g) and (d) any US federal
withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“
Existing Debt Documents
” means (a)
the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2016, as amended,
among Fusion NBS Acquisition Corp., East West Bank, as
Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, an Issuing Bank and a
Lender, and the other lenders party thereto, (b) the Fifth Amended
and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement and Security Agreement,
dated as of November 14, 2016, as amended, among Fusion NBS
Acquisition Corp., the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower
guarantors thereto, Praesidian Capital Opportunity Fund III, LP, as
Agent, and the lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Second
Amended and Restated Unsecured Promissory Note, dated November 14,
2016, payable by the Borrower to Marvin Rosen and (d) the Credit
Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2014, as amended, among the
Acquired Company, Birch Communications, Inc., Cbeyond, Inc., the
other guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and PNC
Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.
“
Existing EWB Letter of Credit
”
means the Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No. 17OSL03973
in the amount of $450,000 issued on August 23, 2017 by East West
Bank.
“
Existing Subordinated Notes
” means
the subordinated notes, each dated October 28, 2016, as amended and
restated as of May 4, 2018, in favor of Holcombe T. Green, Jr., R.
Kirby Godsey and the Holcombe T. Green, Jr. 2013 Five-Year Annuity
Trust.
“
Extended/Modified
Commitments
”
as defined in the definition of
“Extension/Modification Permitted
Amendment”.
“
Extended/Modified Loans
” as
defined in the definition of “Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment”.
“
Extended/Modified Term Loans
” as
defined in the definition of “Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment”.
“
Extended/Modified Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means, with respect to Extended/Modified Term
Loans of any Class, the scheduled date on which such
Extended/Modified Term Loans shall become due and payable in full
hereunder, as specified in the applicable Extension/Modification
Agreement.
“
Extending/Modifying Lenders
” as
defined in Section 2.24(a).
“
Extension/Modification Agreement
”
means an Extension/Modification Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more
Extending/Modifying Lenders, effecting one or more
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments and such other
amendments hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are
contemplated by Section 2.24.
“
Extension/Modification Offer
” as
defined in Section 2.24(a).
“
Extension/Modification Permitted
Amendment
” means an amendment to this Agreement and
the other Credit Documents, effected in connection with an
Extension/Modification Offer pursuant to Section 2.24, providing
for (a) an extension of the Maturity Date and/or (b) an
increase or decrease in the yield (including any increase or
decrease in, or an introduction of, interest margins, benchmark
rate floors, fixed interest rates or fees or premiums), in each
case, applicable to the Loans and/or Commitments of the
Extending/Modifying Lenders of the applicable
Extension/Modification Request Class (such Loans or Commitments
being referred to as the “
Extended/Modified Loans
” or
“
Extended/Modified
Commitments
”, as applicable) and, in connection
therewith:
(i) in
the case of any Extended/Modified Loans that are Term Loans of any
Class (such Extended/Modified Loans being referred to as the
“
Extended/Modified Term
Loans
”), any modification of the scheduled
amortization applicable thereto,
provided
that the weighted
average life to maturity of such Extended/Modified Term Loans shall
be no shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity
of the Term Loans of the applicable Extension/Modification Request
Class, determined at the time of such Extension/Modification Offer
(and, for purposes of determining the weighted average life to
maturity of any such Term Loans, the effects of any prepayments
made prior to the date of the determination shall be
disregarded),
(ii) a
modification of voluntary or mandatory prepayments applicable to
such Extended/Modified Term Loans (including prepayment premiums,
“no call” terms and other restrictions thereon),
provided
that in
the case of any Extended/Modified Term Loans, such requirements may
provide that such Extended/Modified Term Loans may participate in
any mandatory prepayments on a pro rata basis (or on a basis that
is less than pro rata) with the Term Loans of the applicable
Extension/Modification Request Class, but may not provide for
mandatory prepayment requirements that are more favorable than
those applicable to the Term Loans of the applicable
Extension/Modification Request Class, and/or
(iii) any
addition of any affirmative or negative covenants applicable to the
Borrower and/or any Subsidiary,
provided
that to the extent
such covenants are not consistent with those applicable to the
Loans or Commitments of the applicable Extension/Modification
Request Class, such differences shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Administrative Agent (except for covenants (A) beneficial
to the Lenders where this Agreement is amended to include such
covenants for the benefit of all Lenders (or, in the case of
Extended/Modified Term Loans that are TLA Term Loans, all Lenders
holding TLA Term Loans or Revolving Commitments) or (B) applicable
only to periods after the latest Maturity Date in effect at the
time of effectiveness of the applicable Extension/Modification
Agreement).
“
Extension/Modification Request
Class
” as defined in
Section 2.24(a).
“
Facility
” means any real property
(including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located
thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or
used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective predecessors or Affiliates.
“
Fair Share
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
Fair Share Contribution Amount
” as
defined in Section 7.2(b).
“
FATCA
”
means Sections 1471 through 1474
of the Internal Revenue Code, effective as of the date hereof (or
any amended or successor version that is 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 Internal Revenue Code and any
fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted
pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention
among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of
the Internal Revenue Code.
“
FCC
” means the Federal
Communications Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to the functions thereof.
“
Federal Funds Effective Rate
”
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System on such day, as published by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next
succeeding such day;
provided
that (a) if such day
is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such
day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding
Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day,
and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding
Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall
be the average rate quoted to the Administrative Agent on such day
on such transactions by major financial institutions selected by
the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Federal Funds Effective Rate, determined as above, would otherwise
be less than zero, then the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be
deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement.
“
Fee Letters
” means (a) the Fee
Letter, dated April 30, 2018, between Goldman Sachs and the
Borrower, (b) the Amended and Restated Arranger Fee Letter, dated
May 4, 2018, among Goldman Sachs, MSSF, MUFG and the Borrower, (c)
the Administrative Agent Fee Letter and (d) the Vector Letter,
dated May 4, 2018, between Vector SPV and the
Borrower.
“
Financial Officer Certification
”
means (a) with respect to any consolidated financial statements of
any Person, a certificate of the chief financial officer of such
Person stating that such financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of such
Person and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the
consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for
the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial
statements), subject to changes resulting from normal year-end
audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (b) with
respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement, a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower stating
that such reconciliation statement accurately reflects all
adjustments necessary to treat the Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if
they were not consolidated with the Borrower and to otherwise
eliminate all accounts of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries and
reflects no other adjustment from the related GAAP financial
statement (except as otherwise disclosed in such reconciliation
statement).
“
Financing Transactions
” means
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by each Credit
Party of the Credit Documents to which it is to be a party, the
creation of the Liens provided for in the Collateral Documents and,
in the case of the Borrower, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the
proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder
and (b) the execution, delivery and performance by each Credit
Party of the Second Lien Credit Documents to which it is to be a
party, the creation of the Liens provided for in the Second Lien
Credit Documents and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowing of
the loans under the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the use of the
proceeds thereof.
“
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio
”
means the ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net
Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended on
such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal
Quarter, most recently prior to such date).
“
Fiscal Quarter
” means a fiscal
quarter of any Fiscal Year.
“
Fiscal Year
” means the fiscal year
of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each
calendar year.
“
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
” means
the ratio, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive
Fiscal Quarters, of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such
period.
“
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
Covenant
” means the covenant of the Borrower set forth
in Section 6.7(c).
“
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant
Period
” means the period commencing on the Closing
Date and terminating on the first date on which the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans shall be
zero.
“
Flood Hazard Property
” means any
Real Estate Asset subject to a Mortgage or required pursuant to the
terms hereof to become subject to a Mortgage in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and
located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.
“
Flood Certificate
” means a life of
loan “Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form” of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“
Flood Program
”
means the National Flood Insurance
Program created by the US Congress pursuant to (a) the National
Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as now or hereafter in effect or any
successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of
1973, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute
thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, as
now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (d)
the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, as now or hereafter in
effect or any successor statute thereto and (e) the Biggert-Waters
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, as now or hereafter in effect
or any successor statute thereto, including any and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“
Flood Zone
”
means areas having special flood
hazards as described in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,
as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute
thereto.
“
Foreign Lender
” means a Lender
that is not a US Person.
“
Foreign Plan
” means any plan that
would be an Employee Benefit Plan but for the fact that is not
subject to United States law and that is maintained or contributed
to by the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or, to the extent
that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have liability
with respect to such Pension Plan, any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates for or on behalf of its employees whose principal place
of employment is outside of the United States.
“
Foreign Plan Event
” means, with
respect to any Foreign Plan, (a) the failure to make or, if
applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices,
any employer or employee contributions required by applicable laws
or by the terms of such Foreign Plan, (b) the existence of
unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any
applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted
absent a waiver from the applicable Governmental Authority, (c) the
receipt of a notice from a Governmental Authority relating to the
intention to terminate any such Foreign Plan, or alleging the
insolvency of any such Foreign Plan, or alleging the insolvency of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that sponsors,
contributes to or participates in such Foreign Plan, (d) the
initiation of any action or filing by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to voluntarily terminate or wind up in whole
or in part any Foreign Plan where any such Foreign Plan is not
fully funded and that would result in the incurrence of a liability
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (e) the incurrence of
liability by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under
applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of
such Foreign Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any
participating employer therein, (f) the failure to timely register
or loss of good standing with applicable Governmental Authorities
of any such Foreign Plan required to be so registered or maintain
such standing if such failure to register or loss of such standing
would result in the incurrence of a liability by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary or (g) the failure of any Foreign Plan to
comply with any material provisions of applicable laws or with the
material terms of such Foreign Plan if such failure would result in
the incurrence of a liability by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary.
“
Foreign Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“
Fronting Exposure
” means, at any
time there is a Revolving Lender that is a Defaulting Lender, with
respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s
applicable Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Usage
attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank,
other than any portion of such Pro Rata Share that has been
reallocated to other Revolving Lenders in accordance with the terms
of Section 2.21(a)(iii) or Cash Collateralized in accordance with
the terms hereof.
“
Funding Notice
” means a notice
substantially in the form of
Exhibit F
.
“
Fusion Global Arrangement
” means
the “Fusion Global Arrangement” as defined in the
Merger Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.
“
GAAP
” means, at any time, subject
to Section 1.2(a), United States generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect at such time, applied in accordance with
the consistency requirements thereof.
“
Goldman Sachs
” means Goldman Sachs
Lending Partners LLC.
“
Governmental Act
” means any act or
omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de
jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.
“
Governmental Authority
” means any
federal, state, municipal, national, supranational or other
government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof
or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether
associated with the United States of America, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia or a foreign entity or government
(including any supra-national body exercising such powers or
functions, such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“
Governmental Authorization
” means
any permit, license, registration, approval, exemption,
authorization, plan, directive, binding agreement, consent order or
consent decree made to, or issued, promulgated or entered into by
or with, any Governmental Authority.
“
Guarantee
” of or by any Person
(the “
guarantor
”) means any obligation,
contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation of any other Person (the “
primary obligor
”) in any manner,
whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or
supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment
thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, Securities or
services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness
or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain
working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the
primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d)
as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of
guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation;
provided
that the
term “Guarantee” shall not include (i) endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (ii)
customary indemnity obligations entered into in connection with any
Acquisition or any Disposition permitted hereunder (other than any
such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount, as of
any date of determination, of any Guarantee shall be the principal
amount outstanding on such date of Indebtedness or other obligation
guaranteed thereby (or, in the case of (A) any Guarantee the terms
of which limit the monetary exposure of the guarantor or (B) any
Guarantee of an obligation that does not have a principal amount,
the maximum monetary exposure as of such date of the guarantor
under such Guarantee (as determined, in the case of clause (A),
pursuant to such terms or, in the case of clause (B), reasonably
and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower)).
“
Guarantor Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto as a
“Guarantor” and a party to the Pledge and Security
Agreement as a “Grantor” thereunder.
“
Guarantors
” means each Guarantor
Subsidiary;
provided
that the term
“Guarantors” shall also include the Borrower solely for
purposes of the Guarantee of Obligations of the other Credit
Parties pursuant to Section 7.
“
Hazardous Materials
” means any
petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes,
asbestos in any form, polychlorinated biphenyls, hazardous or toxic
substances and any other chemical, material, waste or substance
that is prohibited, limited or regulated, or that could result in
liability, under any Environmental Law.
“
Hedge Agreement
” means any
agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative
transaction, or any option or similar agreement, involving, or
settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies,
commodities, prices of equity or debt securities or instruments, or
economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic,
financial or pricing risk or value, or any similar transaction or
combination of the foregoing transactions;
provided
that no phantom stock,
stock option, stock appreciation right or similar plan or right
providing for payments only on account of services provided by
current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of
the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedge
Agreement.
“
Highest Lawful Rate
” means the
maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time
to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws
applicable to any Lender that are presently in effect or, to the
extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws that may
hereafter be in effect and that allow a higher maximum nonusurious
interest rate than applicable laws now allow.
“
Historical Acquired Company Financial
Statements
” means the audited consolidated balance
sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash
flows, in each case prepared in conformity with GAAP, of the
Acquired Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2017.
“
Historical Borrower Financial
Statements
” means the audited consolidated balance
sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, changes
in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, in each case prepared
in conformity with GAAP, of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31,
2017.
“
Incremental Amount
” means, as of
any date of determination, an amount not in excess of (a) (i) the
sum of (A) $50,000,000 and (B) the aggregate principal amount of
Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans prepaid prior to
such date pursuant to Section 2.12(a) and the aggregate amount of
reductions of the Revolving Commitments made, prior to such date,
pursuant to Section 2.12(b), in each case, to the extent not
financed with the proceeds of any Long-Term Indebtedness and
excluding any such reduction in connection with a refinancing
thereof (and, in each case, excluding any prepayments or reductions
thereof in excess of the amount thereof outstanding as of the
Closing Date (
less
the aggregate principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans prepaid
pursuant to Section 2.13(d)) or incurred in reliance on this
clause (a)),
minus
(ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of Incremental
Commitments established prior to such date in reliance on this
clause (a), (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness incurred prior to such date in
reliance on this clause (a) and (C) the aggregate principal amount
of any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness incurred in reliance on
clause (a)(i)(A) of the definition of “Incremental
Amount” under the Second Lien Credit Agreement (or any
comparable successor provision) (the amounts available on such date
under this clause (a) above being referred to as the
“
Unrestricted Incremental
Amount
”),
plus
(b) an additional amount
so long as, in the case of this clause (b), after giving Pro Forma
Effect to the incurrence of Indebtedness with respect to which the
Incremental Amount is being determined and the use of proceeds
thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds of such Indebtedness
(and any other Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently
therewith), and assuming, solely for purposes of this
determination, that the entire amount of the Incremental
Commitments with respect to which the Incremental Amount is being
determined are fully funded as Loans), (i) in the case of the
establishment of any Incremental Commitments or the incurrence of
any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness that is Permitted
Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio,
determined as of the last day of the Test Period most recently
ended on or prior to such date, shall not exceed 3.20:1.00 (the
“
First Lien Incremental
Leverage Limit
”), (ii) in the case of the incurrence
of any other Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, the
Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of the Test
Period most recently ended on or prior to such date, shall not
exceed 3.65:1.00 (the “
Total
Incremental Leverage Limit
”) and (iii) the
Borrower shall be in compliance with Sections 6.7(a) and,
during the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, 6.7(c),
determined as of the last day of or for, as applicable, the Test
Period most recently ended on or prior to such date;
provided
that (I) if, for
purposes of determining capacity under clause (b) above, Pro
Forma Effect is given to the entire committed amount of any
Indebtedness with respect to which the Incremental Amount is being
determined, such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed and
reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without any
further testing under this definition (
provided
that such committed
amount shall, solely for purposes of calculating availability under
clause (b) above, at all times thereafter be deemed to be
fully funded as Indebtedness for borrowed money), (II) in the
case of any Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred concurrently in
reliance on the Unrestricted Incremental Amount and in reliance on
clause (b) above, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or the Total
Net Leverage Ratio, as the case may be, shall be permitted to
exceed the First Lien Incremental Leverage Limit or the Total
Incremental Leverage Limit, as applicable, to the extent of the
amounts of such Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred in reliance on the
Unrestricted Incremental Amount, (III) in the case of any
Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness established or incurred in reliance on clause (b)
above, any Revolving Loans incurred concurrently therewith or any
other Indebtedness incurred concurrently therewith pursuant to and
in accordance with any clause of Section 6.1 that does not require
observance of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net
Leverage Ratio shall, solely in the case of
subclauses (i) and (ii) of clause (b) above, be
disregarded for purposes of calculating the First Lien Net Leverage
Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, under such
subclauses of clause (b) above, (IV) in the case of any
Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred in reliance on
clause (b) above, to the extent the proceeds thereof are intended
to be applied to finance a Limited Conditionality Transaction, at
the election of the Borrower, Pro Forma Compliance with the First
Lien Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as
applicable, and Sections 6.7(a) and, during the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, 6.7(c) as required under clause (b)
above (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, actual compliance with
Section 6.7(a) or, during the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant
Period, 6.7(c)) may be tested in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.5, and (V) any Incremental Commitments and Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness may be established or incurred
in reliance on clause (a) or (b) above regardless of whether
there is capacity under any such other clause above, or may be
established or incurred in reliance in part on clause (a) or (b)
above and in part on any such other clause above, all as determined
by the Borrower in its sole discretion,
provided
that absent an
election by the Borrower, to the extent that the applicable
requirements have been satisfied, such incurrence shall be deemed
to have been made pursuant to clause (b) above.
“
Incremental Commitment
” means an
Incremental Revolving Commitment or an Incremental Term Loan
Commitment.
“
Incremental Facility Agreement
”
means an Incremental Facility Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Incremental
Lenders, establishing Incremental Commitments of any Class,
specifying the purposes for which the proceeds of the Loans made
pursuant thereto will be used and effecting such other amendments
hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are contemplated by
Section 2.23.
“
Incremental Lender
” means an
Incremental Revolving Lender or an Incremental Term
Lender.
“
Incremental Revolving Commitment
”
means, with respect to any Lender, the commitment, if any, of such
Lender, established pursuant to an Incremental Facility Agreement
and Section 2.23, to make Revolving Loans and to acquire
participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an
amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such
Lender’s Revolving Exposure under such Incremental Facility
Agreement.
“
Incremental Revolving Lender
”
means a Lender with an Incremental Revolving
Commitment.
“
Incremental Term Borrowing
” means
a Borrowing comprised of Incremental Term Loans of a single
Class.
“
Incremental Term Lender
” means a
Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an Incremental
Term Loan.
“
Incremental Term Loan
” means a
term loan made by an Incremental Term Lender to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.23.
“
Incremental Term Loan Commitment
”
means, with respect to any Lender, the commitment, if any, of such
Lender, established pursuant to an Incremental Facility Agreement
and Section 2.23, to make Incremental Term Loans of any Class
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum
principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans of such Class to be
made by such Lender, subject to any increase or reduction pursuant
to the terms and conditions hereof. The initial amount of each
Lender’s Incremental Term Loan Commitment of any Class, if
any, is set forth in the Incremental Facility Agreement or
Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Lender shall have
established or assumed its Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such
Class.
“
Incremental Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means, with respect to Incremental Term Loans of
any Class, the scheduled date on which such Incremental Term Loans
shall become due and payable in full hereunder, as specified in the
applicable Incremental Facility Agreement.
“
Incremental Tranche A Term Loans
”
means Incremental Term Loans that have scheduled amortization of
5.00% or more per annum, a final maturity of five years or less
from the date of incurrence and are primarily syndicated to or
otherwise provided by commercial banks (as reasonably determined by
the Borrower in good faith).
“
incur
” means to create, incur,
assume or, in the case of any Indebtedness, otherwise become liable
with respect to such Indebtedness.
“
Indebtedness
” means, with respect
to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of
such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under
conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to
property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all
obligations of such Person in respect of deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred
compensation payable to directors, officers, employees or
consultants of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and
(iii) purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred in connection
with any Acquisition, except to the extent that the amount payable
pursuant to such purchase price adjustment, earnout, deferred
compensation or similar arrangement is reflected on such
Person’s consolidated balance sheet in conformity with GAAP),
(e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) the
maximum aggregate amount (determined after giving effect to any
prior drawings or reductions that have been reimbursed) of all
letters of credit and letters of guaranty in respect of which such
Person is an account party, (g) the principal component of all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of
bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Indebtedness of others
secured by any Lien on any property owned or acquired by such
Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been
assumed by such Person, valued, as of any date of determination, at
the lesser of (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness and
(ii) the fair value of such property (as determined in good faith
by such Person), (i) all Guarantees by such Person of
Indebtedness of others and (j) all Disqualified Equity Interests in
such Person, valued, as of the date of determination, at the
greater of (i) the maximum aggregate amount that would be
payable upon maturity, redemption, repayment or repurchase thereof
(or of Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness into which
such Disqualified Equity Interests are convertible or exchangeable)
and (ii) the maximum liquidation preference of such Disqualified
Equity Interests. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
Indebtedness of any other Person (including any partnership in
which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person
is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership
interest in or other relationship with such other Person, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person
is not liable therefor.
“
Indemnified Liabilities
” means any
and all liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities),
obligations, losses, damages (including natural resource damages),
penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs (including the
costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing, abatement,
cleanup, removal, remediation or other response action necessary to
remove, remediate, clean up or abate any Hazardous Materials),
expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses and other
charges of counsel and consultants for the Indemnitees in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial
proceeding or hearing commenced or threatened by any Person
(including by any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof), whether
or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a
potential party thereto (but limited, in the case of any one such
proceeding or hearing, to fees, expenses and other charges of one
firm of primary counsel, one firm of regulatory counsel, and, if
reasonably necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable
jurisdiction for all the Indemnitees (and, if any Indemnitee shall
have advised the Borrower that there is an actual or perceived
conflict of interest, one additional firm of primary counsel, one
additional firm of regulatory counsel and, if reasonably necessary,
one additional firm of local counsel in each applicable
jurisdiction for each group of affected Indemnitees that are
similarly situated (in each case, excluding allocated costs of
in-house counsel)), and any fees or expenses incurred by the
Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect,
special, consequential or otherwise and whether based on any
federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations
(including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or
regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable
causes of action or on contract or otherwise, that may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any
manner relating to or arising out of (a) this Agreement or the
other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby (including the Lenders’ agreement to make Credit
Extensions, the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of any
Letter of Credit by any Issuing Bank (including the failure of any
Issuing Bank to honor a drawing under any Letter of Credit as a
result of any Governmental Act), the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein or the use or intended use of the
proceeds thereof, the Vector Facility Arrangements, any amendments,
waivers or consents with respect to any provision of this Agreement
or any of the other Credit Documents, or any enforcement of any of
the Credit Documents (including any sale of, collection from, or
other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of
the Obligations Guarantee)), (b) any commitment letter, engagement
letter, fee letter or other letter or agreement delivered by any
Agent, any Arranger, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to the Borrower
or any of its Affiliates in connection with the arrangement of the
credit facilities provided for herein or in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (c) any actual
or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at or
under or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or
operated by the Borrower or any Affiliate or any Environmental
Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any
Affiliate.
“
Indemnified Taxes
” means (a)
Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any
payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party
under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise
described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“
Indemnitee
” as defined in Section
10.3.
“
Installment
” means (a) when used
in respect of the Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche A Term
Borrowings, each payment of the principal amount thereof due under
Section 2.11(a) (including the payment due on the Tranche A Term
Loan Maturity Date), (b) when used in respect of the Tranche B Term
Loans or Tranche B Term Borrowings, each payment of the principal
amount thereof due under Section 2.11(b) (including the payment due
on the Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date) and (c) when used in
respect of any Term Loans or Term Borrowings of any other Class,
each payment of the principal amount thereof due under Section
2.11(c) (including the payment due on the Maturity Date applicable
to the Term Loans of such Class).
“
Insurance/Condemnation Event
”
means any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under
the power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar
proceeding of, or any Disposition under a threat of such taking of,
all or any part of any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, other than any of the foregoing resulting in aggregate
Net Proceeds not exceeding $5,000,000 during any Fiscal
Year.
“
Intellectual Property
” as defined
in the Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
” as defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
“
Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
” means a First Lien Intercompany
Indebtedness Subordination Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit G
.
“
Intercompany Note
” means a
promissory note substantially in the form of
Exhibit H
.
“
Intercreditor Agreement
” means the
Intercreditor Agreement in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit
I
, with such changes therefrom as may be agreed to by the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower or as are contemplated by
Section 10.24.
“
Interest Payment Date
” means (a)
with respect to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of March,
June, September and December of each year, commencing on
the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and (b) with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest
Period applicable to such Loan and, in the case of any such Loan
with an Interest Period of longer than three months’
duration, each date that is three months, or an integral multiple
thereof, after the commencement of such Interest
Period.
“
Interest Period
” means, with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on
the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month that is one month, two
months, three months or six months thereafter (or, in the case of
any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing of any Class, such longer period
thereafter as shall have been consented to by each Lender of such
Class and notified in writing to the Administrative Agent), as
selected by the Borrower in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice;
provided
that (a) if an
Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business
Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day unless no succeeding Business Day occurs in such
month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
immediately preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period
that commences 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, subject
to clause (c) below, end on the last Business Day of the last
calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Interest Period for
a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing of any Class may extend beyond the
Maturity Date for Borrowings of such Class. For purposes hereof,
the date of a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall initially be the date
on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the
effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of
such Borrowing.
“
Interest Rate Determination Date
”
means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that is two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period.
“
Internal Revenue Code
” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“
Investment
” means, with respect to
a specified Person, any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness
or other Securities (including any option, warrant or other right
to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or
loans or advances (other than trade advances made in the ordinary
course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on
the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in conformity
with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness of (including any
such Guarantees arising as a result of the specified Person being a
co-maker of any note or other instrument or a joint and several
co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit or letter of
guaranty), or any other investments in (including any investment in
the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less
than the fair value thereof (as determined reasonably and in good
faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower)), any other
Person that are held or made by the specified Person. The amount,
as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form
of a loan or an advance shall be the aggregate principal amount
thereof made on or prior to such date of determination, minus the
amount, as of such date of determination, of any Returns with
respect thereto, but without any adjustment for write-downs or
write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion
thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date
thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be
determined in accordance with the definition of the term
“Guarantee”, (c) any Investment in the form of a
purchase or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests,
evidences of Indebtedness or other Securities of any Person shall
be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by
the chief financial officer of the Borrower) of the consideration
therefor (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection
therewith),
plus
the fair value (as so determined) of all additions, as of such date
of determination, thereto, and
minus
the amount, as of such
date of determination, of any Returns with respect thereto, but
without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value
of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such
Investment after the time of such Investment, (d) any Investment
(other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c)
above) in the form of a transfer of Equity Interests or other
property by the investor to the investee, including any such
transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair
value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief
financial officer of the Borrower) of such Equity Interests or
other property as of the time of such transfer (less, in the case
of any investment in the form of transfer of property for
consideration that is less than the fair value thereof, the fair
value (as so determined) of such consideration as of the time of
the transfer),
minus
the amount, as of such
date of determination, of any Returns with respect thereto, but
without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value
of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such
Investment after the time of such transfer, and (e) any Investment
(other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or
(d) above) in any Person resulting from the issuance by such Person
of its Equity Interests to the investor shall be the fair value (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower) of such Equity Interests at the time of
the issuance thereof.
“
Iqmax Disposition
” means the
Disposition by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
assets acquired pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement,
dated as of January 24, 2018, by and between Network Billing
Systems, LLC and Iqmax, Inc., such Disposition to be consummated in
accordance with the terms of such Asset Purchase
Agreement.
“
IRS
” means the United States
Internal Revenue Service.
“
Issuance Notice
” means an Issuance
Notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit J
.
“
Issuing Bank
” means (a) each
of Goldman Sachs, MSSF and MUFG and (b) any other Revolving Lender
(or an Affiliate thereof) that shall have become an Issuing Bank as
provided herein, other than any such Person that shall have ceased
to be an Issuing Bank as provided herein, each in its capacity as
an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“
ISP
” means, with respect to any
Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices
1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law
& Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in
effect at the time of issuance).
“
Junior Indebtedness
” means (a) any
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, (b) any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness that, in each case, is Permitted Junior
Lien Secured Indebtedness or Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness and
(c) the Subordinated Notes, any other Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness or any other Subordinated Indebtedness, other than any
Subordinated Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary.
“
Junior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement
” means, with respect to any Permitted Junior
Lien Secured Indebtedness, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other
intercreditor agreement, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, that
contains terms and conditions that are within the range of terms
and conditions customary for intercreditor agreements that are of
the type that govern intercreditor relationships between holders of
senior secured credit facilities and holders of the same type of
Indebtedness as such Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness.
“
LCT Test Date
” as defined in
Section 1.5.
“
Leasehold Property
” means, as of
any time of determination, any leasehold interest then owned by any
Credit Party in any leased real property.
“
Lender
” means each Person listed
on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person
that shall have become a party hereto in accordance with the terms
hereof pursuant to an Assignment Agreement, an Incremental Facility
Agreement or a Refinancing Facility Agreement, other than any such
Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment Agreement.
“
Lender Presentation
” means the
Lender Presentation dated February 2018 and the Transaction Update
dated April 2018, relating to this Agreement and the credit
facilities provided for herein.
“
Letter of Credit
” means a letter
of credit issued or to be issued by any Issuing Bank pursuant to
this Agreement, in each case other than any Letter of Credit that
ceases to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding hereunder
pursuant to Section 10.8.
“
Letter of Credit Issuing
Commitment
” means, with respect to any Issuing Bank,
the commitment, if any, of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate
Letter of Credit Usage attributable to Letters of Credit issued by
such Issuing Bank. The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s
Letter of Credit Issuing Commitment on the Closing Date, if any, is
set forth on
Schedule
2.3
. The aggregate amount of the Letter of Credit Issuing
Commitments as of the Closing Date is $15,000,000.
“
Letter of Credit Sublimit
” means
$15,000,000;
provided
that the Letter of
Credit Sublimit may be increased at any time by the written
agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each
Issuing Bank that will provide a Letter of Credit Issuing
Commitment to the Borrower in an aggregate amount for the Issuing
Banks party to such agreement that is not less than the amount of
such increase.
“
Letter of Credit Usage
” means, at
any time, the sum of (a) the maximum aggregate amount that is, or
at any time thereafter pursuant to the terms thereof may become,
available for drawing under all Letters of Credit outstanding at
such time (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could
then be met) and (b) the aggregate amount of all drawings under
Letters of Credit honored by the Issuing Banks and not theretofore
reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower. For all purposes of
this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit
has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn
thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of
the ISP, Article 29 of the UCP, or any similar provisions in
applicable law or the express terms of such Letter of Credit, such
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in
the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“
License
” means any license,
permit, consent, certificate, franchise approval, waiver,
registration or authorization granted or issued by the FCC, any
State PUC or any other Governmental Authority with authority to
regulate the provision of telecommunications services.
“
Lien
” means any lien, mortgage,
pledge, assignment, security interest, hypothecation, charge or
encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature
thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement
having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.
“
Limited Conditionality
Transaction
” means an Acquisition or Investment
(other than an intercompany Investment) permitted by this Agreement
that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually
committed to consummate (it being understood that such commitment
may be subject to conditions precedent, which conditions precedent
may be amended, satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of
the applicable agreement) and the consummation of which is not
conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party
financing.
“
Loan
” means a Revolving Loan, a
Tranche A Term Loan, a Tranche B Term Loan, an Incremental Term
Loan of any Class, an Extended/Modified Term Loan of any Class or a
Refinancing Term Loan of any Class.
“
Long-Term Indebtedness
” means any
Indebtedness that, in conformity with GAAP, constitutes (or, when
incurred, constituted) a long-term liability.
“
Majority in Interest
”, when used
in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, (a) in
the case of the Revolving Lenders, Lenders having Revolving
Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments representing more than
50% of the sum of the Revolving Exposures and unused Revolving
Commitments of all the Revolving Lenders at such time and
(b) in the case of the Term Lenders of any Class, Lenders
having Term Loan Exposure of such Class representing more than 50%
of the Term Loan Exposure of all the Term Lenders of such Class at
such time. For purposes of this definition, the amount of Revolving
Exposures, unused Revolving Commitments and Term Loan Exposures of
any Class shall be determined by excluding the Revolving Exposure,
unused Revolving Commitment and Term Loan Exposure of such Class of
any Defaulting Lender.
“
Margin Stock
” as defined in
Regulation U.
“
Material Acquisition
” means any
Acquisition, or a series of related Acquisitions, by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that the portion of
the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis
for such Acquisition or Acquisitions, attributable to the Persons
or the assets so acquired for the most recent period of 12
consecutive months for which financial statements are available at
the time of the consummation thereof exceeds $10,000,000;
provided
further
that the
Specified Acquisition shall in any event constitute a Material
Acquisition.
“
Material Adverse Effect
” means a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, results of operations,
assets or financial condition of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Credit
Parties to fully and timely perform their obligations under the
Credit Documents, taken as a whole, (c) the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against the Credit Parties of any
Credit Documents to which they are party or (d) the rights,
remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, any Agent,
any Arranger, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Secured Party
under the Credit Documents, taken as a whole.
“
Material Disposition
” means any
Disposition, or a series of related Dispositions, by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary of (a) all or substantially all
the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in any Person or (b)
assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or
substantially all the assets constituting a business unit,
division, product line or line of business of) any Person;
provided
that the
portion of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent
Test Period attributable to the Persons or assets so Disposed
exceeds $10,000,000.
“
Material Indebtedness
” means
Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Guarantees under the Credit
Documents), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedge
Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or
more,
provided
that
any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness shall at all
times constitute “Material Indebtedness”. In the case
of any Material Indebtedness that is a Guarantee of any other
Indebtedness, each reference to “Material Indebtedness”
shall be deemed to include a reference to such Guaranteed
Indebtedness. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness,
the “principal amount” of the obligations of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Hedge
Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving
effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedge
Agreement were terminated at such time.
“
Material Real Estate Asset
” means
each Real Estate Asset owned in fee by a Credit Party that,
together with the improvements thereon and all contiguous and all
related parcels and the improvements thereon forming part of such
Real Estate Asset, has a fair value, as of the Closing Date or as
of the time of the acquisition thereof, of greater than $5,000,000
in the aggregate.
“
Material Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary (a) the consolidated total assets of
which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Restricted
Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) equal 5.0% or more of
the Consolidated Total Assets or (b) the consolidated revenues
of which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Restricted
Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) equal 5.0% or more of
the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, in each case as of the end of or for the most recent
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower for
which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to
Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the delivery
of any such financial statements, as of the end of or for the
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending with the last
Fiscal Quarter included in the Historical Borrower Financial
Statements);
provided
that if at the end of
or for any such most recent period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters the combined consolidated total assets or combined
consolidated revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries that under
clauses (a) and (b) above would not constitute Material
Subsidiaries would, but for this proviso, exceed 10.0% of the
Consolidated Total Assets or 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, then one or more of
such excluded Restricted Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of
this Agreement be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries in descending
order based on the amounts (determined on a consolidated basis for
such Restricted Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) of
their consolidated total assets or consolidated revenues, as the
case may be, until such excess shall have been eliminated;
provided
further
that the
Borrower may specify any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary to be a
Material Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such Subsidiary meets
the requirements set forth under clause (a) or (b) above. For
purposes of this definition, the Consolidated Total Assets and
consolidated revenues of the Borrower as of any date prior to, or
for any period that commenced prior to, the Closing Date shall be
determined on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to the Merger and
the other Transactions to occur on the Closing Date.
“
Maturity Date
” means the Revolving
Maturity Date, the Tranche A Term Loan Maturity Date, the Tranche B
Term Loan Maturity Date, the Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date
with respect to the Incremental Term Loans of any Class, the
Extended/Modified Term Loan Maturity Date with respect to the
Extended/Modified Term Loans of any Class or the Refinancing Term
Loan Maturity Date with respect to the Refinancing Term Loans of
any Class, as the context requires.
“
Merger
” means the merger of the
Acquired Company with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub
surviving such merger as a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower,
pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
“
Merger Agreement
” means the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 26, 2017, as
amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of September 15, 2017, the Second Amendment to Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated as of September 29, 2017, the Amended and
Restated Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as
of October 27, 2017, the Fourth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of January 24, 2018, the Fifth Amendment to
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 25, 2018, the
Sixth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March
12, 2018, the Seventh Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of April 4, 2018, the Eighth Amendment to Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of April 26, 2018, and the Ninth Amendment
to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 27, 2018,
by and among the Borrower, Merger Sub and the Acquired Company,
together with the exhibits (including the forms of the
stockholders’ agreement and the registration rights
agreement), disclosure letters and other documents relating
thereto.
“
Merger Sub
” means Fusion BCHI
Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“
Moody’s
” means Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to its rating agency
business.
“
Mortgage
” means a mortgage, deed
of trust, assignment of leases and rents or other security document
granting a Lien on any Material Real Estate Asset in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as
security for the Obligations. Each Mortgage shall be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent.
“
MSSF
” means Morgan Stanley Senior
Funding, Inc.
“
MUFG
” means MUFG Union Bank,
N.A.
“
Multiemployer Plan
” means any
Employee Benefit Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” as
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
“
Net Proceeds
” means, with respect
to any event, (a) the Cash (which term, for purposes of this
definition, shall include Cash Equivalents) proceeds received in
respect of such event, including any Cash received in respect of
any noncash proceeds, but only as and when received, net of (b) the
sum, without duplication, of (i) all reasonable fees and
out-of-pocket expenses (including any underwriting discounts and
commissions) paid in connection with such event by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary to Persons that are not Affiliates of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any
Asset Sale or Insurance/Condemnation Event, (A) the amount of
all payments (including in respect of principal, accrued interest
and premiums) required to be made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay
Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
types referred to in clauses (a) through (e) of the definition of
“Indebtedness” (other than Loans, Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness and any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower
or any Subsidiary) secured by the assets subject thereto,
(B) the amount of all Taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to
be payable) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and the
amount of any reserves established by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in conformity with GAAP to fund purchase
price adjustment, indemnification and similar contingent
liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable that are directly
attributable to the occurrence of such event and (C) the repayment
of customer deposits required upon such Asset Sale or
Insurance/Condemnation Event and (iii) in the case of any proceeds
from any Asset Sale or Insurance/Condemnation Event affecting the
assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned
Subsidiary, the portion of such proceeds received by such
Restricted Subsidiary attributable to the noncontrolling interests
in such Restricted Subsidiary, in each case as determined
reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower. For purposes of this definition, in the event any
contingent liability reserve established with respect to any event
as described in clause (b)(ii)(B) above shall be reduced, the
amount of such reduction shall, except to the extent such reduction
is made as a result of a payment having been made in respect of the
contingent liabilities for which such reserve has been established,
be deemed to be receipt, on the date of such reduction, of Cash
proceeds in respect of such event.
“
New Subordinated Note
” means the
subordinated unsecured note issued by the Borrower on the Closing
Date to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (or an entity majority-owned and
Controlled by Holcombe T. Green, Jr. or his heirs, beneficiaries,
trusts or estate) in an aggregate principal amount of
$10,000,000.
“
Non-Defaulting Lender
” means, at
any time, each Revolving Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at
such time.
“
Note
” means a promissory note
issued to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.6(c).
“
Obligations
” means (a) all
obligations of every nature of each Credit Party under this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents, whether for principal,
interest (including default interest accruing pursuant to
Section 2.9 and interest (including such default interest)
that would continue to accrue pursuant to the Credit Documents on
any such obligation after the commencement of any proceeding under
the Debtor Relief Laws with respect to any Credit Party, whether or
not such interest is allowed or allowable against such Credit Party
in any such proceeding), reimbursement of amounts drawn under
Letters of Credit, fees (including prepayment fees), expenses,
indemnification or otherwise, (b) all Specified Hedge Obligations,
excluding, with respect to any Guarantor, Excluded Swap Obligations
with respect to such Guarantor, and (c) all Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations.
“
Obligations Guarantee
” means the
Guarantee of the Obligations created under
Section 7.
“
OFAC
” means the United States
Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“
Open Market Purchases
” as defined
in Section 10.6(i)(ii).
“
Organizational Documents
” means
(a) with respect to any corporation or company, its certificate or
articles of incorporation, organization or association, as amended,
and its bylaws, as amended, (b) with respect to any limited
partnership, its certificate or declaration of limited partnership,
as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (c) with
respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as
amended, and (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its
certificate of formation or articles of organization, as amended,
and its operating agreement, as amended. In the event any term or
condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires
any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state
or similar governmental official, the reference to any such
“Organizational Document” shall only be to a document
of a type customarily certified by such governmental
official.
“
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 Credit Document, or sold or
assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).
“
Other Taxes
”
means any and 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, this Agreement or any other Credit
Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes
imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment
made pursuant to Section 2.22).
“
Pari Passu Intercreditor
Agreement
” means, with respect to any Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, an intercreditor agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the
Borrower, that contains terms and conditions that are within the
range of terms and conditions customary for intercreditor
agreements that are of the type that govern intercreditor
relationships between holders of senior secured credit facilities
and holders of the same type of Indebtedness as such Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness.
“
Participant Register
” as defined
in Section 10.6(g).
“
PATRIOT Act
”
means the Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L.
107-56).
“
PBGC
” means the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation.
“
Pension Plan
” means any Employee
Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of
ERISA.
“
Permitted Acquisition
” means any
Acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that:
(a) (i) in
the case of any Acquisition of Equity Interests in a Person, each
of such Person and its Subsidiaries will become a Restricted
Subsidiary (or will be merged or consolidated with or into the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, with the continuing or
surviving Person being the Borrower (in the case of any such
transaction involving the Borrower) or a Restricted Subsidiary) and
(ii) in the case of any Acquisition of other assets, such assets
will be owned by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary;
(b) all
actions required to be taken with respect to such Person or such
assets, as the case may be, in order to satisfy the requirements
set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the
term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” (subject to
the discretion of the Collateral Agent set forth in such
definition) shall have been taken (or arrangements for the taking
of such actions satisfactory to the Collateral Agent shall have
been made) (it being understood that all other requirements set
forth in such definition that are applicable to such Acquisition
shall be required to be satisfied in accordance with (and within
the time periods provided in) Sections 5.10 and 5.11);
(c) (i)
the Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of the
Test Period most recently ended prior to the consummation thereof
(giving Pro Forma Effect to such Acquisition and any other Pro
Forma Events in connection therewith (including incurrence of
Indebtedness)), shall not be greater than the lesser of (A) the
greater of (x) 3.65:1.00 and (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio
as of such last day (but determined prior to giving Pro Forma
Effect to such Acquisition or any other Pro Forma Events in
connection therewith (including incurrence of Indebtedness)) and
(B) the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the
financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a) and (ii) in the case
of any such Acquisition consummated during the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,
determined for the Test Period most recently ended prior to the
consummation thereof (giving Pro Forma Effect to such Acquisition
and any other Pro Forma Events in connection therewith (including
incurrence of Indebtedness)), shall not be less than the minimum
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant
set forth in Section 6.7(c);
provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower demonstrating that the condition
set forth in this clause (c) have been satisfied;
provided
,
further
, that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (c) may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5;
(d) the
business of any such acquired Person, or such acquired assets, as
the case may be, constitute a business permitted under
Section 6.11;
(e) immediately
prior and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
provided
that, in
the case of any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election
of the Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (e)
may be tested in accordance with Section 1.5; and
(f) the
Acquisition Consideration paid in respect of such Acquisition shall
not be in the form of Cash or Cash Equivalents unless the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of the Test
Period most recently ended prior to the consummation thereof
(giving Pro Forma Effect to such Acquisition and any other Pro
Forma Events in connection therewith (including incurrence of
Indebtedness)), (i) in the case of any such Acquisition consummated
on or prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date, shall be
greater than or equal to 1.40:1.00 and (ii) in the case of any such
Acquisition consummated at any time thereafter, shall be greater
than or equal to 1.50:1.00;
provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower demonstrating that the condition
set forth in this clause (f) has been satisfied;
provided
,
further
, that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (f) may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5.
“
Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(i).
“
Permitted Encumbrances
”
means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for Taxes that are not overdue by more than 30 days
or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.3, if
adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained by the
applicable Person in conformity with GAAP;
(b) carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than
any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA), arising in the ordinary course of
business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than
60 days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly and diligently conducted, if adequate reserves
with respect thereto are maintained by the applicable Person in
conformity with GAAP;
(c) pledges
and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance
and other social security laws (other than any Lien imposed
pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section
303(k) of ERISA) and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank
guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i)
above;
(d) pledges
and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business to secure
the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for payment of
Indebtedness), leases (other than capital leases), statutory
obligations (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k)
of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA), public
utility services provided to the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary, surety, litigation and appeal bonds, performance bonds
and other obligations of a like nature and (ii) in respect of
letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued
for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set
forth in clause (i) above;
(e) judgment
liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of
Default under Section 8.1(h);
(f) easements,
zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real
property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of
business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
materially detract from the value of the affected property or
interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(g) 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 is not violated by the current use and operation of
the affected real property;
(h) ground
leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or
leased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary are
located;
(i)
Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of
business under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in
effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being
collected upon;
(j) banker’s
liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to
deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository
institutions;
provided
that such deposit
accounts or funds are not established or deposited for the purpose
of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to
restrictions on access by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
in excess of those required by applicable banking
regulations;
(k) Liens
arising by virtue of precautionary UCC financing statement filings
(or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating
leases entered into by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens
representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or
sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or
sublessee, in the property subject to any lease (other than any
capital lease), license or sublicense or concession agreement
permitted by this Agreement;
(m) 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;
(n) deposits
of Cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure the performance
of its obligations under the lease for such premises, in each case
in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Liens
that are contractual rights of set-off; and
(p)
Liens on Cash and Cash Equivalents securing obligations in respect
of Hedge Agreements permitted under Section 6.12;
provided
that the term “Permitted Encumbrances”
shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, other than Liens
referred to in clauses (c) and (d) above securing letters of
credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments.
“
Permitted Holders
” means (a)
Holcombe T. Green, Jr., R. Kirby Godsey, Holcombe Green, III,
Marvin S. Rosen and Matthew D. Rosen and their respective heirs,
beneficiaries, trusts, estates and controlled Affiliates
(including, for so long as such Person constitutes such a
controlled Affiliate, BCHI Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company) and (b) any employee benefit plan of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Person acting in its capacity as
trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such
plan.
“
Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(h).
“
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement
”
means the Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement or any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement.
“
Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness
” means any secured Indebtedness of the
Borrower and/or any other Credit Party in the form of one or more
series of junior lien secured bona fide “high yield”
notes, bonds or debentures or junior lien secured term loans, and
the Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party;
provided
that (a) such
Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the
Collateral on a junior priority basis with the Liens on the
Collateral securing the Obligations and is not secured by any
assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Collateral,
(b) such Indebtedness is not Guaranteed by any Person other than
the Credit Parties and (c) the administrative agent, collateral
agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf
of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a
Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, providing that the Liens on
the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior in
priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations;
provided
that if
such Indebtedness is the initial Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties,
then the Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall have executed
and delivered the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (or an
acknowledgement thereof in the form specified therein) and the
Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties, the Junior Lien
Intercreditor Agreement. It is understood and agreed that,
notwithstanding the final paragraph of Section 6.1, Permitted
Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness may only be incurred and
outstanding in reliance on Section 6.1(e), 6.1(h) or
6.1(i).
“
Permitted Lien
” means any Lien
permitted by Section 6.2.
“
Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness
” means any secured Indebtedness of the
Borrower and/or any other Credit Party in the form of one or more
series of senior secured bona fide “high yield” notes,
bonds or debentures (but not loans), and the Guarantees thereof by
any Credit Party;
provided
that (a) such
Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the
Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens on the Collateral
securing the Obligations (it being understood that the
determination as to whether such Liens are on a pari passu basis
shall be made without regard to control of remedies) and is not
secured by any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than
the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness is not Guaranteed by any
Person other than the Credit Parties and (c) the administrative
agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative
acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have
become party to a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement providing that
the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank
equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the
Obligations (it being understood that the determination as to
whether such Liens rank equal in priority shall be made without
regard to control of remedies);
provided
that if such
Indebtedness is the initial Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties,
then the Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall have executed
and delivered the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement (or an
acknowledgement thereof in the form specified therein) and the
Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties, the Pari Passu Intercreditor
Agreement. It is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding the
final paragraph of Section 6.1, Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness may only be incurred and outstanding in reliance on
Section 6.1(h) or 6.1(i).
“
Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(e). As of the date hereof, Indebtedness under the
Second Lien Credit Agreement constitutes Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness
Documents
” means the Second Lien Credit Agreement and
the other Second Lien Credit Documents and any other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(q). As of the date hereof, the Subordinated Notes
constitute Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Document
” means the Subordinated Notes and any other
credit agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument
evidencing or governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness
”
means any Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any other Credit
Party in the form of one or more series of unsecured, senior or
subordinated bona fide “high yield” notes, bonds or
debentures or unsecured, senior or subordinated term loans;
provided
that (a)
such Indebtedness is not secured by any Liens on any assets of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and (b) such Indebtedness is not
Guaranteed by any Person other than the Credit
Parties.
“
Person
” means any natural person,
corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, joint stock
company, joint venture, association, company, trust, bank, trust
company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether
or not a legal entity, and any Governmental Authority.
“
Platform
” means Debtdomain,
IntraLinks/IntraAgency, SyndTrak or another similar website or
other information platform.
“
Pledge and Security Agreement
”
means the First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the
date hereof, among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties and the
Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit K
.
“
Post-Closing Letter Agreement
”
means the First Lien Post-Closing Letter Agreement dated as of the
date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent.
“
Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant
” means, at any time, (a) any financial
maintenance covenant that is not included in this Agreement at such
time for the benefit of all Lenders and (b) any financial
maintenance covenant that is included in this Agreement at such
time for the benefit of all Lenders but has covenant levels or
effectiveness triggers that are more restrictive on the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries than the covenant levels or
effectiveness triggers set forth in this Agreement at such
time.
“
Prime Rate
” means the rate of
interest quoted in the print edition of
The Wall Street Journal
, Money Rates
Section as the Prime Rate (currently defined as the base rate on
corporate loans posted by at least 70% of the nation’s 10
largest banks), as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a
reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or
best rate actually charged to any customer. Any Agent and any
Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of
interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.
“
Private Lenders
” means Lenders
that wish to receive Private-Side Information.
“
Private-Side Information
” means
any information with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
that is not Public-Side Information.
“
Pro Forma Basis
”,
“
Pro Forma
Compliance
” and “
Pro Forma Effect
” means, with
respect to any Pro Forma Event, that such Pro Forma Event and the
following transactions in connection therewith (to the extent
applicable) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of
the applicable period of measurement for the applicable covenant or
requirement: (a) historical income statement items (whether
positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person, if
any, subject to such Pro Forma Event, (i) in the case of a
Disposition of a business unit, division, product line or line of
business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, a
Disposition that otherwise results in a Restricted Subsidiary
ceasing to be a Subsidiary or a designation of a Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of
an Acquisition by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether
by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or any other Investment that
results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or a
designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, shall be
included, (b) any repayment, retirement, redemption, satisfaction
and discharge or defeasance of Indebtedness in connection therewith
and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any
of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith, and if such
Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness
shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period
for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate
which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as
at the relevant date of determination (taking into account any
hedging obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such hedging
obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). “Pro
Forma Basis,” “Pro Forma Compliance” and
“Pro Forma Effect” in respect of any Pro Forma Event
shall be calculated in a reasonable and factually supportable
manner by the Borrower and in the manner that is consistent with
the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA. For the avoidance
of doubt, the amount of net cost savings, operating expense
reductions, other operating improvements and synergies projected by
the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of actions
taken or to be taken in connection with any Pro Forma Event may be
included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in the manner, and subject
to the limitations, set forth in the definition of such
term.
“
Pro Forma Event
” means (a) any
Acquisition by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether by
merger, consolidation or otherwise, or any other Investment (other
than intercompany Investments), (b) any Disposition of a business
unit, division, product line or line of business of the Borrower or
a Restricted Subsidiary and any other Disposition that results in a
Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary, (c) any
designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, (d) any incurrence or repayment,
retirement, redemption, satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of
Indebtedness, (e) any Restricted Junior Payment and (f) any other
transaction where the consummation thereof, or the determination of
whether such transaction is permitted to be consummated under this
Agreement, requires that a financial covenant or test be calculated
on a Pro Forma Basis after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
transaction.
“
Pro Forma Financial Statements
”
means pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September
30, 2017 and the pro forma condensed consolidated statements of
operations for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016, in each
case, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, prepared
after giving effect to the Transactions as contemplated by such pro
forma financial statements as if they had occurred as of the end of
such period (in the case of such balance sheet) or on January 1,
2016 (in the case of such statement of operations), in each case as
included in the Definitive Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A) for the
Borrower filed with the SEC on December 28, 2017, as amended by the
Borrower’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13,
2018.
“
Pro Rata Share
” means, with
respect to any Lender, at any time, (a) when used in reference
to payments, computations and other matters relating to the
Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche A Term Borrowings, the
percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Tranche A Term
Loan Exposure of such Lender at such time by (ii) the
aggregate Tranche A Term Loan Exposure of all the Lenders at
such time, (b) when used in reference to payments, computations and
other matters relating to the Tranche B Term Loans or Tranche
B Term Borrowings, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the
Tranche B Term Loan Exposure of such Lender at such time by
(ii) the aggregate Tranche B Term Loan Exposure of all
the Lenders at such time, (c) when used in reference to
payments, computations and other matters relating to Term Loan
Commitments, Term Loans or Term Borrowings of any other Class, the
percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Term Loan Exposure of such
Lender with respect to such Class at such time by (ii) the
aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all the Lenders with respect to
such Class at such time, (d) when used in reference to
payments, computations and other matters relating to the Revolving
Commitments, Revolving Loans, Revolving Borrowings or Letters of
Credit or participations therein or Letter of Credit Usage, the
percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Revolving Commitment of
such Lender at such time by (ii) the aggregate Revolving
Commitments of all the Lenders at such time,
provided
that if the Revolving
Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Share under
this clause (d) shall be determined based upon the Revolving
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments, and (e) when used for any other purpose
(including under Section 9.6), the percentage obtained by dividing
(i) an amount equal to the sum of the Tranche A Term Loan
Exposure, the Tranche B Term Loan Exposure, the Term Loan
Exposure of each such other Class and the Revolving Commitments of
such Lender at such time by (ii) an amount equal to the sum of
the aggregate Tranche A Term Loan Exposure, the aggregate
Tranche B Term Loan Exposure, the aggregate Term Loan Exposure
of each such other Class and the aggregate Revolving Commitments of
all the Lenders at such time;
provided
that if the Revolving
Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Share under
this clause (e) shall be determined based upon the Revolving
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments.
“
Projections
” means the projections
of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for each Fiscal
Quarter of Fiscal Year 2018 and for each Fiscal Year thereafter
through and including Fiscal Year 2025 heretofore provided to the
Lenders.
“
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 Lenders
” means Lenders that
do not wish to receive Private-Side Information.
“
Public-Side Information
” means
information that is either (a) available to all holders of Traded
Securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (b) not material
non-public information (for purposes of United States federal,
state or other applicable securities laws).
“
Qualified ECP
Guarantor
”
means, in respect of any Swap
Obligation, each Credit Party that has total assets exceeding
$10,000,000 at the time such Swap Obligation is incurred or such
other Person as constitutes an “eligible contract
participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any
regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to
qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such
time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of
the Commodity Exchange Act.
“
Real Estate Asset
” means any
interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) owned by any Credit Party in
any real property.
“
Recipient
” means (a) any Agent,
(b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as
applicable.
“
Refinancing Commitment
” means a
Refinancing Revolving Commitment or a Refinancing Term Loan
Commitment.
“
Refinancing Facility Agreement
”
means a Refinancing Facility Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Refinancing
Lenders, establishing Refinancing Commitments and effecting such
other amendments hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are
contemplated by Section 2.25.
“
Refinancing Indebtedness
” means,
in respect of any Indebtedness (the “
Original Indebtedness
”), any
Indebtedness that extends, renews or refinances such Original
Indebtedness (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof);
provided
that (a)
the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not
exceed the principal amount of such Original Indebtedness except by
an amount not greater than accrued and unpaid interest on such
Original Indebtedness, any original issue discount applicable to
such Refinancing Indebtedness, any unused commitments in respect of
such Original Indebtedness (only if and to the extent that, had
such Original Indebtedness been incurred under such commitments at
the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred, it would have
been permitted hereunder) and any reasonable fees, premiums and
expenses relating to such extension, renewal or refinancing; (b)
the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall
not be earlier than that of such Original Indebtedness, and such
stated final maturity shall not be subject to any conditions that
could result in such stated final maturity occurring on a date that
precedes the stated final maturity of such Original Indebtedness
(other than as a result of an acceleration of any such stated
maturity upon an event of default or a voluntary termination by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any commitments to extend
credit in respect thereof); (c) the weighted average life to
maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be shorter than
the remaining weighted average life to maturity of such Original
Indebtedness (and, for purposes of determining the weighted average
life to maturity of such Original Indebtedness, the effects of any
prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall be
disregarded); (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not
constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of any
Restricted Subsidiary that shall not have been (or, in the case of
after-acquired Restricted Subsidiaries, shall not have been
required to become) an obligor in respect of such Original
Indebtedness; (e) if such Original Indebtedness shall have been
subordinated to the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness
shall also be subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less
favorable in any material respect to the Lenders,
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with the drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness, together
with drafts of the subordination terms to be applicable thereto,
stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such
subordination terms satisfy the requirement of this clause (e)
shall be conclusive evidence that such terms satisfy such
requirement unless the Administrative Agent, the Requisite Tranche
A/Revolving Lenders or the Requisite Lenders notify the Borrower in
writing within such five Business Day period that it or they
disagree with such determination (including a reasonably detailed
description of the basis upon which it or they disagree); (f) if
such Original Indebtedness shall be Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness, then (i) such Refinancing Indebtedness satisfies the
Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation Requirements, (ii)
if such Original Indebtedness was Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness, if secured, shall be
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness or Permitted Junior Lien
Secured Indebtedness and (iii) if such Original Indebtedness was
Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness, such Refinancing
Indebtedness, if secured, shall be Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness; (g) if such Original Indebtedness was Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall
satisfy the Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation
Requirements and shall be Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness or Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness; and (h) such
Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any
asset other than the assets that secured (or, in the case of
after-acquired assets, would be required to secure pursuant to the
terms thereof) such Original Indebtedness or, to the extent such
assets would have been required to secure such Original
Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, that are proceeds and
products of, or after-acquired property that is affixed or
incorporated into, the assets that secured such Original
Indebtedness.
“
Refinancing Lenders
” means the
Refinancing Revolving Lenders and the Refinancing Term
Lenders.
“
Refinancing Loans
” means the
Refinancing Revolving Loans and the Refinancing Term
Loans.
“
Refinancing Revolving Commitments
”
as defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Revolving Lender
” as
defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Revolving Loans
” as
defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Term Lender
” as
defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Term Loans
” as defined
in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Term Loan Commitments
”
as defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means, with respect to Refinancing Term Loans of
any Class, the scheduled date on which such Refinancing Term Loans
shall become due and payable in full hereunder, as specified in the
applicable Refinancing Facility Agreement.
“
Register
” as defined in
Section 2.6(b).
“
Regulation D
” means
Regulation D of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation T
” means
Regulation T of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation U
” means
Regulation U of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation X
” means
Regulation X of the Board of Governors.
“
Reimbursement Date
” as defined in
Section 2.3(d).
“
Related Fund
” means, with respect
to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund
that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by
the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of
such investment advisor.
“
Related Parties
” means, with
respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
directors, officers, partners, members, trustees, employees,
controlling persons, agents, administrators, managers,
representatives and advisors of such Person and of such
Person’s Affiliates.
“
Release
” means any release, spill,
emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the
environment or from, under, within or upon any building, structure,
facility or fixture.
“
Repricing Event
” means, with
respect to any Tranche A Term Loan or Tranche B Term Loan, (a) any
prepayment or repayment of such Tranche A Term Loan or Tranche B
Term Loan, as applicable, with the proceeds of, or made in
connection with the incurrence of, any Indebtedness secured by any
Lien on any asset of any Credit Party (other than any Permitted
Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness) that has a Weighted Average Yield
lower than the Weighted Average Yield of such Tranche A Term Loan
or Tranche B Term Loan, as applicable, at the time of such
prepayment or repayment and (b) any amendment or other modification
of this Agreement that, directly or indirectly, reduces the
Weighted Average Yield of such Tranche A Term Loan or Tranche B
Term Loan, as applicable;
provided
the primary purpose of
such prepayment, repayment, amendment or other modification was to
reduce the Weighted Average Yield applicable to the Tranche A Term
Loans or Tranche B Term Loans, as applicable.
“
Requisite Lenders
” means, at any
time, Lenders having or holding Revolving Exposure, unused
Revolving Commitments, Tranche A Term Loan Exposure, Tranche B
Term Loan Exposure and Term Loan Exposure of any other Class
representing more than 50% of the sum of the Revolving Exposure,
unused Revolving Commitments, Tranche A Term Loan Exposure, Tranche
B Term Loan Exposure and Term Loan Exposure of each such other
Class of all the Lenders at such time. For purposes of this
definition, the amount of Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving
Commitment, Tranche A Term Loan Exposure, Tranche B Term Loan
Exposure and Term Loan Exposure of any other Class shall be
determined by excluding the Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving
Commitment, Tranche A Term Loan Exposure, Tranche B Term Loan
Exposure and Term Loan Exposure of each such other Class of any
Defaulting Lender.
“
Requisite Tranche A/Revolving
Lenders
” means, at any time, Lenders having or holding
Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving Commitments and Tranche A Term
Loan Exposure representing more than 50% of the sum of the
Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving Commitments and Tranche A Term
Loan Exposure of all the Lenders at such time. For purposes of this
definition, the amount of Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving
Commitment and Tranche A Term Loan Exposure shall be determined by
excluding the Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving Commitment and
Tranche A Term Loan Exposure of any Defaulting
Lender.
“
Restricted Junior Payment
” means
(a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect
(whether in Cash, Securities or other property), with respect to
any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
(b) any payment or distribution, direct or indirect (whether in
Cash, Securities or other property), including any sinking fund or
similar deposit, on account of any redemption, retirement,
purchase, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancelation or
termination of, or any other return of capital with respect to, any
Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(c) any payment or other distribution, direct or indirect (whether
in Cash, Securities or other property) of or in respect of
principal of or interest or premium on any Junior Indebtedness, or
any payment or other distribution (whether in Cash, Securities or
other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on
account of the redemption, retirement, purchase, acquisition,
defeasance (including in-substance or legal defeasance), exchange,
conversion, cancelation or termination of any Junior
Indebtedness.
“
Restricted Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“
Retained ECF Percentage
” means,
with respect to any Fiscal Year, (a) 100%
minus
(b) the Applicable
ECF Percentage with respect to such Fiscal Year.
“
Returns
” means (a) with respect to
any Investment in the form of a loan or advance, the repayment to
the investor in Cash or Cash Equivalents of principal thereof and
(b) with respect to any other Investment, any return of capital
received by the investor in Cash or Cash Equivalents in respect of
such Investment.
“
Revolving Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.
“
Revolving Commitment
” means, with
respect to any Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to
make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of
Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum
aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s Revolving
Exposure hereunder. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Revolving Commitment, if any, is set forth on
Schedule 2.1
or in the applicable Assignment Agreement or an Incremental
Facility Agreement, as applicable, subject to any increase or
reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The
aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments as of the Closing
Date is $40,000,000.
“
Revolving Commitment Period
” means
the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date.
“
Revolving Commitment Termination
Date
” means the earlier to occur of (a) the
Revolving Maturity Date and (b) the date on which all the Revolving
Commitments are terminated or permanently reduced to zero pursuant
hereto.
“
Revolving Exposure
” means, with
respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the
aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans of such Lender
outstanding at such time and (b) such Lender’s applicable Pro
Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Usage at such time.
“
Revolving Lender
” means a Lender
with a Revolving Commitment or Revolving Exposure.
“
Revolving Loan
” means a loan made
by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.2(a).
“
Revolving Maturity Date
” means the
date that is four years after the Closing Date (or, if such date is
not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business
Day).
“
Rollover Indebtedness
” means
Indebtedness of any Credit Party issued to any Lender in lieu of
such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of any prepayment of
any Borrowing made pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i).
“
S&P
” means S&P Global
Ratings, or any successor to its rating agency
business.
“
Sale/Leaseback Transaction
” means
an arrangement relating to property owned by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary Disposes of such property to any Person and the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary leases such property, or other
property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose
or purposes as the property Disposed of, from such Person or its
Affiliates.
“
Sanctioned Country
” means, at any
time, a country, region or territory that is itself the subject or
target of any Sanctions (at the date of this Agreement, Crimea,
Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
“
Sanctioned Person
” means, at any
time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of
designated Persons maintained by the US Department of State, the US
Department of Treasury (including OFAC), the United Nations
Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member
state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or the
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (Canada), (b)
any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country
or (c) any Person controlled or 50% or more owned by any such
Person or Persons described in clause (a) or (b)
above.
“
Sanctions
” as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
Sanctions Laws
” as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
SEC
”
means the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission.
“
Second Lien Credit Agreement
”
means the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
the date hereof, among the Borrower, the Guarantor Subsidiaries,
the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, as administrative
agent and collateral agent thereunder.
“
Second Lien Credit Documents
”
means the “Credit Documents” as defined in the Second
Lien Credit Agreement.
“
Second Lien Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness
” has the meaning assigned to the term
“Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness” (or any
comparable successor provision) in the Second Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Secured Parties
” as defined in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Securities
” means any stock,
shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates,
certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing
agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any
instruments commonly known as “securities” or any
certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or
interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the
foregoing.
“
Securities Act
” means the
Securities Act of 1933.
“
Solvency Certificate
”
means a Solvency Certificate
executed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower
substantially in the form of
Exhibit
L
.
“
Solvent
” means, with respect to
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, that as
of the date of determination, (a) the sum of the debt and other
liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the
present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (b) the capital of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not
unreasonably small in relation to their business as conducted or
proposed to be conducted, on a consolidated basis, (c) the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred
and do not intend to incur, or believe (nor should they reasonably
believe) that they will incur, debts and liabilities (including
contingent liabilities), on a consolidated basis, beyond the
ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due
(whether at maturity or otherwise) and (d) the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are “solvent”
within the meaning given to that term and similar terms under any
applicable Debtor Relief Laws and other applicable laws relating to
preferences, fraudulent transfers and conveyances or transfers
undervalue. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any
contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount
that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at
such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to
become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such
contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under
GAAP).
“
Specified Acquisition
” means an
Acquisition identified to the Arrangers prior to the Closing Date
(for the avoidance of doubt, not constituting the Acquisition of
the Acquired Company), the business of which constitutes a business
engaged in (or any business that is similar, complementary or
related to, or a reasonable extension of, the business engaged in)
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding, for
purposes of this definition, the Acquired Company and its
Subsidiaries) on the Closing Date;
provided
that such Acquisition
(a) if such Acquisition is consummated prior to the Escrow Cash
Collateral Outside Date, to the extent of the Acquisition
Consideration therefor (other than any portion thereof funded with
Net Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower
after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date of consummation
of such Acquisition from any issuance and sale of Equity Interests
in the Borrower (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests and
other than any Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of
the Borrower)), is consummated solely in reliance on Section 6.6(w)
and (b) in any event, is consummated on or prior to December 31,
2018.
“
Specified Acquisition Agreement
”
means the Agreement and Plan of Merger to be entered into by the
Borrower and the other parties thereto in respect of the Specified
Acquisition, together with all exhibits, disclosure schedules and
other documents relating thereto.
“
Specified Acquisition Agreement
Representations
” means such of the representations and
warranties made by or with respect to the Person to be acquired
pursuant to the Specified Acquisition and its Subsidiaries in the
Specified Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of
the Lenders (but only to the extent that the Borrower or any of its
Affiliates has the right under the Specified Acquisition Agreement
not to consummate the Specified Acquisition, or to terminate its
obligations under the Specified Acquisition Agreement, as a result
of a failure of such representations and warranties in the
Specified Acquisition Agreement to be true and
correct).
“
Specified Cash Management Services
Agreement
” means any agreement relating to Cash
Management Services that is entered into between the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary and a Cash Management Services
Provider.
“
Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations
” means all obligations of every nature of
the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (whether absolute or
contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced
or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications
thereof and substitutions therefor)) arising in respect of Cash
Management Services provided under any Specified Cash Management
Services Agreement, including obligations for interest (including
interest that would continue to accrue pursuant to such Specified
Cash Management Services Agreement on any such obligation after the
commencement of any proceeding under the Debtor Relief Laws with
respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether or
not such interest is allowed or allowable against the Borrower or
such Restricted Subsidiary in any such proceeding), fees, expenses,
indemnification or otherwise.
“
Specified Hedge Obligations
”
means, with respect to each Hedge Agreement in respect of interest
rates or foreign currency exchange rates that (a) is with a
counterparty that is, or was on the Closing Date, an Agent, an
Arranger, an Issuing Bank or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing,
whether or not such counterparty shall have been an Agent, an
Arranger, an Issuing Bank or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing
at the time such Hedge Agreement was entered into, (b) is in effect
on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or (c) is entered
into after the Closing Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or
an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedge Agreement is
entered into, all obligations of every nature of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary under such Hedge Agreement (whether
absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created,
arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions
and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor)), including
obligations for interest (including interest that would continue to
accrue pursuant to such Hedge Agreement on any such obligation
after the commencement of any proceeding under the Debtor Relief
Laws with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable against the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in any such proceeding),
payments for early termination of such Hedge Agreement, fees,
expenses, indemnification or otherwise.
“
Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation
Requirements
” means, with respect to any Indebtedness,
the requirements that the terms of such Indebtedness (excluding
interest rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins,
benchmark rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and
prepayment or redemption terms (including “no call”
terms and other restrictions thereunder) and premiums) are, when
taken as a whole, either (a) not materially more favorable to the
lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than those
applicable under this Agreement when taken as a whole
(other than terms benefitting such lenders or
holders (i) where this Agreement is amended to include such
beneficial terms for the benefit of all Lenders or (ii)
applicable only to periods after the latest Maturity Date in effect
at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness
) or (b) solely in the case of Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, otherwise on current market terms for
such type of Indebtedness
;
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with any drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a
reasonably detailed description of the material terms and
conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation
relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good
faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements of
this definition shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and
conditions satisfy such requirement unless the Administrative
Agent, the Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders or the Requisite
Lenders notify the Borrower in writing within such five Business
Day period that it or they disagree with such determination
(including a reasonably detailed description of the basis upon
which it or they disagree);
provided
further
that such Indebtedness
shall not include any Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant unless such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant applies only to periods after the latest Maturity Date in
effect at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or this
Agreement is amended to include such Previously Absent Financial
Maintenance Covenant for the benefit of all Lenders.
“
State PUC
” means any Governmental
Authority of any State that exercises authority over intrastate
telecommunications rates or provision of telecommunications
services or the ownership, construction or operation of any
intrastate network facility or telecommunications systems or over
Persons that own, construct or operate an intrastate network
facility or telecommunications systems, in each case by reason of
the nature or type of the business subject to regulation and not
pursuant to laws and regulations of general applicability to
Persons conducting business in such state.
“
Subordinated Indebtedness
” of any
Person means Indebtedness of such Person that is contractually
subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such
Person, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Subordinated
Notes.
“
Subordinated Notes
” means the
Existing Subordinated Notes and the New Subordinated
Note.
“
Subsidiary
” means, with respect to
any Person (the “
parent
”) at any date, (a) any
Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of
the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements
if such financial statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP
as of such date and (b) any other Person of which Equity
Interests representing more than 50% of the equity value or more
than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a
partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests
are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or
one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or
more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to
Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“
Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire
” means a certificate in the form of
Exhibit M
or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.
“
Swap Obligation
” as defined in
“Excluded Swap Obligation”.
“
Syndication Agent
” means Goldman
Sachs, in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit
facilities established under this Agreement.
“
Tax
” 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 Borrowing
” means a Borrowing
comprised of Term Loans.
“
Term Lender
” means a Lender with a
Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan.
“
Term Loan
” means a Tranche A Term
Loan, a Tranche B Term Loan, an Incremental Term Loan of any
Class, an Extended/Modified Term Loan of any Class or a Refinancing
Term Loan of any Class.
“
Term Loan Commitment
” means a
Tranche A Term Loan Commitment, a Tranche B Term Loan Commitment,
an Incremental Term Loan Commitment of any Class or a Refinancing
Term Loan Commitment of any Class.
“
Term Loan Exposure
” means, with
respect to any Lender, for any Class of Term Loan Commitments or
Term Loans at any time, (a) prior to the making of the Term Loans
of such Class, the Term Loan Commitment of such Class of such
Lender at such time and (b) after the making of the Term Loans of
such Class, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans of
such Class of such Lender at such time.
“
Test Period
” means, for any date
of determination, the most recent period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the
first delivery of any such financial statements, the period of four
consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended December 31,
2017).
“
TLA Term Loans
” means (a) the
Tranche A Term Loans, (b) the Incremental Tranche A Term Loans
and (c) any other Class of Term Loans that have scheduled
amortization of 5.00% or more per annum, a final maturity of five
years or less from the date of incurrence and are primarily
syndicated to or otherwise provided by commercial banks (as
reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith).
“
Total Leverage Ratio
” means the
ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such
date to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four
consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended on such date (or,
if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, most recently
prior to such date).
“
Total Net Leverage Ratio
” means
the ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of
such date to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of
four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended on such date
(or, if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, most
recently prior to such date).
“
Total Revolving Commitments
”
means, at any time, the sum of the Revolving Commitments of all the
Revolving Lenders in effect at such time.
“
Total Utilization of Revolving
Commitments
” means, at any time, the sum of
(a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans
outstanding at such time and (b) the Letter of Credit Usage at
such time.
“
Traded Securities
” means any debt
or equity Securities issued pursuant to a public offering
registered under the Securities Act or Rule 144A offering or other
similar private placement.
“
Tranche A Term Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Tranche A Term Loans.
“
Tranche A Term Loan
” means a
term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.1(a)(i).
“
Tranche A Term Loan
Commitment
” means, with respect to any Lender, the
commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche A Term Loan
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum
principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loan to be made by such
Lender, subject to any increase or reduction pursuant to the terms
and conditions hereof. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Tranche A Term Loan Commitment, if any, is set forth on
Schedule
2.1
or in the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such
Lender shall have assumed its Tranche A Term Loan Commitment. The
aggregate amount of the Tranche A Term Loan Commitments as of the
Closing Date is $45,000,000.
“
Tranche A Term Loan Exposure
”
means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) prior to
the making of Tranche A Term Loans hereunder, the Tranche A Term
Loan Commitment of such Lender at such time and (b) after the
making of Tranche A Term Loans hereunder, the aggregate principal
amount of the Tranche A Term Loans of such Lender outstanding
at such time.
“
Tranche A Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means the date that is four years after the
Closing Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the
immediately preceding Business Day).
“
Tranche B Term Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Tranche B Term Loans.
“
Tranche B Term Loan
” means a
term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.1(a)(ii).
“
Tranche B Term Loan
Commitment
” means, with respect to any Lender, the
commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche B Term Loan
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum
principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loan to be made by such
Lender, subject to any increase or reduction pursuant to the terms
and conditions hereof. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Tranche B Term Loan Commitment, if any, is set forth on
Schedule
2.1
or in the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such
Lender shall have assumed its Tranche B Term Loan Commitment. The
aggregate amount of the Tranche B Term Loan Commitments as of the
Closing Date is $510,000,000.
“
Tranche B Term Loan Exposure
”
means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) prior to
the making of Tranche B Term Loans hereunder, the Tranche B Term
Loan Commitment of such Lender at such time and (b) after the
making of Tranche B Term Loans hereunder, the aggregate principal
amount of the Tranche B Term Loans of such Lender outstanding
at such time.
“
Tranche B Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means the date that is five years after the
Closing Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the
immediately preceding Business Day).
“
Transactions
” means (a) the
Financing Transactions, (b) the Closing Date Refinancing, (c) the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, including the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business
and the consummation of the Fusion Global Arrangement or the
dissolution of Fusion Global Services LLC, (d) the issuance of the
New Subordinated Note, (e) the Closing Date Common Equity Issuance,
(f) the issuance and sale of the Closing Date Preferred Stock and
(g) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the
foregoing.
“
Treasury Rate
” means, as of any
date of determination of the Yield Maintenance Amount, the yield to
maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury
securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in
the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519)
that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior
to such date of determination (or, if such Statistical Release is
no longer published, any publicly available source of similar
market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such date of
determination to but excluding the date that is 12 months after the
Closing Date;
provided
,
however
, that if the period
from such date of determination to but excluding the date that is
12 months after the Closing Date is not equal to the constant
maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly
average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by
using the weekly average yield on actually traded United States
Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one
year.
“
Type
” when used in reference to
any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on
such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined
by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or the Base
Rate.
“
UCC
” means the Uniform Commercial
Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from
time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.
“
UCP
” means, with respect to any
Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or
such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of
issuance).
“
Unrestricted Cash
” means, on any
date, Cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding, for the avoidance of
doubt, security deposits held by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary) owned on such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, as reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such
date in conformity with GAAP (but only to the extent the number
reflected is a positive number);
provided
that (a) except in the
case of any Cash or Cash Equivalents consisting of Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral, such Cash and Cash Equivalents do not
appear (and would not be required to appear) as
“restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of such
Person prepared in conformity with GAAP, (b) such Cash and Cash
Equivalents are free and clear of all Liens, other than
(i) nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 6.2 (including
clause (a) of the definition of the term “Permitted
Encumbrances”), (ii) Liens referred to in clause (i) of the
definition of the term “Permitted Encumbrances”, (iii)
Liens created under the Credit Documents and (iv) Liens
securing any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, and (c) except in the
case of contractual restrictions in respect of any Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral pursuant to the Vector Subordinated
Note Cash Collateral Control Agreement or this Agreement, the use
of such Cash and Cash Equivalents for application to the payment of
Indebtedness is not prohibited in any material respect by
applicable law or any material Contractual Obligation and such Cash
and Cash Equivalents are not contractually restricted in any
material respect from being distributed to the Borrower;
provided
further
that the
Escrow Cash Collateral shall not constitute Unrestricted
Cash.
“
Unrestricted Subsidiary
” means (a)
any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in the manner provided below and not
subsequently redesignated as a “Restricted Subsidiary”
in the manner provided below and (b) each Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The
Borrower may designate any Subsidiary to be an “Unrestricted
Subsidiary” by delivering to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower
specifying such designation and certifying that such designated
Subsidiary satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition;
provided
that no
Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless
(a) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
designation, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom, (b) immediately after
giving Pro Forma Effect to such designation, (i) the Total Net
Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than the lesser of (A)
4.00:1.00 and (B) the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted
under the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a), in each
case, determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended
Test Period, (ii) in the case of any such designation during
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio shall not be less than the minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(c), determined for the then most recently ended Test
Period, and (iii) the combined “EBITDA” of all the
Unrestricted Subsidiaries (calculated in accordance with the
definition of the term Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
mutatis
mutandis
) for the most recent period
Test Period then ended shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, (c) such Subsidiary does
not own any Equity Interests in any of the Restricted Subsidiaries,
(d) neither such Subsidiary nor any of its Subsidiaries owns
or holds any License that is required for the conduct of business
in the ordinary course by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries or is otherwise material to the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, (e) each Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary has been designated as (and, for so long as it is a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, continues as) an “Unrestricted
Subsidiary” in accordance with this definition, (f) the
Investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries (including, after giving effect to the next
sentence, those resulting from such designation) are permitted
under Section 6.6, (g) such Subsidiary shall have been or will
promptly be designated an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or
otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness, any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness and any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and (h) no
Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it
was previously an Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been
redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary. Upon the designation of
any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have made an Investment
in such Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount equal at the time of
such designation to the fair value of such Subsidiary (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower). The Borrower shall cause each
Unrestricted Subsidiary to satisfy at all times the requirements
set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (g) above.
The
Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
“Restricted Subsidiary” by delivering to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Borrower specifying such redesignation and certifying that
such redesignation satisfies the requirements set forth in this
paragraph;
provided
that (a) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
redesignation, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom and (b) the redesignation of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall
constitute the incurrence, at the time of such redesignation, of
any Indebtedness, Liens and Investments of such Subsidiary existing
at such time.
“
Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation
Statement
” means, with respect to any balance sheet or
statement of comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity or
cash flows of the Borrower, such financial statement (in
substantially the same form) prepared on the basis of consolidating
the accounts of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and
treating Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if they were not consolidated
with the Borrower and otherwise eliminating all accounts of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, together with an explanation of
reconciliation adjustments in reasonable detail.
“
US Person
” means any Person that
is a “United States Person” as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code and a
disregarded entity (for US federal income tax purposes) owned by
such Person.
“
US Tax Compliance Certificate
” as
defined in Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(3).
“
Vector Collateral
” means any
assets of any Vector Lender provided as collateral to secure
obligations of the Vector Lenders under the Vector Senior Loan
Facility (including any such assets in the form of Tranche B Term
Loans held by any Vector Lender).
“
Vector Facility Arrangements
”
means the Vector Senior Loan Facility and the Vector Subordinated
Note.
“
Vector Lender
” means Vector SPV or
any Affiliate thereof that holds Term Loans and is an obligor under
the Vector Senior Loan Facility.
“
Vector Senior Loan Facility
Lender
” means Goldman Sachs or any of its
Affiliates.
“
Vector Senior Loan Facility
” means
the Credit Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Vector SPV, as
borrower, the Vector Senior Loan Facility Lender, Goldman Sachs, as
administrative agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as
collateral agent and collateral custodian, pursuant to which, and
on the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Vector Senior
Loan Facility Lender shall make a senior secured loan to Vector
SPV, which loan shall be secured by, among other things, the
Tranche B Term Loans held by Vector SPV and a cash reserve funded
in part with the proceeds of the Vector Subordinated
Note.
“
Vector SPV
” means Vector Fusion
Holdings (Cayman) Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with
limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands that is a
subsidiary of Vector Capital V, L.P.
“
Vector Subordinated Note
” means
the Subordinated Note dated May 4, 2018, and in a principal amount
of $25,000,000, issued by Vector SPV to the Borrower for cash
consideration of $25,000,000.
“
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account
” means a blocked deposit account maintained
with East West Bank or another depository institution reasonably
acceptable to the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders (a)
in which any prepayment or repayment or other amount or value
received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of
the Vector Subordinated Note shall be deposited in accordance with
Section 5.16 to be held as cash collateral securing the Obligations
and (b) that is subject to a control agreement in favor of the
Collateral Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders (the
“
Vector Subordinated Note
Cash Collateral Control Agreement
”), pursuant to which
the amounts on deposit in the Vector Subordinated Note Cash
Collateral Account shall be subject to the sole control and
dominion of the Collateral Agent, to be released by the Collateral
Agent solely in accordance with the provisions of Section
9.8(d)(ii)(D).
“
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Control Agreement
” as defined in the definition of the
term “Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account”.
“
Vector Subordinated Note
Collateral
” means all right, title and interest in, to
and under any and all of the following assets and properties now
owned or at any time hereafter acquired by any Credit Party or in
which any Credit Party now has or at any time in the future may
acquire any right, title or interest: (a) the Vector Subordinated
Note, all rights of the Credit Parties under the Vector
Subordinated Note, including such rights in respect of all Accounts
and Payment Intangibles arising from, and all other amounts or
value received by any Credit Party in respect of, the foregoing,
(b) the Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account and all
Cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit therein, including all
interest and profits thereon, and (c) all Proceeds, substitutions
or replacements of the foregoing;
provided
that any Cash or Cash
Equivalents released to the Borrower from the Vector Subordinated
Note Cash Collateral Account in accordance with Section
9.8(d)(ii)(D) shall, upon such release, no longer constitute Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral or Proceeds thereof.
“
Weighted Average Yield
” means, at
any time, with respect to any Loan or other Indebtedness, the
weighted average yield to stated maturity of such Loan or other
Indebtedness based on the interest rate or rates applicable thereto
and giving effect to all upfront or similar fees or original issue
discount payable by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to the
Lenders or other applicable creditors advancing such Loan or other
Indebtedness with respect thereto (but not any arrangement fees,
structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees
not paid generally to all such Lenders or other applicable
creditors, and excluding any ticking or amendment fees previously
paid with respect to such Loans or other Indebtedness) (in each
case, with upfront or similar fees or original issue discount being
deemed to constitute like amounts of original issue discount, and
such fees and original discount being equated to interest margins
in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practice
based on an assumed life to maturity of the lesser of four years
and the tenor of such Loan or other Indebtedness) and to any
interest rate “floor”. It is agreed that, for purposes
of determining the Weighted Average Yield of the Tranche B Term
Loans, subject to adjustment for any fees payable by the Borrower
or any of its Affiliates after the Closing Date in accordance with
the foregoing provisions of this definition, the upfront or similar
fees or original issue discount applicable to all the Tranche B
Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be
4.00%). For purposes of determining the Weighted Average Yield of
any floating rate Indebtedness at any time, the rate of interest
applicable to such Indebtedness at such time shall be assumed to be
the rate applicable at all times prior to maturity;
provided
that appropriate
adjustments shall be made for any scheduled changes in rates of
interest provided for in the documents governing such Indebtedness.
Determinations of the Weighted Average Yield shall be made in a
manner consistent with accepted financial practice.
“
wholly owned
”, when used in
reference to a Subsidiary of any Person, means that all the Equity
Interests in such Subsidiary (other than directors’
qualifying shares and other nominal amounts of Equity Interests
that are required to be held by other Persons under applicable law)
are owned, beneficially and of record, by such Person, another
wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person or any combination
thereof.
“
Wilmington Trust
” as defined in
the preamble hereto.
“
Write-Down and Conversion Powers
”
means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down
and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to
time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member
Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in
the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“
Yield Maintenance Amount
” means,
with respect to any Tranche B Term Loan that is prepaid pursuant to
Section 2.12(a)(i) (for the avoidance of doubt, including on
account of the requirements set forth in Section 2.25) or 2.13(c)
or is subject to any amendment or other modification of this
Agreement that, directly or indirectly, reduces the Weighted
Average Yield of such Tranche B Term Loan (or is required to be
assigned pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such
amendment or modification), an amount equal to the present value of
the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of interest that would have
otherwise been payable on the principal amount of such Tranche B
Term Loan so prepaid or subject to such amendment or modification
(or assignment) (assuming that such Tranche B Term Loan will bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of three months (giving
effect to any floor rate) as of the date of such prepayment or
amendment or modification (or assignment) plus (ii) the Applicable
Rate with respect to Tranche B Term Loans that are Eurodollar Rate
Loans) from the date of such prepayment or amendment or
modification (or assignment) through the date that is
12 months after the Closing Date, plus (b) 1.00% of the
principal amount of such Tranche B Term Loan so prepaid or subject
to such amendment or modification (or assignment), discounted in
accordance with accepted financial practice at a discount rate
(applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on
the Tranche B Term Loans is payable) equal to the Treasury Rate
plus 50 basis points per annum. Determinations of the Yield
Maintenance Amount shall be made in a manner consistent with
accepted financial practice.
1.2.
Accounting
Terms; Pro Forma Calculations
. (a) Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature used herein shall be construed in conformity with GAAP as in
effect from time to time;
provided
that (i) if the
Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent, shall request an
amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any
change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the
application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the
Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, by notice to the
Borrower, shall request an amendment to any provision hereof for
such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given
before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof,
then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in
effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become
effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such
provision amended in accordance herewith and
(ii) notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all
terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be
construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to
herein shall be made, (A) without giving effect to any election
under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification 825 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or
Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect)
(and related interpretations) to value any Indebtedness or other
liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair
value”, as defined therein, (B) without giving effect to
any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt
instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any
other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting
Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such
Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described
therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the
full stated principal amount thereof, and (C) without giving
effect to any change to GAAP occurring after the date hereof as a
result of the adoption of any proposals set forth in the
Proposed Accounting Standards
Update, Leases (Topic 842)
, issued by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board on May 16, 2013, or any other proposals
issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection
therewith, in each case if such change would require treating any
lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a
capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) was not
required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31,
2015. It is understood and agreed that when any term of an
accounting or financial nature refers to a determination being made
on a “consolidated basis”, when such reference is made
with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (or
any Restricted Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries), such
determination shall exclude from such consolidation the accounts of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(b)
All computations
required to be made hereunder giving effect to any Acquisition,
Disposition or other Pro Forma Event shall be calculated after
giving Pro Forma Effect thereto (and, in the case of any
computations made hereunder to determine whether such Acquisition,
Disposition or other Pro Forma Event is permitted to be consummated
hereunder, to any other such Pro Forma Event consummated since the
first day of the period covered by any component of such Pro Forma
computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if
such Pro Forma Event occurred on the first day of the most recent
Test Period. It is understood that, prior to the last day of the
Test Period ending on June 30, 2018, for purposes of any provision
hereof that requires compliance with Section 6.7(a) or 6.7(c) on a
Pro Forma Basis, such compliance will be determined based on the
ratio set forth in Section 6.7(a) or 6.7(c), as applicable, that
would be first applicable under such Section.
(c)
Prior to the
release of the Escrow Cash Collateral in accordance with the terms
of the Escrow Cash Collateral Control Agreement and Section
9.8(d)(ii), Tranche B Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount
equal to the amount of Escrow Cash Collateral on deposit in the
Escrow Cash Collateral Account at any time, but in no event in
excess of the Escrow Cash Amount, shall be deemed not to be
outstanding solely for purposes of determining actual compliance by
the Borrower with Section 6.7(a) or 6.7(c).
1.3.
Interpretation,
Etc
. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context
otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural,
depending on the reference. References herein to any Article,
Section, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to an Article or a
Section of, or a Schedule or an Exhibit to, this Agreement,
unless otherwise specifically provided. The words
“include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect as the word “shall”. The words
“asset” and “property” shall be construed
to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all
real and personal, tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including Cash, Securities, accounts and contract rights. The word
“law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes,
rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official
rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or
with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments,
orders, writs and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. The
words “not otherwise applied”, and words of similar
import, when used with reference to any amount of Net Proceeds of
any issuance or sale of Equity Interests that is proposed to be
applied to any particular use, payment or transaction, shall be
construed to mean that such amount was not previously applied, or
is not simultaneously being applied, to any other use, payment or
transaction other than such particular use, payment or transaction.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and unless the
context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference
to any agreement, instrument or other document (including this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents) shall be construed as
referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from
time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject
to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or
modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference
to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring
thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws),
and all references to any statute shall be construed as referring
to all rules, regulations, rulings and official interpretations
promulgated or issued thereunder, (c) any reference herein to any
Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors
and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth
herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority or any
self-regulating entity, any other Governmental Authority or entity
that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, and (d)
the words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof. Terms defined in the UCC as in effect
in the State of New York on the Closing Date and not otherwise
defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have
the meanings provided by those definitions.
1.4.
Classification
of Loans and Borrowings
.
For purposes of this Agreement,
Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Class
(
e.g.
, a
“Revolving Loan” or “Revolving Borrowing”)
or by Type (
e.g.
, a
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” or “Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (
e.g.
, a “Eurodollar Rate
Revolving Loan” or “Eurodollar Rate Revolving
Borrowing”).
1.5.
Conditionality
Testing Date
. Solely for purposes of determining compliance
with any provision of this Agreement (including compliance with the
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the
Total Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio or any other
financial metric, the absence of any Default or Event of Default
and the accuracy of any representation or warranty) that expressly
permits such compliance to be determined or tested in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 1.5 in connection with a
Limited Conditionality Transaction (but, for the avoidance of
doubt, not for purposes of determining whether the Borrower has
actually complied with Section 6.7 itself), the date of
determination of whether such provision has been satisfied shall,
at the option of the Borrower and upon delivery by the Borrower on
or prior to the applicable LCT Test Date of a written notice to
that effect to the Administrative Agent, be the date on which the
definitive agreements for such Limited Conditionality Transaction
are entered into (the “
LCT
Test Date
”), with such determination to give effect on
a Pro Forma Basis to such Limited Conditionality Transaction and
the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith
(including any incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of
proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the
most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date. For the
avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has exercised such option and
any of the ratios, financial metrics or amounts for which
compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are
exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, financial
metric or amount, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA, at or prior to the consummation of the Limited
Conditionality Transaction, such ratio, financial metric or amount
will be deemed not to have been exceeded as a result of such
fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such
provision has been satisfied in connection with such Limited
Conditionality Transaction. If the Borrower has exercised such
option in connection with any Limited Conditionality Transaction,
then, in connection with any subsequent calculation of ratios,
financial metrics or amounts (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not
for purposes of determining whether the Borrower has actually
complied with Section 6.7 itself) on or following the relevant LCT
Test Date and prior to the earlier of (a) the date on which such
Limited Conditionality Transaction is consummated and (b) the date
that the definitive agreements for such Limited Conditionality
Transaction are terminated or expire without consummation of such
Limited Conditionality Transaction (with the Borrower agreeing to
provide the Administrative Agent with prompt notice thereof), any
such ratio, financial metric or basket shall be calculated on a Pro
Forma Basis assuming such Limited Conditionality Transaction and
the other transactions in connection therewith (including any
incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of proceeds
thereof) have been consummated.
1.6.
Effectuation
of Transactions
. All references herein to the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries or the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to
be (unless the context otherwise requires) references to such
Persons, and all the representations and warranties of the Borrower
and the other Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents shall be deemed made, in each case, after
giving effect to the Merger and the other Transactions to occur on
the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.
LOANS
AND LETTERS OF CREDIT
2.1.
Term
Loans
. (a)
Term
Loan Commitments
. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, each Lender agrees to make, on the Closing Date, a term
loan to the Borrower in Dollars in a principal amount not to exceed
such Lender’s Tranche A Term Loan Commitment. Amounts
borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(i) that are repaid or
prepaid may not be reborrowed. Each Lender’s Tranche A Term
Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately and without any further
action upon the making of a Tranche A Term Loan, as applicable, by
such Lender or, if earlier, at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on
the Closing Date.
(ii)
Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender agrees to make, on
the Closing Date, a term loan to the Borrower in Dollars in a
principal amount not to exceed such Lender’s Tranche B
Term Loan Commitment. Amounts borrowed pursuant to this
Section 2.1(a)(ii) that are repaid or prepaid may not be
reborrowed. Each Lender’s Tranche B Term Loan Commitment
shall terminate immediately and without any further action upon the
making of a Tranche B Term Loan, as applicable, by such Lender or,
if earlier, at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing
Date.
(iii)
Additional
Classes of Term Loan Commitments may be established as provided in
Section 2.23 or 2.25, and the Term Loans thereunder shall be made
in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in, such Section.
(b)
Borrowing Mechanics for Term
Loans
.
(i)
Each Term Loan
shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans of
the same Class and Type made by the Lenders of such Class
proportionately to their applicable Pro Rata Shares. At the
commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Term
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of
$1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess of such
amount;
provided
that a Eurodollar Rate Term Borrowing that results from a
continuation of an outstanding Eurodollar Rate Term Borrowing may
be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the amount of such
outstanding Borrowing.
(ii)
To
request a Term Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a fully completed and executed Funding Notice
(A) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Term Borrowing, not later than
2:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days in
advance of the proposed Credit Date (which shall be a Business Day)
and (B) in the case of a Base Rate Term Borrowing, not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day in
advance of the proposed Credit Date (which shall be a Business Day)
(or, in each case, with respect to any Borrowing of Incremental
Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, not later than such other
time as shall be specified therefor in the applicable Incremental
Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement). Promptly
upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Funding Notice in
accordance with this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall
notify each Term Lender of the applicable Class of the details
thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Term Loan to be
made as part of the requested Term Borrowing. Following delivery of
a Funding Notice for a Eurodollar Rate Term Borrowing, any failure
to make such Borrowing shall be subject to
Section 2.17(c).
(iii)
Each
Lender shall make the principal amount of each Term Loan required
to be made by it hereunder on any Credit Date available to the
Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on such Credit Date (or, with respect to any Borrowing of
Incremental Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, not later than
such other time as shall be specified therefor in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement)
by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars to the account of the
Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will
make each such Term Loan available to the Borrower by promptly
remitting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the account
specified by the Borrower in the applicable Funding Notice (it
being agreed that, in the case of the Tranche B Term Loans made on
the Closing Date, an amount of the proceeds thereof equal to the
Escrow Cash Amount shall be remitted, in like funds, by the
Administrative Agent to the Escrow Cash Collateral
Account).
2.2.
Revolving
Loans
. (a)
Revolving Commitments
. During
the Revolving Commitment Period, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, each Lender agrees to make loans to the Borrower
in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding that will not result in (i) such Lender’s
Revolving Exposure exceeding its Revolving Commitment or
(ii) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceeding
the Total Revolving Commitments. Amounts borrowed pursuant to this
Section 2.2(a) that are repaid or prepaid may, subject to the terms
and conditions hereof, be reborrowed during the Revolving
Commitment Period. Each Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall
terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination
Date.
(b)
Borrowing Mechanics for Revolving
Loans
.
(i)
Each Revolving Loan
shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans
of the same Type made by the Revolving Lenders proportionately to
their applicable Pro Rata Shares. At the commencement of each
Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Revolving Borrowing, such
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $500,000
in excess of such amount;
provided
that a
Eurodollar Rate Revolving Borrowing that results from a
continuation of an outstanding Eurodollar Rate Revolving Borrowing
may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the amount of such
outstanding Borrowing. At the time each Base Rate Revolving
Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount
of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000
in excess of such amount;
provided
that such
Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire
unused balance of the Total Revolving Commitments or that is
required to finance the reimbursement of a drawing under a Letter
of Credit as contemplated by Section 2.3(d).
(ii)
To
request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a fully completed and executed Funding Notice
(A) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Revolving Borrowing, not later
than 2:00
p.m. (New York
City time) at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
Credit Date (which shall be a Business Day) and (B) in the
case of a Base Rate Revolving Borrowing, not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day in
advance of the proposed Credit Date (which shall be a Business
Day). In lieu of delivering a Funding Notice, the Borrower may give
the Administrative Agent, not later than the applicable time set
forth above, telephonic notice of any proposed Revolving Borrowing;
provided
that such
telephonic notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by
delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully completed and
executed Funding Notice. Promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of a Funding Notice or a telephonic notice in
accordance with this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall
notify each Revolving Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of
the requested Revolving Borrowing. Following delivery of a Funding
Notice or a telephonic notice for a Eurodollar Rate Revolving
Borrowing, any failure to make such Borrowing shall be subject to
Section 2.17(c).
(iii)
Each
Lender shall make the principal amount of the Revolving Loan
required to be made by it hereunder on any Credit Date available to
the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on such Credit Date by wire transfer of same day funds
in Dollars to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently
designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The
Administrative Agent will make each such Revolving Loan available
to the Borrower by promptly remitting the amounts so received, in
like funds, to the account specified by the Borrower in the
applicable Funding Notice (or, in the case of a Base Rate Revolving
Borrowing specified by the Borrower in the applicable Funding
Notice as made to finance reimbursement of a drawing under a Letter
of Credit as contemplated by Section 2.3(d), to the applicable
Issuing Bank).
2.3.
Letters
of Credit
. (a)
General
. During the Revolving
Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of
the Borrower;
provided
that no Letter of
Credit shall be, or shall be required to be, issued (or shall be
amended or extended) by any Issuing Bank unless (i) such Issuing
Bank (if other than the Person serving as the Administrative Agent)
shall have given written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Section 2.3(g), (ii) after giving effect thereto
(A) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not
exceed the Total Revolving Commitments, (B) the Letter of Credit
Usage shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (C) the
Letter of Credit Usage attributable to Letters of Credit issued by
such Issuing Bank shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Issuing
Commitment of such Issuing Bank, (iii) such Letter of Credit shall
be denominated in Dollars, (iv) such Letter of Credit shall
have an expiration date that is not later than the earlier of (A)
five Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date and (B) the
date that is one year after the date of issuance of such Letter of
Credit (or, in the case of an extension of any Letter of Credit,
one year after the then-current expiration date at the time of such
extension),
provided
that, in the case of
any Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank may agree that such Letter
of Credit will automatically extend for one or more successive
periods not to exceed one year each (but in any event to a date not
later than five Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date)
unless such Issuing Bank elects not to extend for any such
additional period and (v) such issuance (or amendment or extension)
is in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s standard operating
procedures. Each Letter of Credit shall be in a form acceptable to
the applicable Issuing Bank in its discretion and shall be of the
type approved for issuance by such Issuing Bank (it being
understood that standby Letters of Credit are deemed to be
approved).
(b)
Request for Issuance, Amendment,
Renewal or Extension
. To request the issuance of a Letter of
Credit (or the amendment or extension (other than an automatic
extension permitted under Section 2.3(a)) of an outstanding Letter
of Credit), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
and the applicable Issuing Bank a fully completed and executed
Issuance Notice not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City
time)
at least two
Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by such
Issuing Bank in any particular instance, in advance of the proposed
date of issuance, amendment or extension. If requested by the
applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit, not later
than the time set forth above, a completed and executed letter of
credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in
connection with any such request;
provided
that in the event of
any inconsistency or conflict between the terms and conditions of
such letter of credit application and the terms and conditions of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the terms and conditions
of this Agreement or such Loan Document shall govern and
control.
(c)
Responsibility of the Issuing
Banks
. In determining whether to honor any drawing under any
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 the Letter of
Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy
of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or
delivering any such document, it being agreed that, with respect to
such documents that appear on their face to be in substantial
compliance, but are not in strict compliance, with the terms of
such Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole
discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents
without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any
notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make
payment upon such documents. None of the Issuing Banks, the Agents,
any of their respective Related Parties or any correspondent,
participant or assignee of any Issuing Bank shall be liable to any
Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith
at the request or with the approval of the Requisite Lenders or the
Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders, as applicable, (ii)
any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct, as determined by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) the due
execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any
document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or entered
into in connection with any Letter of Credit, (iv) the form,
validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any
document submitted by any Person in connection with the application
for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact
prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient,
inaccurate, fraudulent or forged, (v) the validity or
sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or
purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights
or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part,
that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason,
(vi) failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to
comply with any conditions required in order to draw upon such
Letter of Credit, (vii) errors, omissions, interruptions or
delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail,
facsimile or otherwise, (viii) errors in interpretation of
technical terms, (ix) any loss or delay in the transmission or
otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under
any Letter of Credit, (x) the misapplication by the beneficiary of
any Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such
Letter of Credit or (xi) any consequences arising from causes
beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank, including any
Governmental Acts. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the
acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to
its use of any Letter of Credit;
provided
that this assumption
is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s
pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the
beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None
of the Issuing Banks, the Agents, any of their respective Related
Parties or any correspondent, participant or assignee of any
Issuing Bank shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters
described in Section 2.3(k);
provided
that anything in such
Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a
claim against an Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank may be liable
to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any
direct, as opposed to indirect, consequential, special, punitive or
exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower
proves were caused by such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct
or gross negligence, as determined by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance and
not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Banks 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 communicating with a
beneficiary.
(d)
Reimbursement by the Borrower
.
In the event an Issuing Bank shall have determined to honor a
drawing under any Letter of Credit, it shall promptly notify the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing thereof, and the
Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Bank for such drawing by
paying to such Issuing Bank an amount in Dollars in same day funds
equal to the amount of such drawing not later than (i) if the
Borrower shall have received notice of such drawing prior to 10:00
a.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, then 2:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on such Business Day or (ii) otherwise, 2:00
p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day next following the
day that the Borrower receives such notice (the date on which the
Borrower is required to reimburse a drawing under any Letter of
Credit being referred to herein as the “
Reimbursement Date
” in respect of
such drawing);
provided
that the Borrower may,
subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in
accordance with Section 2.2(b) that such reimbursement payment
be financed with a Base Rate Revolving Borrowing and, to the extent
the applicable Issuing Bank shall have received the proceeds
thereof, the Borrower’s obligation to make such reimbursement
payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Base Rate
Revolving Borrowing.
(e)
Revolving Lenders’
Participations in Letters of Credit
. Immediately upon the
issuance of any Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be
deemed to have purchased from the applicable Issuing Bank, and
agrees to fund as set forth herein, a participation in such Letter
of Credit and any drawings thereunder in an amount equal to such
Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of the maximum amount that
is or at any time may become available to be drawn under such
Letter of Credit. In the event the Borrower shall fail for any
reason to fully reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for any
drawing under a Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall promptly
notify the Administrative Agent in writing thereof and of the
unreimbursed amount of such drawing and, promptly upon receipt of
such notice, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving
Lender of the details of such notice and of such Lender’s
applicable Pro Rata Share of such unreimbursed amount. Each
Revolving Lender shall make available an amount equal to such
Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of such unreimbursed
amount to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on the first Business Day following the date
of receipt of such notice, by wire transfer of same day funds in
Dollars to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently
designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders, and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly remit the amounts so received,
in like funds, to the applicable Issuing Bank. In the event that
any Revolving Lender fails to make available, for the account of
any Issuing Bank, any payment referred to in the immediately
preceding sentence, such Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover
such amount on demand from such Lender, together with interest
thereon for three Business Days at the rate customarily used by
such Issuing Bank for the correction of errors among banks and
thereafter at the Base Rate. Each Revolving Lender agrees that, in
issuing, amending or extending any Letter of Credit, the applicable
Issuing Bank shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any
liability for relying, upon the representation and warranty of the
Borrower deemed made pursuant to Section 3.2, unless, at least one
Business Day prior to the time such Letter of Credit is issued,
amended or extended (or, in the case of any Letter of Credit
subject to automatic extension provisions, at least three Business
Days prior to the time by which the election not to extend must be
made by the applicable Issuing Bank), the Borrower, a Majority in
Interest of the Revolving Lenders or the Requisite Lenders shall
have notified the applicable Issuing Bank (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent and, if the notice is not sent by the
Borrower, the Borrower) in writing that, as a result of one or more
events or circumstances described in such notice, one or more of
the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.2 would not be
satisfied if such Letter of Credit were then issued, amended or
extended (it being understood and agreed that, in the event any
Issuing Bank shall have received any such notice, or shall
otherwise believe in good faith that such conditions would not be
satisfied, it shall have no obligation to (and, in the event it
shall have received any such notice, shall not) issue, amend or
extend any Letter of Credit until and unless it shall be satisfied
that the events and circumstances giving rise thereto shall have
been cured or otherwise shall have ceased to exist). In the event
an Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders
pursuant to this Section 2.3(e) for all or any portion of any
drawing honored by such Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit, such
Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Revolving Lender that has
paid all amounts payable by it under this Section 2.3(e) with
respect to such drawing such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata
Share of all payments subsequently received by such Issuing Bank by
or on behalf of the Borrower in reimbursement of such drawing when
such payments are received;
provided
that any such payment
so distributed shall be repaid to such Issuing Bank if and to the
extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for
any reason. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this
Section 2.3(e) to reimburse an Issuing Bank for a drawing under a
Letter of Credit (other than the funding of a Base Rate Revolving
Borrowing as contemplated by Section 2.3(d)) shall not
constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its
obligation to reimburse such drawing.
(f)
Obligations Absolute
. The
obligation of the Borrower to reimburse each Issuing Bank for
drawings honored under the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing
Bank and the obligations of the Revolving Lenders under Section
2.3(e) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall
be paid and performed strictly in accordance with the terms hereof
under all circumstances, notwithstanding (i) any lack of
validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, (ii) the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the
Borrower or any Lender may have at any time against any beneficiary
or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom
any such transferee may be acting), the applicable Issuing Bank or
any other Person or, in the case of any Lender, against the
Borrower, whether in connection herewith, with the transactions
contemplated herein or with any unrelated transaction (including
any underlying transaction between the Borrower or any Subsidiary
and the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit), (iii) any
draft or other document presented under any 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) payment by the applicable Issuing Bank under any
Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document
that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit,
(v) any adverse change in the business, operations,
properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, (vi) any breach hereof or of any
other Credit Document by any party thereto, (vii) any Default or
Event of Default having occurred and continuing, (viii) any force
majeure or other event that under any rule of law or uniform
practices to which any Letter of Credit is subject (including Rule
3.14 of the ISP or any successor publication) permits a drawing to
be made under such Letter of Credit after the expiration thereof or
after the Revolving Maturity Date, (ix) waiver by such Issuing Bank
of any requirement that exists for the protection of such Issuing
Bank and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver by any
Issuing Bank which does not in fact materially prejudice the
Borrower, (x) honor of a demand for payment presented
electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand
be in the form of a draft, (xi) any payment made by any Issuing
Bank in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the
date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which
documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if
presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or
the UCP, as applicable, and (xii) any other event, condition,
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 any Guarantor Subsidiary;
provided
that, subject to
Section 10.3(b) and the other provisions hereof, the Borrower and
each Revolving Lender shall retain any and all rights it may have
against an Issuing Bank for any liability arising solely out of the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Bank, as
determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(g)
Issuing Bank Reports to the
Administrative Agent
. Unless otherwise agreed by the
Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its
notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section 2.3,
report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity
(for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the
Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by
such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions, amendments
and renewals, all expirations and cancelations and all honored
drawings and reimbursements thereof, (ii) reasonably prior to
the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends
any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment or
extension, and the face amount of the Letters of Credit to be
issued, amended or extended by such Issuing Bank and outstanding
after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension (and
whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each day
on which such Issuing Bank honors any drawing under any Letter of
Credit, the date and amount of the drawing so honored, (iv) on
any Business Day on which the Borrower reimburses or fails to
reimburse any drawing under a Letter of Credit as required
hereunder, the date of such reimbursement or such failure and the
amount of such reimbursed or unreimbursed drawing and (v) on any
other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued
by such Issuing Bank.
(h)
Cash Collateralization
. If any
Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the day that the
Borrower receives a request from an Issuing Bank or notice from the
Administrative Agent referred to in Section 8.1, the Borrower
shall deposit in a deposit account in the name of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the
Lenders, an amount in Dollars equal to 103% of the Letter of Credit
Usage as of such date;
provided
that the obligation to
deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately,
and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without
demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any
Event of Default specified in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g). The
Borrower also shall deposit Cash Collateral in accordance with this
Section 2.3(h) as and to the extent required by Section 2.13(e) or
2.21. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent
as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of
the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall
have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right
of withdrawal, over such deposit account. Other than any interest
earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall
be made at the option and discretion of the Administrative Agent
with the Borrower’s consent and at the Borrower’s risk
and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or
profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such
account. Funds in such account shall, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in the Collateral Documents, be applied by the
Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Banks for honored
drawings under Letters of Credit for which they have not been
reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the
satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for
the Letter of Credit Usage at such time or, if the maturity of the
Loans has been accelerated (but subject to (i) the consent of
a Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders and (ii) in the
case of any such application at a time when any Revolving Lender is
a Defaulting Lender (but only if, after giving effect thereto, the
remaining Cash Collateral shall be less than the aggregate Fronting
Exposure), the consent of each Issuing Bank), be applied to satisfy
other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the
Borrower is required to provide Cash Collateral as a result of the
occurrence of an Event of Default, such Cash Collateral (to the
extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower
promptly after all Events of Default have been cured or waived and
the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower to that effect. If the Borrower
is required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to
Section 2.13(e), such Cash Collateral (to the extent not
applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower to the
extent that, after giving effect to such return, the Total
Utilization of Revolving Commitments would not exceed the Total
Revolving Commitments and no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing. If the Borrower is required to provide
Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.21, such Cash Collateral (to
the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the
Borrower to the extent that, after giving effect to such return, no
Issuing Bank shall have any Fronting Exposure and no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
(i)
Termination of any Issuing Bank;
Designation of Additional Issuing Banks
.
(i)
The Borrower may
terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an “Issuing
Bank” hereunder by providing written notice thereof to such
Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, and
terminating such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Issuing
Commitment. Any such termination shall become effective upon the
earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank acknowledging receipt of such
notice and (ii) the 10th Business Day following the date of
the delivery thereof;
provided
that no such
termination shall become effective until and unless the Letter of
Credit Usage attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such
Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero.
Any Issuing Bank may resign at any time by giving 30 days’
prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
At the time any such termination or resignation shall become
effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the
account of the terminated or resigning Issuing Bank pursuant to
Section 2.10(b). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such
termination or resignation, the terminated or resigning Issuing
Bank shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with respect to
Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such termination or
resignation, but shall not issue any additional Letters of
Credit.
(ii)
The
Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, with the consent
of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), designate as
additional Issuing Banks one or more Revolving Lenders (or an
Affiliate thereof) that agree to serve in such capacity as provided
below. The acceptance by a Revolving Lender (or such Affiliate) of
an appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder shall be evidenced by
an agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and such designated Revolving Lender (or
such Affiliate) and, from and after the effective date of such
agreement, (i) such Revolving Lender (or such Affiliate) shall
have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this
Agreement and (ii) references herein to the term
“Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to include such
Revolving Lender (or such Affiliate) in its capacity as an issuer
of Letters of Credit hereunder.
(j)
Letter of Credit Amounts.
Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of any Letter of
Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount available to be
drawn under such Letter of Credit as in effect at such time;
provided
that with
respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of
any letter of credit application relating thereto (or of any other
document, agreement or instrument entered into by the applicable
Issuing Bank and the Borrower and relating to such Letter of
Credit), provides for one or more automatic increases prior to the
expiration thereof (without giving effect to any automatic
extension provisions therein or the reinstatement of an amount
previously drawn thereunder and reimbursed) in the face amount
thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be
the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not
such maximum amount is in effect at such time.
(k)
Concerning the Issuing Banks.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:
(i)
No Issuing Bank
shall 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 that was not applicable on the Closing Date and which
such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it;
(B)
the issuance of
such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such
Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally;
or
(C)
any Revolving
Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, except in accordance
with the terms of Section 2.21(c).
(ii)
An
Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of
Credit if (A) such Issuing Bank would have no obligation at
such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under
the terms hereof or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of
Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of
Credit.
(iii)
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 such Issuing Bank shall have all of the
benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative
Agent in Section 9 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 documents
pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term
“Administrative Agent” or “Agent” as used
in Section 9 included such Issuing Bank with respect to such
acts or omissions,
provided
that no Lender shall
have any obligation to any Issuing Bank (except, in the case of any
Issuing Bank that is also an Agent, in its capacity as such Agent)
under Section 9.6, and (B) as additionally provided herein with
respect to Issuing Banks.
(l)
Applicability of ISP and UCP;
Limitation of Liability
. Unless otherwise expressly agreed
by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when such Letter of
Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP or UCP, as applicable, shall
be stated therein to apply to each Letter of Credit.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Issuing Bank shall not be
responsible to the Borrower for, and an Issuing Bank’s rights
and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any
action or inaction of such Issuing Bank required or permitted under
any law, order or practice that is required or permitted to be
applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the
law or any order of a jurisdiction where such Issuing Bank or the
beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as
applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or
official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers
Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), or the Institute of
International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter
of Credit chooses such law or practice.
2.4.
Pro
Rata Shares; Obligations Several; Availability of Funds
. (a)
All Loans on the occasion of any Borrowing shall be made, and all
participations in Letters of Credit purchased, by the Lenders in
proportion to their applicable Pro Rata Shares. The failure of any
Lender to make any Loan or fund any participation required
hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations
hereunder;
provided
that the Commitments and other obligations of the Lenders hereunder
are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of
any other Lender to make any Loan or fund any participation
required hereunder or to satisfy any of its other obligations
hereunder.
(b)
Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender prior to
the applicable Credit Date that such Lender does not intend to make
available to the Administrative Agent the amount of such
Lender’s Loan requested to be made on such Credit Date, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Administrative Agent on such Credit Date
and may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to,
make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made the amount of its Loan
available to the Administrative Agent, then such Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand, such corresponding amount, with interest
thereon for each day from and including the date such amount is
made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of such
payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a
payment to be made by such Lender, (A) at any time prior to the
third Business Day following the date such amount is made available
to the Borrower, the customary rate set by the Administrative Agent
for the correction of errors among banks and (B) thereafter, the
Base Rate or (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the
Borrower, the interest rate applicable hereunder to Base Rate Loans
of the applicable Class. If the Borrower and such Lender shall both
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 such amount to the
Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender’s Loan included in the applicable
Borrowing.
2.5.
Use of Proceeds
. The Borrower will use
the proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term
Loans made on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the
loans made under the Second Lien Credit Agreement on the Closing
Date, the proceeds of the New Subordinated Note and the Closing
Date Common Equity Issuance, (a) to consummate the Closing Date
Refinancing, (b) to pay fees and expenses in connection with
the Transactions, (c) in the case of the proceeds of the
Tranche B Term Loans constituting Escrow Cash Collateral,
solely to (i) consummate the Specified Acquisition,
provided
that if the Specified
Acquisition is consummated and the proceeds of the Tranche B Term
Loans constituting Escrow Cash Collateral (prior to giving effect
to any release thereof) exceed an amount equal to (A) the
Acquisition Consideration paid in Cash to consummate the Specified
Acquisition
plus
(B) the customary fees and expenses paid in Cash in connection with
the Specified Acquisition, by $10,000,000 or less, the Borrower
shall be permitted to use such excess proceeds in accordance with
Section 2.5(d) or (ii) make the mandatory prepayment of
Tranche B Term Loans pursuant Section 2.13(d), and (d) to
the extent any excess proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans or the
Tranche B Term Loans remain after the application of proceeds under
clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, for working capital and other
general corporate purposes of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving
Loans solely for working capital requirements and other general
corporate purposes of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,
including Acquisitions permitted by this Agreement. Letters of
Credit will be used by the Borrower solely for general corporate
purposes of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. The
Borrower will use the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan for the
purposes specified in the applicable Incremental Facility
Agreement, and the proceeds of any Refinancing Term Loan solely for
the repayment or prepayment of Term Borrowings as set forth in
Section 2.25(c) and the payment of any related fees, premiums
and expenses.
2.6.
Evidence
of Debt; Register; Notes
. (a)
Lenders’ Evidence of
Debt
. Each Lender shall maintain records evidencing the
Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender, including the
principal amount of the Loans made by such Lender and each
repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Such records
maintained by any Lender shall be prima facie evidence thereof,
absent manifest error;
provided
that the failure to
maintain any such records, or any error therein, shall not in any
manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay any amounts due
hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof;
provided
further
that in the event of
any inconsistency between the records maintained by any Lender and
the records maintained by the Administrative Agent, the records
maintained by the Administrative Agent shall govern and
control.
(b)
Register
. The Administrative
Agent shall maintain records of the name and address of, and the
Commitments of and the principal amount of and stated interest on
the Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time (the
“
Register
”). The
entries in the Register shall be prima facie evidence thereof,
absent manifest error;
provided
that the failure to
maintain the Register, or any error therein, shall not in any
manner affect the obligation of any Lender to make a Loan or other
payment hereunder or the obligation of the Borrower to pay any
amounts due hereunder, in each case in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by
the Borrower or any Lender (but, in the case of a Lender, only with
respect to (i) any entry relating to such Lender’s
Commitments or Loans and (ii) the identity of the other
Lenders (but not information as to such other Lenders’
Commitments or Loans)) at any reasonable time and from time to time
upon reasonable prior notice. The Borrower hereby designates the
Person serving as the Administrative Agent to serve as the
Borrower’s non-fiduciary agent solely for purposes of
maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.6(b)
and agrees that, in consideration of such Person serving in such
capacity, such Person and its Related Parties shall constitute
“Indemnitees”.
(c)
Notes
. Upon the request of any
Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall promptly prepare, execute
and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered
assigns) to evidence such Lender’s Loans of any Class, which
shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
N.
2.7.
Interest
on Loans and Letter of Credit Disbursements
. (a) Subject to
Section 2.9, each Loan of any Class shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the date made through
repayment (whether by acceleration or otherwise) thereof as
follows:
(i)
if a Base Rate
Loan, at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate with respect to
Loans of such Class; or
(ii)
if
a Eurodollar Rate Loan, at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the
Applicable Rate with respect to Loans of such Class.
The
applicable Base Rate or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be
determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination
shall be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto, absent
manifest error.
(b)
The basis for
determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan, and the
Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing,
shall be selected by the Borrower pursuant to the applicable
Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice delivered in
accordance herewith;
provided
that there shall be no
more than 10 (or such greater number as may be agreed to by the
Administrative Agent) Eurodollar Rate Borrowings outstanding at any
time. In the event the Borrower fails to specify in any Funding
Notice the Type of the requested Borrowing, then the requested
Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing. In the event the
Borrower fails to deliver in accordance with Section 2.8 a
Conversion/Continuation Notice with respect to any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein,
at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be
converted to a Base Rate Borrowing. In the event the Borrower
requests the making of, or the conversion to or continuation of,
any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing but fails to specify in the
applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice the
Interest Period to be applicable thereto, the Borrower shall be
deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No
Borrowing of any Class may be converted into a Borrowing of another
Class.
(c)
Interest payable
pursuant to Section 2.7(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of
Base Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year (or, in the case of
Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Prime Rate, a
365-day or 366-day year, as applicable), and (ii) in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case
for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which
such interest accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date
of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period
applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being
converted from a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion of
such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may
be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the
expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or,
with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such
Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded;
provided
that if a
Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s
interest shall accrue on such Loan.
(d)
Except as otherwise
set forth herein, accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in
arrears (i) on each Interest Payment Date applicable to such Loan,
(ii) upon any voluntary or mandatory repayment or prepayment of
such Loan (other than any voluntary prepayment of any Base Rate
Revolving Loans), to the extent accrued on the amount being repaid
or prepaid, (iii) if such Loan is a Revolving Loan, on the
Revolving Commitment Termination Date, (iv) on the Maturity Date
applicable to such Loan and (v) in the event of any conversion of a
Eurodollar Rate Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period then
applicable thereto, on the effective date of such
conversion.
(e)
The Borrower agrees
to pay to each Issuing Bank, with respect to drawings honored under
any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, interest on the
amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of each such drawing
from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the date
such amount is reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at a rate
equal to (i) for the period from the date such drawing is
honored to but excluding the applicable Reimbursement Date, the
rate of interest otherwise payable hereunder with respect to Base
Rate Revolving Loans and (ii) thereafter, the rate determined
in accordance with Section 2.9. Interest payable pursuant to this
Section 2.7(e) shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days
(or 366 days in a leap year) for the actual number of days elapsed
in the period during which it accrues, and shall be payable on
demand or, if no demand is made, on the date on which the related
drawing under a Letter of Credit is reimbursed in full. In the
event the applicable Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by the
Revolving Lenders for all or any portion of such drawing, such
Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Revolving Lender that has
paid all amounts payable by it under Section 2.3(e) with respect to
such drawing such Revolving Lender’s applicable Pro Rata
Share of any interest received by such Issuing Bank in respect of
the portion of such drawing so reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders
for the period from the date on which such Issuing Bank was so
reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders to but excluding the date on
which such portion of such drawing is reimbursed by the
Borrower.
2.8.
Conversion/Continuation
.
(a) Subject to Section 2.17, the Borrower shall have the
option:
(i)
to convert at any
time all or any part of any Borrowing from one Type to the other
Type; and
(ii)
to
continue, at the end of the Interest Period applicable to any
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, all or any part of such Borrowing as a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and to elect an Interest Period
therefor;
provided
, in each case, that at
the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an amount that complies with
Section 2.1(b) or 2.2(b), as applicable.
In the
event any Borrowing shall have been converted or continued in
accordance with this Section 2.8 in part, such conversion or
continuation shall be allocated ratably, in accordance with their
applicable Pro Rata Shares, among the Lenders holding the Loans
comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each part of
such Borrowing resulting from such conversion or continuation shall
be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b)
To exercise its
option pursuant to this Section 2.8, the Borrower shall deliver a
fully completed and executed Conversion/Continuation Notice to the
Administrative Agent (i) not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City
time) one Business Day in advance of the proposed
Conversion/Continuation Date, in the case of a conversion to a Base
Rate Borrowing, and (ii) not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City
time) at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
Conversion/Continuation Date, in the case of a conversion to, or a
continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing. In lieu of delivering
a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower may give the
Administrative Agent, not later than the applicable time set forth
above, telephonic notice of any proposed conversion or
continuation;
provided
that such telephonic
notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery to the
Administrative Agent of a fully completed and executed
Conversion/Continuation Notice. Except as otherwise provided
herein, a Conversion/Continuation Notice for a conversion to, or a
continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall be irrevocable
on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and the
Borrower shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in
accordance therewith; any failure to effect such conversion or
continuation in accordance therewith shall be subject to Section
2.17(c).
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, if an Event of Default under
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) or, at the request of the
Requisite Lenders (or a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any
Class), any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, then no outstanding Borrowing (of the applicable Class,
in the case of such a request by a Majority in Interest of Lenders
of any Class) may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing.
2.9.
Default
Interest
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), any principal of or
interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the
Borrower hereunder shall bear interest (in the case of an Event of
Default under Section 8.1(a), only on overdue amounts), payable on
demand, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal
to (a) in the case of the principal of any Loan, 2.00% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable hereunder to such
Loan or (b) in the case of any other amount, a rate (computed on
the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days
elapsed) that is 2.00% per annum in excess of the highest interest
rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or
acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this
Section 2.9 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and
shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise
prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Administrative
Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender.
2.10.
Fees
.
(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of each Revolving Lender, for each day:
(i)
a commitment fee
equal to such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of (A) the
excess, determined as of the close of business on such day, of (1)
the Total Revolving Commitments over (2) the aggregate principal
amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit
Usage,
multiplied
by
(B) the Commitment Fee Rate on such day; and
(ii)
a
letter of credit fee equal to such Lender’s applicable Pro
Rata Share of (A) the Letter of Credit Usage (excluding any portion
thereof attributable to unreimbursed drawings under the Letters of
Credit), determined as of the close of business on such day,
multiplied by
(B) the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Revolving Loans on
such day.
(b)
The Borrower agrees
to pay directly to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, the
following fees:
(i)
for each day, a
fronting fee equal to 0.125%
multiplied by
the Letter of
Credit Usage attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such
Issuing Bank (excluding any portion thereof attributable to
unreimbursed drawings under such Letters of Credit), determined as
of the close of business on any such day; 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 Bank’s standard schedule for such charges and as
in effect at the time of such issuance, amendment, transfer or
payment, as the case may be.
(c)
All fees referred
to in Sections 2.10(a) and 2.10(b)(i) shall be calculated on the
basis of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed
and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day
of March, June, September and December of each year, (i) in the
case of the fees referred to in Section 2.10(a)(i), during the
Revolving Commitment Period and (ii) in the case of the fees
referred to in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or 2.10(b)(i), during the period
from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of
the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the date on which the
Letter of Credit Usage shall have been reduced to zero;
provided
that all
such fees shall be payable on the Revolving Commitment Termination
Date and any such fees accruing after such date shall be payable on
demand.
(d)
The Borrower agrees
to pay on the Closing Date to Goldman Sachs, as an Arranger, for
the account of each Lender, closing fees in the amounts separately
agreed among the Borrower and the Arrangers.
(e)
The Borrower agrees
to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the
Arrangers, as applicable, such other fees in the amounts and at the
times separately agreed upon (including pursuant to the
Administrative Agent Fee Letter) in respect of the credit
facilities provided herein.
(f)
Fees paid hereunder
shall not be refundable or creditable under any
circumstances.
2.11.
Scheduled
Installments; Repayment on Maturity Date
. (a) Subject to
Section 2.11(d), the Borrower shall repay Tranche A Term
Borrowings on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year, commencing with June 30, 2018 and
ending with the last such day to occur prior to the Tranche A Term
Loan Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount for each such
date ending (i) on or prior to March 31, 2020, equal to 1.25% and
(ii) on June 30, 2020 or thereafter, equal to 1.875%, in each case,
of the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche A Term Borrowings
made on the Closing Date. To the extent not previously paid, all
Tranche A Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Tranche A
Term Loan Maturity Date.
(b)
Subject to
Section 2.11(d), the Borrower shall repay Tranche B Term
Borrowings on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year, commencing with June 30, 2018 and
ending with the last such day to occur prior to the Tranche B Term
Loan Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount for each such
date ending (i) on or prior to March 31, 2020, equal to 1.25% and
(ii) on June 30, 2020 or thereafter, equal to 1.875%, in each case,
of the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche B Term Borrowings
made on the Closing Date. To the extent not previously paid, all
Tranche B Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Tranche B
Term Loan Maturity Date.
(c)
Subject to Section
2.11(d), the Borrower shall repay Term Loans of any Class
established under Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 in such amounts
and on such date or dates as shall be specified therefor in the
applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension/Modification
Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement. To the extent not
previously paid, all Term Loans of any such Class shall be due and
payable on the Maturity Date applicable to the Term Loans of such
Class.
(d)
The Installments
shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary or mandatory
prepayments of, or any repurchases by the Borrower of, the Tranche
A Term Loans, the Tranche B Term Loans or the Term Loans of
any other Class, as the case may be, in accordance with
Section 2.14.
(e)
Prior to any
repayment of any Term Borrowings of any Class under this
Section 2.11, the Borrower shall select the Term Borrowing or
Term Borrowings of the applicable Class to be repaid and shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such selection at least one
Business Day in advance of such repayment. Each such notice may be
given by telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall
promptly be confirmed in writing). Each repayment of a Term
Borrowing shall be allocated among the Lenders holding Loans
comprising such Term Borrowing in accordance with their applicable
Pro Rata Shares.
(f)
The Borrower shall
repay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving
Lenders, the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on
the Revolving Maturity Date.
2.12.
Voluntary
Prepayments/Commitment Reductions; Call
Protection
.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments
. (i)
At any time and from time to time, the Borrower may, without
premium or penalty (except as applicable under Section 2.12(c) or
2.12(d)) but subject to compliance with the conditions set forth in
this Section 2.12(a) and with Section 2.17(c), prepay any Borrowing
in whole or in part;
provided
that each such
partial voluntary prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess of such amount.
(ii)
To
make a voluntary prepayment pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i),
the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (A) at least one Business Day
prior to the date of prepayment, in the case of prepayment of Base
Rate Borrowings, or (B) at least three Business Days prior to the
date of prepayment, in the case of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings. Each such notice shall specify the prepayment date
(which shall be a Business Day) and the principal amount of each
Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid, and may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing). Each such notice shall be irrevocable,
and the principal amount of each Borrowing specified therein shall
become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein;
provided
that a
notice of prepayment of any Borrowing pursuant to Section
2.12(a)(i) may state that such notice is conditioned upon the
occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case
such notice may be rescinded by the Borrower (by notice to the
Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of
prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise
the Lenders of the applicable Class of the details thereof. Each
voluntary prepayment of a Borrowing shall be allocated among the
Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing in accordance with
their applicable Pro Rata Shares.
(iii)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 2.12 to the contrary, in
connection with a refinancing in full of the credit facilities
established hereunder, any Lender may, with the consent of the
Borrower, elect, by written agreement executed by the Borrower,
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, to accept Rollover
Indebtedness in lieu of all or any part of such Lender’s
applicable Pro Rata Share of any prepayment of any Borrowing made
pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i).
(b)
Voluntary Commitment
Reductions
. (i) At any time and from time to time, the
Borrower may, without premium or penalty but subject to compliance
with the conditions set forth in this Section 2.12(b), terminate in
whole or permanently reduce in part the Revolving Commitments in an
amount up to the amount by which the Total Revolving Commitments
exceed the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments at the time
of such proposed termination or reduction;
provided
that each such partial
reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an aggregate
amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess of such amount.
(ii)
To
make a voluntary termination or reduction of the Revolving
Commitments pursuant to Section 2.12(b)(i), the Borrower shall
notify the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New
York City time) at least three Business Days prior to the date of
effectiveness of such termination or reduction. Each such notice
shall specify the termination or reduction date (which shall be a
Business Day) and the amount of any partial reduction, and may be
given by telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall
promptly be confirmed in writing). Each such notice shall be
irrevocable, and the termination or reduction of the Revolving
Commitments specified therein shall become effective on the date
specified therein;
provided
that a notice of
termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments under Section
2.12(b)(i) may state that such notice is conditioned upon the
occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case
such notice may be rescinded by the Borrower (by written notice to
the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective
date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise
the Revolving Lenders of the details thereof. Each voluntary
reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall reduce the Revolving
Commitments of the Revolving Lenders in accordance with their
applicable Pro Rata Shares.
(c)
Tranche A Term Loan Call
Protection
. In the event that on or prior to the date that
is six months after the Closing Date (i) all or any portion of the
Tranche A Term Borrowings are subject to a Repricing Event or
(ii) a Lender is required to assign any of its Tranche A Term Loans
pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such Repricing Event,
then each Lender whose Tranche A Term Loans are subject to such
Repricing Event or which is required to assign any of its Tranche A
Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such
Repricing Event shall be paid a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate
principal amount of such Lender’s Tranche A Term Loans
subject to such Repricing Event or such assignment;
provided
that such fee shall
not apply if such Repricing Event is in connection with (A) the
occurrence of a Change of Control or (B) the consummation of an
Acquisition not permitted by this Agreement.
(d)
Tranche B Term Loan Call
Protection
. In the event that (i) on or prior to the
date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, all or any portion
of the Tranche B Term Borrowings (A) are prepaid pursuant to
Section 2.12(a)(i) (for the avoidance of doubt, including on
account of the requirements set forth in Section 2.25) or 2.13(c)
or (B) are subject to any amendment or other modification of this
Agreement that, directly or indirectly, reduces the Weighted
Average Yield of any Tranche B Term Loans, then each Lender whose
Tranche B Term Loans are so prepaid or subject to such amendment or
modification, or which is required to assign any of its Tranche B
Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such
amendment or modification, shall be paid a fee equal to the Yield
Maintenance Amount with respect to the principal amount of such
Lender’s Tranche B Term Loans so prepaid or subject to such
amendment or modification (or such assignment), and (ii) after the
date that is 12 months after the Closing Date and on or prior to
the date that is 24 months after the Closing Date (A) all or any
portion of the Tranche B Term Borrowings are subject to a
Repricing Event or (B) a Lender is required to assign any of its
Tranche B Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with
such Repricing Event, then each Lender whose Tranche B Term Loans
are subject to such Repricing Event or which is required to assign
any of its Tranche B Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22 in
connection with such Repricing Event shall be paid a fee equal to
1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s
Tranche B Term Loans subject to such Repricing Event or such
assignment;
provided
that the fee set forth
in clause (ii) of this Section 2.12(d) shall not apply if such
Repricing Event is in connection with (A) the occurrence of a
Change of Control or (B) the consummation of an Acquisition not
permitted by this Agreement;
provided
further
that no fee shall be
due and payable under this Section 2.12(d) if such prepayment or
amendment or modification (or such assignment) or such Repricing
Event occurs after the date that is 24 months after the Closing
Date.
2.13.
Mandatory
Prepayments/Commitment Reductions
.
(a) Asset Sales
. Not later than
the fifth Business Day following the date of receipt by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Net Proceeds in
respect of any Asset Sale, the Borrower shall prepay the Term
Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net
Proceeds;
provided
that the Borrower may, at least one Business Day prior to the date
of the required prepayment, deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect
that the Borrower intends to cause such Net Proceeds (or a portion
thereof specified in such certificate) to be reinvested in
non-current assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries or in Permitted Acquisitions or other
Acquisitions, in each case, within 365 days after the receipt of
such Net Proceeds, and certifying that, as of the date thereof, no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case
during such period the Borrower shall not be required to make such
prepayment to the extent of the amount set forth in such
certificate;
provided
further
that any such Net
Proceeds that are not so reinvested by the end of such period (or
within a period of 270 days thereafter if by the end of such
initial 365-day period the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall have entered into a binding agreement with a
third party to so reinvest such Net Proceeds) shall be applied to
prepay the Term Borrowings promptly upon the expiration of such
period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may use a
portion of any Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale that would
otherwise be required pursuant to this Section 2.13(a) to be
applied to prepay the Term Borrowings to prepay, repurchase or
redeem any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or
any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness that, in each
case, constitutes Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness but
only to the extent such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness
pursuant to the terms thereof is required to be (or is required to
be offered to the holders thereof to be) prepaid, repurchased or
redeemed as a result of such Asset Sale (with the amount of the
prepayment of the Term Borrowings that would otherwise have been
required pursuant to this Section 2.13(a) being reduced
accordingly),
provided
that (i) such portion
shall not exceed the product of (A) the amount of such Net Proceeds
multiplied by (B) a fraction of which the numerator is the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness and the denominator is the sum of the
aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness and all Term Borrowings, in each case at the time of
occurrence of such Asset Sale, and (ii) in the event the holders of
such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness shall have declined
such prepayment, repurchase or redemption, the declined amount
shall promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days after the
date of rejection) be applied to prepay the Term
Borrowings.
(b)
Insurance/Condemnation Events
.
Not later than the fifth Business Day following the date of receipt
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or by the Collateral
Agent as loss payee, of any Net Proceeds in respect of any
Insurance/Condemnation Event, the Borrower shall prepay the Term
Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net
Proceeds;
provided
that the Borrower may, at least one Business Day prior to the date
of the required prepayment, deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect
that the Borrower intends to cause such Net Proceeds (or a portion
thereof specified in such certificate) to be reinvested in
replacement assets (including through the repair, restoration or
replacement of the damaged, destroyed or condemned assets) or other
non-current assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries or in Permitted Acquisitions or other
Acquisitions, in each case, within 365 days after the receipt of
such Net Proceeds, and certifying that, as of the date thereof, no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case
during such period the Borrower shall not be required to make such
prepayment to the extent of the amount set forth in such
certificate;
provided
further
that any such Net
Proceeds that are not so reinvested by the end of such period (or
within a period of 270 days thereafter if by the end of such
initial 365-day period the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall have entered into a binding agreement with a
third party to so reinvest such Net Proceeds) shall be applied to
prepay the Term Borrowings promptly upon the expiration of such
period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may use a
portion of any Net Proceeds in respect of any
Insurance/Condemnation Event that would otherwise be required
pursuant to this Section 2.13(b) to be applied to prepay the Term
Borrowings to prepay, repurchase or redeem any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness that, in each case, constitutes Permitted
Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness but only to the extent such
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness pursuant to the terms
thereof is required to be (or is required to be offered to the
holders thereof to be) prepaid, repurchased or redeemed as a result
of such Insurance/Condemnation Event (with the amount of the
prepayment of the Term Borrowings that would otherwise have been
required pursuant to this Section 2.13(b) being reduced
accordingly),
provided
that (i) such portion
shall not exceed the product of (A) the amount of such Net Proceeds
multiplied by (B) a fraction of which the numerator is the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness and the denominator is the sum of the
aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness and all Term Borrowings, in each case at the time of
occurrence of such Insurance/Condemnation Event, and (ii) in the
event the holders of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness
shall have declined such prepayment, repurchase or redemption, the
declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within 10 Business
Days after the date of rejection) be applied to prepay the Term
Borrowings.
(c)
Issuance of Debt
. On the date
of receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Net
Proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than any
Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1), the
Borrower shall prepay the Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount
equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds.
(d)
Escrow Cash Collateral
. In the
event that (i) on or prior to the date that is three months after
the Closing Date (the “
Escrow
Cash Collateral Outside Date
”), the Escrow Cash
Collateral has not been released to the Borrower from the Escrow
Cash Collateral Account in accordance with the terms of the Escrow
Cash Collateral Control Agreement and Section 9.8(d)(ii) for the
purpose of the consummation of the Specified Acquisition and the
other purposes permitted by Section 2.5(c)(i), (ii) the
Borrower determines, in its sole discretion, that the Specified
Acquisition will not be consummated on or prior to the Escrow Cash
Collateral Outside Date, (iii) the definitive acquisition agreement
for the Specified Acquisition, after the execution thereof,
terminates at any time on or prior to the Escrow Cash Collateral
Outside Date, (iv) an Event of Default pursuant to
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred on or
prior to the Escrow Cash Collateral Outside Date (the date of any
event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) being referred to as
the “
Escrow Cash Collateral
Termination Date
”) or (v) the Specified Acquisition is
consummated and the proceeds of the Tranche B Term Loans
constituting Escrow Cash Collateral (prior to giving effect to any
release thereof) exceed an amount equal to (A) the Acquisition
Consideration paid in Cash to consummate the Specified Acquisition
plus
(B) the
customary fees and expenses paid in Cash in connection with the
Specified Acquisition, by more than $10,000,000, the Borrower shall
(x) not later than one Business Day after the Escrow Cash
Collateral Termination Date, if applicable, deliver written notice
to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of the Escrow Cash
Collateral Termination Date and (y) not later than the fifth
Business Day after the Escrow Cash Collateral Termination Date or,
in the case of clause (v) above, after the consummation of the
Specified Acquisition (and solely to the extent the Escrow Cash
Collateral or, in the case of clause (v) above, the applicable
portion thereof has been released to the Administrative Agent, on
behalf of the Borrower, from the Escrow Cash Collateral Account in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement and Section 9.8(d)(ii), it being understood that any such
release to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be a
prepayment by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.13(d))
prepay the Tranche B Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal
to the Escrow Cash Amount or, in the case of clause (v) above, in
an aggregate amount equal to the portion of the Escrow Cash Amount
in excess of the amount of (I) the Acquisition Consideration paid
in Cash to consummate the Specified Acquisition
plus
(II) the customary fees
and expenses paid in Cash in connection with the Specified
Acquisition.
(e)
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
.
In the event that there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for
any Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December
31, 2019), the Borrower shall, not later than the earlier of (x)
95 days after the end of such Fiscal Year and (y) five
Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements with
respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.1(a), prepay
the Term Borrowings of each Class in an aggregate principal amount
equal to (i) the product of (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage for
such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(B) the
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(C) the
percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Borrowings
of all Classes outstanding as of the end of such Fiscal Year
represented by the Term Borrowings of such Class (but, in each
case, disregarding for purposes of determining such percentage any
prepayments or repurchases referred to in clause (ii) below)
minus
(ii) the sum
of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Borrowings of such
Class voluntarily prepaid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.12
or, to the extent of Cash spent, repurchased by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 10.6(i)(i),
minus
(iii) the product of (A)
the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Term
Borrowings of all Classes outstanding as of the end of such Fiscal
Year represented by the Term Borrowings of such Class (but, in each
case, disregarding for purposes of determining such percentage any
prepayments or repurchases referred to in clause (ii) above)
multiplied by
(B)
the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of any optional
prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness that, in each case, constitutes Permitted
Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness
plus
(y) the aggregate
principal amount of any optional prepayments of any Revolving Loans
but solely to the extent the Revolving Commitments are permanently
reduced in connection therewith (and solely to the extent of the
amount of such permanent reduction and excluding any reduction in
connection with a refinancing thereof), in each case under clauses
(ii) and (iii) above, (I) to the extent such prepayments,
repurchases or redemptions have not been financed with the proceeds
of incurrences of Long-Term Indebtedness and (II) if such
prepayments, repurchases or redemptions occurred (1) during
such Fiscal Year (to the extent not applied to reduce any mandatory
prepayment required under this Section 2.13(e) in respect of any
prior Fiscal Year pursuant to clause (2) below) or (2) at the
option of the Borrower, after the end of such Fiscal Year and prior
to the time that the mandatory prepayment required under this
Section 2.13(e) in respect of such Fiscal Year is due as
provided above;
provided
that no prepayment
shall be required under this Section 2.13(e) unless the amount
thereof would equal or exceed $1,000,000.
(f)
Reductions of Revolving
Exposure
. In the event and on each occasion that the Total
Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceeds the Total Revolving
Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Borrowings (or, if
no such Loans or Borrowings are outstanding, deposit Cash
Collateral in accordance with Section 2.3(h)) in an aggregate
amount equal to such excess.
(g)
Notice and Certificate
. At
least one Business Day prior to any mandatory prepayment or
reduction pursuant to this Section 2.13, the Borrower (i) shall
notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such prepayment or
reduction and (ii) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth
the calculation of the amount of the applicable prepayment or
reduction. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify
the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or
portion thereof to be prepaid (with such specification to be in
accordance with Section 2.14(b)), or the effective date and the
amount of any such reduction, as applicable, and may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing). Promptly following receipt of any such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the
applicable Class of the details thereof. Each mandatory prepayment
of any Borrowing shall be allocated among the Lenders holding Loans
comprising such Borrowing in accordance with their applicable Pro
Rata Shares and shall be subject to compliance with
Section 2.17(c).
(h)
Foreign Restrictions and Taxes
.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.13 to
the contrary, if the Borrower determines in good faith that (i) any
Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale by, or any
Insurance/Condemnation Event affecting the assets of, a Restricted
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, or any portion
of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow attributable to a Restricted
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, are prohibited,
restricted or delayed by applicable foreign law (including currency
controls) from being repatriated to the United States (and that, in
view of the available liquidity and working capital requirements of
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or
CFC Holding Companies (as determined by the Borrower in good faith,
with such determination being permitted to disregard availability
under the Revolving Commitments (it being understood that the
Borrower shall not be required to make a Borrowing of Revolving
Loans to make any such mandatory prepayment required under Section
2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e))), such repatriation is reasonably
required in order to provide the Borrower with the funds with which
to make such prepayment as would otherwise be required hereunder),
then the amount thereof so affected will not be required to be
applied to prepay Term Borrowings as otherwise required under
Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as applicable,
provided
that (A)
the Borrower shall, and shall cause such CFC or CFC Holding Company
to, use commercially reasonable efforts to take actions reasonably
required by the applicable foreign law to permit such repatriation
and (B) the Borrower shall prepay Term Borrowings in accordance
with such applicable Section in a principal amount equal to such
affected amount (or a portion thereof) at such time as (x) the
repatriation of such amount (or such portion thereof) becomes
permitted under applicable foreign law or (y) the Borrower
determines in good faith that, in view of the available liquidity
and working capital requirements of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies (taking
into account the foregoing considerations), funds are available in
the United States to make such prepayment (or such portion
thereof),
provided
further
that any
such prepayment shall no longer be required to be made with respect
to any such amounts that, after the use of such commercially
reasonable efforts, have not been repatriated prior to the date
that is one year after the date the original prepayment was
required to be made under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as
applicable, or (ii) that repatriation of any Net Proceeds in
respect of any Asset Sale by, or any Insurance/Condemnation Event
affecting the assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that is a CFC or a
CFC Holding Company, or any portion of Consolidated Excess Cash
Flow attributable to a Restricted Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC
Holding Company, would have a material adverse tax consequence
(taking into account any withholding tax, any Subpart F inclusion
and any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in
connection with such repatriation) to the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries (and that, in view of the available
liquidity and working capital requirements of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies
(as determined by the Borrower in good faith, with such
determination being permitted to disregard availability under the
Revolving Commitments (it being understood that the Borrower shall
not be required to make a Borrowing of Revolving Loans to make any
such mandatory prepayment required under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b)
or 2.13(e))), such repatriation is reasonably required in order to
provide the Borrower with the funds with which to make such
prepayment as would otherwise be required hereunder), then the
amount thereof so affected will not be required to be applied to
prepay Term Borrowings as otherwise required under Section 2.13(a),
2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as applicable,
provided
that the Borrower
shall prepay Term Borrowings in accordance with such applicable
Section in a principal amount equal to such affected amount (or a
portion thereof) at such time as (A) the repatriation of such
amount (or such portion thereof) would no longer result in a
material adverse tax consequence or (B) the Borrower determines in
good faith that, in view of the available liquidity and working
capital requirements of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies (taking
into account the foregoing considerations), funds are available in
the United States to make such prepayment (or such portion
thereof),
provided
further
that any
such prepayment shall no longer be required to be made after the
date that is one year after the date the original prepayment was
required to be made under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as
applicable.
(i)
Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 2.13 to the contrary, in the event and on
each occasion that the Borrower or any other Credit Party would be
required by the terms of any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness
Documents or any agreements or instruments governing or evidencing
any other Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness or any
Subordinated Notes to repay or prepay, or to make an offer to repay
or prepay, any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness or any such other
Indebtedness as a result of the receipt of any Cash proceeds by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any sale,
transfer or other Disposition of any asset or any other mandatory
prepayment event or requirement (in each case, excluding any such
repayment or prepayment, or any such offer to repay or prepay, not
in excess of any Declined Mandatory Prepayment Retained Amount
relating to such Disposition or such other mandatory prepayment
event or requirement), then, prior to the time at which the
Borrower or such other Credit Party would be required to make such
repayment or prepayment, or to make such offer, the Borrower shall
prepay Term Borrowings in an amount that would be needed to
eliminate such requirement.
2.14.
Application
of Prepayments; Waivable Mandatory Prepayments
.
(a) Application of Voluntary
Prepayments and Repurchases
. Any voluntary prepayment of
Term Borrowings of any Class pursuant to Section 2.12(a) shall be
applied to reduce the subsequent Installments to be paid pursuant
to Section 2.11 with respect to Term Borrowings of such Class
in the manner specified by the Borrower in the notice of prepayment
relating thereto (or, if no such manner is specified in such
notice, in direct order of maturity);
provided
that any prepayment of
Term Borrowings of any Class as contemplated by Section 2.25(b)
shall be applied to reduce the subsequent Installments to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Term Borrowings of
such Class in the manner specified in Section 2.25(c). Any
repurchase of Term Loans of any Class as contemplated by Section
10.6(i) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent Installments to
be paid pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Term
Borrowings of such Class in the manner specified in Section
10.6(i).
(b)
Application of Mandatory
Prepayments
. Any mandatory prepayment of Term Borrowings
pursuant to Section 2.13 shall (i) be allocated among the
Classes of Term Borrowings on a pro rata basis (in accordance with
the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Borrowings of each
such Class),
provided
that (A) any
prepayment of Term Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.13(d)
shall be allocated solely to the Tranche B Term Borrowings, (B) any
prepayment of Term Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.13(e) shall be
allocated to each Class of Term Borrowings as set forth therein and
(C) the amounts so allocable to Incremental Term Loans,
Extended/Modified Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans of any Class
may be applied to other Term Borrowings as provided in the
applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension/Modification
Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement, and (ii) be applied to
reduce the subsequent Installments to be made pursuant to
Section 2.11 with respect to Term Borrowings of any Class, (x)
except in the case of any prepayment of Tranche B Term Borrowings
pursuant to Section 2.13(d), in the case of Tranche A Term
Borrowings or Tranche B Term Borrowings, in the manner specified by
the Borrower in the notice of prepayment relating thereto (or, if
no such manner is specified in such notice, in direct order of
maturity), (y) in the case of any prepayment of Tranche B Term
Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.13(d), ratably to the
remaining Installments to be made pursuant to Section 2.11 with
respect to the Tranche B Term Borrowings and (z) in the case of
Borrowings of any other Class, as provided in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension/Modification Agreement or
Refinancing Facility Agreement.
(c)
Waivable Mandatory Prepayments
.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Term Lender
may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which may be
given by telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall
promptly be confirmed in writing)) at least one Business Day (or
such shorter period as may be established by the Administrative
Agent) prior to the required prepayment date, to decline all or any
portion of any mandatory prepayment of its Term Loans pursuant to
Section 2.13 (other than Section 2.13(c), 2.13(d) or 2.13(i)), in
which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have
been applied to prepay Term Loans but was so declined shall be,
first
, applied by the
Borrower on the required prepayment date to prepay or offer to
redeem any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness to the extent required thereby and,
second
, to the extent of
the remainder thereof that is not so applied to prepay or redeem
such Indebtedness, shall be retained by the Borrower.
2.15.
General
Provisions Regarding Payments
. (a) All payments by the
Borrower or any other Credit Party of principal, interest, fees and
other amounts required to be made hereunder or under any other
Credit Document shall be made by wire transfer of same day funds in
Dollars, without defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim, free
of any restriction or condition, to the account of the
Administrative Agent in the United States of America most recently
designated by it for such purpose and received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on the date due for the account of the Persons entitled thereto;
provided
that
payments required to be made directly to an Issuing Bank shall be
so made and payments made pursuant to Sections 2.17(c), 2.18, 2.19,
10.2 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled
thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any payment
received by it hereunder for the account of any other Person to the
appropriate recipient promptly following receipt
thereof.
(b)
All payments in
respect of the principal amount of any Loan (other than voluntary
prepayments of Base Rate Revolving Loans) shall be accompanied by
payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or
prepaid, and all such payments (and, in any event, any payments in
respect of any Loan on a date when interest is due and payable with
respect to such Loan) shall be applied to the payment of interest
then due and payable before application to principal.
(c)
If any
Conversion/Continuation Notice is withdrawn as to any Affected
Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of
its applicable Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning
payments received thereafter.
(d)
Subject to the
proviso set forth in the definition of “Interest
Period”, whenever any payment to be made hereunder with
respect to any Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not
a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding
Business Day, and such extension of time shall be included in the
computation of the payment of interest hereunder.
(e)
Any payment
hereunder by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent that is not received by the Administrative Agent in same day
funds prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date due
shall, unless the Administrative Agent shall determine otherwise,
be deemed to have been received, for purposes of computing interest
and fees hereunder (including for purposes of determining the
applicability of Section 2.9), on the Business Day immediately
following the date of receipt (or, if later, the Business Day
immediately following the date the funds received become available
funds).
(f)
If an Event of
Default shall have occurred and the maturity of the Loans shall
have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.1, all payments or
proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent in respect of any of the Obligations, or from any sale of,
collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the
Collateral, shall, subject to Sections 2.3(h) and 2.21(d)(iii)
and the requirements of any applicable Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement, be applied in accordance with the application
arrangements set forth in Section 5.02 of the Pledge and
Security Agreement.
(g)
Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have been notified by the Borrower prior
to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Lenders or Issuing Banks hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may
assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in
accordance herewith and may, in its sole discretion, but shall not
be obligated to, distribute to the Lenders or Issuing Banks, as the
case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not
in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or Issuing
Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed
to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day
from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent (i) at
any time prior to the third Business Day following the date such
amount is distributed to it, the customary rate set by the
Administrative Agent for the correction of errors among banks and
(ii) thereafter, the Base Rate.
2.16.
Ratable
Sharing
. The Lenders hereby agree among themselves that if
any Lender shall, whether through the exercise of any right of
set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action or
by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or
otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash
collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction
of a portion of the aggregate amount of any principal, interest,
fees and amounts payable in respect of participations in Letters of
Credit owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit
Documents (collectively, the “
Aggregate Amounts Due
” to such
Lender) resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater
proportion of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such Lender than the
proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate
Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify the
Administrative Agent and each other Lender in writing of the
receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such
payment to purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the
Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such
payments of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the Aggregate Amounts Due to
them;
provided
that, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment
received by any purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such
Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Credit Party or
otherwise, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price
paid for such participation shall be returned to such purchasing
Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest. Each Credit Party expressly consents to the foregoing
arrangements and agrees that any holder of a participation so
purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien,
consolidation, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all
monies owing by such Credit Party to such holder with respect
thereto as fully as if such holder were owed the amount of the
participation held by such holder. The provisions of this Section
2.16 shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment made by the
Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement, including the application of funds arising from the
existence of a Defaulting Lender or any payment made by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(d), 2.13(d) or 2.22 or any
Extension/Modification Agreement, Incremental Facility Agreement or
Refinancing Facility Agreement, (ii) any acceptance by any Lender
of any Rollover Indebtedness in accordance with Section
2.12(a)(iii), (iii) any payment obtained by any Lender as
consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in
Loans or other Obligations owing to it pursuant to and in
accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (iv) any
payment obtained by any Revolving Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant
to and in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 5.02
of the Pledge and Security Agreement.
2.17.
Making
or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans
. (a)
Inability to Determine Applicable
Interest Rate
.
(i)
If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing
of any Class:
(A)
the Administrative
Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent
manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period;
or
(B)
the Administrative
Agent is notified in writing by a Majority in Interest of the
Lenders of such Class that the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to
such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then
the Administrative Agent shall give notice (which may be
telephonic) thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as promptly as
practicable, whereupon, (x) no Loans of such Class may be made
as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans until such time as the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and (y)
any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the
Borrower with respect to the Loans in respect of which such
determination was made shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders when such circumstances no longer exist.
(ii)
If
at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that
(x) the circumstances set forth in Section 2.17(a)(i)(A) have
arisen (including because the rate described in clause (a) of the
definition of “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” is not
available or published on a current basis) and such circumstances
are unlikely to be temporary or (y) the circumstances set forth in
Section 2.17(a)(i)(A) have not arisen but the supervisor for
the administrator of the rate described in clause (a) of the
definition of “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” or a
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative
Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after
which the rate described in clause (a) of the definition of
“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” no longer be used for
determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent
and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of
interest to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate that gives due
consideration to the then prevailing market convention for
determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans denominated in
Dollars in the United States at such time, and the Administrative
Agent and the Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this
Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other
related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the
avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a
reduction of the Applicable Rate);
provided
that if such alternate
rate of interest shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed
to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement. Such amendment shall
become effective without any further action or consent of any other
party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall
not have received, within five Business Days of the date a copy of
such amendment is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from
the Requisite Lenders stating that the Requisite Lenders object to
such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be
determined in accordance with this paragraph (but, in the case of
the circumstances described in clause (y) above, only to the extent
the rate described in clause (a) of the definition of
“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period is
not available or published at such time on a current basis),
(1) no Loans of any Class may be made as, or converted to,
Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) any Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the Borrower requesting the
making of, or conversion to or continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower.
(b)
Illegality or Impracticability of
Eurodollar Rate Loans
. In the event that on any date (i) any
Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be final
and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the
making, maintaining, converting to or continuation of its
Eurodollar Rate Loans has after the Closing Date become unlawful as
a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law
(or would conflict with any treaty, rule, regulation, guideline or
order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply
therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) the Requisite Lenders
shall have determined (which determination shall be final and
conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the making,
maintaining, converting to or continuation of their Eurodollar Rate
Loans has become impracticable as a result of contingencies
occurring after the Closing Date that materially and adversely
affect the London interbank market or the position of the Lenders
in that market, then, if such Lender or Lenders shall have provided
notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, such
Lender or each of such Lenders, as the case may be, shall be an
“
Affected
Lender
”. If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
receive a notice from (A) any Lender pursuant to clause (i) of the
preceding sentence or (B) a notice from Lenders constituting
Requisite Lenders pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding
sentence, then (1) the obligation of the Lenders (or, in the case
of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, of
the applicable Lender) to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to,
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be
withdrawn by each applicable Affected Lender, (2) to the extent
such determination by any Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant to a
Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Lenders (or
in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding
sentence, the applicable Lender) shall make such Loan as (or
continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be)
a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Lenders’ (or in the case of any
notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, the
applicable Lender’s) obligations to maintain Eurodollar Rate
Loans (the “
Affected
Loans
”) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of
the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect
to the Affected Loans or when required by law, and (4) the Affected
Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date
of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent
any such determination by an Affected Lender relates to a
Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant
to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the
Borrower shall have the option, subject to Section 2.17(c), to
rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as to
all Lenders by giving written notice (or telephonic notice promptly
confirmed by written notice) thereof to the Administrative Agent of
such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives
notice of its determination as described above (which notice of
rescission the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each
other Lender). Each Affected Lender shall promptly notify the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower when the circumstances that
led to its notice pursuant to this Section 2.17(b) no longer
exist.
(c)
Compensation for Breakage or
Non-Commencement of Interest Periods
. In the event that (i)
a borrowing of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date
specified therefor in any Funding Notice (or any telephonic request
for a borrowing) given by the Borrower (other than as a result of a
failure by such Lender to make such Loan in accordance with its
obligations hereunder), whether or not such notice may be rescinded
in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) a conversion to or
continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date
specified therefor in any Conversion/Continuation Notice (or a
telephonic request given for any conversion or continuation) given
by the Borrower, whether or not such notice may be rescinded in
accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) any payment of any
principal of any Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day other than on
the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as
a result of an Event of Default), (iv) the conversion of any
Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day other than on the last day of
an Interest Period applicable thereto, (v) any Eurodollar Rate Loan
is assigned other than on the last day of an Interest Period
applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.22 or (vi) a prepayment of any
Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in
any notice of prepayment given by the Borrower, whether or not such
notice may be rescinded in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Borrower shall compensate each Lender for all losses, costs,
expenses and liabilities that such Lender may sustain, including
any loss incurred from obtaining, liquidating or employing losses
from third parties, but excluding any loss of margin or any
interest rate “floor”, for the period following any
such payment, assignment or conversion or any such failure to
borrow, pay, prepay, convert or continue. To request compensation
under this Section 2.17(c), a Lender shall deliver to the
Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis
and calculation of any amount or amounts that such Lender is
entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.17(c), which
certificate shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.
The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any
such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt
thereof.
(d)
Booking of Eurodollar Rate
Loans
. Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurodollar
Rate Loans at, to or for the account of any of its branch offices
or the office of any Affiliate of such Lender.
(e)
Assumptions Concerning Funding of
Eurodollar Rate Loans
. Calculation of all amounts payable to
a Lender under this Section 2.17 and under Section 2.18 shall be
made as though such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant
Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of a Eurodollar deposit
bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (a)(i) of
the definition of the term Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in an amount
equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a
maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the
transfer of such Eurodollar deposit from an offshore office of such
Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in the United States of
America;
provided
that each Lender may fund each of its Eurodollar Rate Loans in any
manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized
only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this
Section 2.17 and under Section 2.18.
2.18.
Increased
Costs; Capital Adequacy and Liquidity
. (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 (except any such reserve requirement reflected in
the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate) or any Issuing Bank;
(ii)
subject
any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes,
(B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the
definition of “Excluded Taxes” and (C) Connection
Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit,
commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other
liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii)
impose
on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market
any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting
this Agreement or any Loan made by such Lender or any Letter of
Credit or participation therein;
and the
result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to
such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to,
continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation
to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, such
Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing
or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its
obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such
Lender, Issuing Bank or other Recipient hereunder (whether of
principal, interest or any other amount) then, from time to time
upon request of such Lender, Issuing Bank or other Recipient, the
Borrower will pay to such Lender, Issuing Bank or other Recipient,
as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender, Issuing Bank or other Recipient, as the
case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction
suffered.
(b)
Capital and Liquidity
Requirements
. If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that
any Change in Law affecting such Lender or Issuing Bank or any
lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or Issuing
Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or
liquidity requirements, has had or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing
Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or
Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of
this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made
by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or
the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below
that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or
Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for
such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s
or Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such
Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect
to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time upon
request of such Lender or Issuing Bank the Borrower will pay to
such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or
such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company for any
such reduction suffered.
(c)
Certificates for Reimbursement
.
A certificate of a Lender or Issuing Bank setting forth the amount
or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or
its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in
Section 2.18(a) or 2.18(b) and delivered to the Borrower,
shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay
such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown
as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after
receipt thereof.
(d)
Delay in Requests
. Failure or
delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand
compensation pursuant to this Section 2.18 shall not constitute a
waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to
demand such compensation;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank
pursuant to this Section 2.18 for any increased costs incurred or
reductions suffered more than 120 days prior to the date that such
Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower
of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or
reductions, and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s
intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the
Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is
retroactive, then the 120-day period referred to above shall be
extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof).
(e)
Certain Limitations
.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the
contrary, no Lender or Issuing Bank shall request, or be entitled
to receive, any compensation pursuant to this Section unless it
shall be the general policy or practice of such Lender or Issuing
Bank to seek compensation in similar circumstances under comparable
provisions of other credit agreements, if any.
2.19.
Taxes;
Withholding, Etc. (a)
Issuing Bank
. For purposes of
this Section 2.19, the term “Lender” includes any
Issuing Bank.
(b)
Payments Free of Taxes
. Any and
all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party
under any Credit Document shall be made without deduction or
withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If
any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of
an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or
withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding
agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to
make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full
amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority
in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an
Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit
Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction
or withholding has been made (including such deductions and
withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this
Section 2.19) 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 Credit
Parties
. Each Credit Party shall timely pay to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the
option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the
payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d)
Indemnification by the Credit
Parties
. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally
indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after written 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 2.19) payable or paid by such Recipient
or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such
Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with
respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were
correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant
Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such
payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a
copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent
on its own behalf (including in its capacity as the Collateral
Agent) or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
(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 Credit
Party has already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such
Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit
Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such
Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section
10.6(g) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and
(iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case,
that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection
with any Credit 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 Credit
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 Section 2.19(e).
(f)
Evidence of Payments
. As soon
as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a
Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.19, such Credit
Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority
evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such
payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.
(g)
Status of Lenders
. (i) Any
Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of
withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit
Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed
documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made
without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In
addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation
prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is
subject to backup withholding or information reporting
requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission
of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in
Section 2.19(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not
be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such
completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to
any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially
prejudice the legal or commercial position of such
Lender.
(ii)
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A)
Any Lender that is
a US Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under
this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the
reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent),
executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is
exempt from United States federal backup withholding
tax.
(B)
Any Foreign Lender
shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies
as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on
which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement
(and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the
following is applicable:
(1)
in the case of a
Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to
which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of
interest under any Credit Document, executed originals of IRS Form
W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from,
or reduction of, US federal withholding Tax pursuant to the
“interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with
respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document,
IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an
exemption from, or reduction of, US federal withholding Tax
pursuant to the “business profits” or “other
income” article of such tax treaty;
(2)
executed originals
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 Internal Revenue Code, (x) a
certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit O-1
to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank”
within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue
Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within
the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code,
or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in
Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code
(a “
US Tax
Compliance Certificate
”) and (y) executed originals of
IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or
(4)
to the extent a
Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of
IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or
W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a US Tax Compliance Certificate
substantially in the form of
Exhibit O-2
or
Exhibit O-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 US Tax Compliance
Certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit O-4
on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.
(C)
Any Foreign Lender
shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies
as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on
which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement
(and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of
any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming
exemption from or a reduction in US federal withholding Tax, duly
completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be
prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction
required to be made.
(D)
If a payment made
to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to US
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
Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times
prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation
prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section
1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional
documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA
and to determine that such Lender has complied with such
Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount
to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of
this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments
made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Section 2.19, applicable law includes FATCA.
(iii)
Each
Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously
delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect,
it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal
inability to do so.
(h)
Treatment of Certain Refunds
.
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 2.19 (including by
the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this
Section 2.19), 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 2.19 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 Section
2.19(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 Section 2.19(h), in no event will the indemnified party be
required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to
this Section 2.19(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 indemnification
payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never
been paid. This Section 2.19(h) shall not be construed to require
any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any
other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential)
to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(i)
Survival
. Each party’s
obligations under this Section 2.19 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 Credit Document.
2.20.
Obligation
to Mitigate
. If any Lender becomes an Affected Lender or
requests compensation under Section 2.18, or if the
Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional
amount to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the
account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, then such
Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable
efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or
booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights
and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
Affiliates if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or
assignment and delegation (a) would cause such Lender to cease to
be an Affected Lender or would eliminate or reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19, as the case may be, in the
future and (b) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed
cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such
designation or assignment and delegation.
2.21.
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
Section 8 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent
from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.4 shall be applied
at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative
Agent as follows:
first
, to
the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under the Credit
Documents;
second
, to the
payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting
Lender to any Issuing Bank hereunder;
third
, to Cash Collateralize each
Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such
Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.21(d);
fourth
, as the Borrower may request (so
long as no Default or 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;
fifth
, if so
determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held
in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy
such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations
with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash
Collateralize each Issuing Bank’s future Fronting Exposure
with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future
Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with
Section 2.21(d);
sixth
, to
the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, any Issuing Bank
as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
obtained by any Lender or Issuing Bank against such Defaulting
Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its
obligations under this Agreement;
seventh
, so long as no Default or Event
of Default 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
Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and
eighth
, to such Defaulting
Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent
jurisdiction;
provided
that if (x) such
payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or
reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit in
respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its
applicable Pro Rata Share, and (y) such Loans were made or the
related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions
set forth in Section 3.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment
shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and reimbursement or
participation obligations with respect to Letters of Credit owed
to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being
applied to the payment of any Loans of, or reimbursement or
participation obligations with respect to Letters of Credit owed
to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded
and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit are held by the
Lenders pro rata in accordance with the applicable Commitments
without giving effect to Section 2.21(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
2.21(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 2.10(a) for any period during which
that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be
required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been
required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender);
provided
that such Defaulting
Lender shall be entitled to receive fees pursuant to Section
2.10(a)(ii) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting
Lender only to 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 2.21(d).
(B)
With respect to any
fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to
clause (A) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting
Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such
Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s
participation in Letters of Credit that has been reallocated to
such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iii) below, (y) pay
to each Issuing Bank the amount of any such fee otherwise payable
to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing
Bank’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z)
not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such
fee.
(iii)
Reallocation
of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure
. All or any
part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letters of
Credit shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in
accordance with their respective applicable Pro Rata Shares
(calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s
Revolving Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the
conditions set forth in Section 3.2 are satisfied at the time of
such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise
notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall
be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions
are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not
cause the aggregate Revolving Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender
to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment.
No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of
any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender
arising from such Lender having become a Defaulting Lender,
including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such
Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such
reallocation.
(iv)
Cash
Collateral
. If the reallocation described in Section
2.21(a)(iii) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the
Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available
to it hereunder or under law, Cash Collateralize the Issuing
Banks’ Fronting Exposures in accordance with
Section 2.21(d).
(v)
Participation as Requisite
Lender
. The Commitments and Loans of such Defaulting Lender
shall not be included in determining whether the Requisite Lenders
or any other requisite Lenders have taken or may take any action
hereunder or under any other Credit Document (including any consent
to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section
10.5);
provided
that any amendment, waiver or other modification that under clauses
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of Section 10.5(b) requires the
consent of all Lenders affected thereby shall require the consent
of such Defaulting Lender in accordance with the terms
thereof.
(b)
Defaulting Lender Cure
. If the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank agree in
writing that a Revolving Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender,
the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto,
whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and
subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include
arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), such Revolving
Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion
of outstanding Revolving Loans and unfunded participations in
Letters of Credit of the other Revolving Lenders or take such other
actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary
to cause the Revolving Loans and funded and unfunded participations
in Letters of Credit to be held by the Revolving Lenders in
accordance with their respective applicable Pro Rata Shares
(without giving effect to Section 2.21(a)(iii)), whereupon
such Revolving 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 such
Revolving Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and
provided
further
that except to the
extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no
change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender
will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party
hereunder arising from a Revolving Lender’s having been a
Defaulting Lender.
(c)
New Letters of Credit
. So long
as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be
required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit
unless it is satisfied that the participations in any existing
Letters of Credit as well as the new, extended, renewed or
increased Letter of Credit has been or will be fully allocated
among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with
Section 2.21(a)(iii) and such Defaulting Lender shall not
participate therein except to the extent such Defaulting
Lender’s participation has been or will be fully Cash
Collateralized in accordance with Section 2.21(d).
(d)
Cash Collateral for Letters of
Credit
. (i) Any Cash Collateral provided by any Defaulting
Lender pursuant to Section 2.21(a)(i) shall be held by the
Administrative Agent as Cash Collateral securing such Defaulting
Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of
Letters of Credit, and each Defaulting Lender hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks, and
agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such
Cash Collateral as security for such obligations. The
Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control,
including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over any deposit
account containing any such Cash Collateral.
(ii)
At
any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one
Business Day following the written request of the Administrative
Agent or any Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize in accordance with Section
2.3(h) each Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to
such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section
2.21(a)(iii) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting
Lender) in an amount not less than the amount of Fronting Exposure
with respect to such Defaulting Lender.
(iii)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other
Credit Document, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.21
in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the
satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s 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.
2.22.
Replacement
of Lenders
. If (a) any Lender has become an Affected Lender,
(b) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.18,
(c) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or
additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for
the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, (d) any
Lender becomes and continues to be a Defaulting Lender or a
Disqualified Institution or (e) any Lender fails to consent to
a proposed waiver, amendment or other modification of any Credit
Document, or to any departure of any Credit Party therefrom, that
under Section 10.5 requires the consent of all the Lenders (or
all the affected Lenders or all the Lenders or all the affected
Lenders of the affected Class) and with respect to which the
Requisite Lenders (or, in circumstances where Section 10.5(d) does
not require the consent of the Requisite Lenders, a Majority in
Interest of the Lenders of the affected Class) shall have granted
their consent, 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
Section 10.6, including the consent requirements set forth
therein), all its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents (other than existing
rights to payment under Sections 2.17(c), 2.18 and 2.19) (or, in
the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a
failure to provide a consent, all such interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as
a Lender of an applicable Class) to an Eligible Assignee that shall
assume such obligations (which may be another Lender, if a Lender
accepts such assignment and delegation);
provided
that (i) the
Borrower shall have caused to be paid to the Administrative Agent
the registration and processing fee referred to in
Section 10.6(d), (ii) such Lender shall have received
payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its
Loans and, if applicable, participations in drawings under Letters
of Credit, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other
amounts payable to it hereunder (including any amounts under
Section 2.17(c)) and any prepayment fee under
Section 2.12(c) or 2.12(d) (if applicable, in each case only
to the extent such amounts relate to its interest as a Lender of an
applicable Class) from the assignee (in the case of such principal
and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all
other amounts), (iii) such assignment and delegation does not
conflict with applicable law, (iv) in the case of any such
assignment and delegation resulting from a claim for compensation
under Section 2.18 or payments required to be made pursuant to
Section 2.19, such assignment will result in a reduction in
such compensation or payments thereafter and (v) in the case of any
such assignment and delegation resulting from the failure to
provide a consent, the assignee shall have given such consent. A
Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and
delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver or consent by
such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower
to require such assignment and delegation have ceased to apply.
Each party hereto agrees that an assignment and delegation required
pursuant to this Section 2.22 may be effected pursuant to an
Assignment Agreement executed by the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such
assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto.
2.23.
Incremental
Facilities
. (a) The Borrower may on one or more occasions,
by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request (i) during
the Revolving Commitment Period, the establishment of Incremental
Revolving Commitments and/or (ii) the establishment of
Incremental Term Loan Commitments,
provided
that the aggregate
amount of all the Incremental Commitments established hereunder on
any date shall not exceed the Incremental Amount as of such date.
Each such notice shall specify (A) the date on which the Borrower
proposes that the Incremental Revolving Commitments or the
Incremental Term Loan Commitments, as applicable, shall be
effective, which shall be a date not less than five Business Days
(or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Administrative
Agent) after the date on which such notice is delivered to the
Administrative Agent and (B) the amount of the Incremental
Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan Commitments, as
applicable, being requested (it being agreed that (x) any
Lender approached to provide any Incremental Commitment may elect
or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental
Commitment and (y) any Person that the Borrower proposes to
become an Incremental Lender, if such Person is not then a Lender,
must be an Eligible Assignee and must be approved by the
Administrative Agent and, in the case of any proposed Incremental
Revolving Lender, each Issuing Bank) (such approvals not to be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(b)
The terms and
conditions of any Incremental Revolving Commitment and Revolving
Loans and other extensions of credit to be made thereunder shall be
identical to those of the Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans
and other extensions of credit made thereunder, and shall be
treated as a single Class with such Revolving Commitments and
Revolving Loans;
provided
that, if the Borrower
determines to increase the interest rate or fees payable in respect
of Incremental Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans and other
extensions of credit made thereunder, such increase shall be
permitted if the interest rate or fees payable in respect of the
other Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans and other extensions
of credit made thereunder, as applicable, shall be increased to
equal such interest rate or fees payable in respect of such
Incremental Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans and other
extensions of credit made thereunder, as the case may be. The terms
and conditions of any Incremental Term Loan Commitments and the
Incremental Term Loans to be made thereunder shall be as set forth
in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement; provided that (i)
(A) no Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date in respect of any
Incremental Tranche A Term Loans shall be earlier than the latest
Maturity Date in respect of any other TLA Term Loans in effect on
the date of incurrence of such Incremental Tranche A Term Loans and
(B) no Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date in respect of any
Incremental Term Loans (other than Incremental Tranche A Term
Loans) shall be earlier than the latest Maturity Date in effect on
the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans, (ii) (A) the
weighted average life to maturity of any Incremental Tranche A Term
Loans shall be no shorter than the longest remaining weighted
average life to maturity of any other Class of TLA Term Loans
outstanding on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Tranche A
Term Loans (and, for purposes of determining the weighted average
life to maturity of any such other Class of Term Loans, the effects
of any prepayments made prior to the date of the determination
shall be disregarded) and (B) the weighted average life to maturity
of any Incremental Term Loans (other than Incremental Tranche A
Term Loans) shall be no shorter than the longest remaining weighted
average life to maturity of any other Class of Term Loans
outstanding on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term
Loans (and, for purposes of determining the weighted average life
to maturity of any such other Class of Term Loans, the effects of
any prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall
be disregarded), it being understood that, subject to this clause
(ii), the amortization schedule applicable to (and the effect
thereon of any prepayments of) any Incremental Term Loans shall be
determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders,
(iii) the Weighted Average Yield, determined as of the date of
incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans, shall not be greater
than (A) in the case of any Incremental Tranche A Term Loans, the
Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans and
(B) in the case of any Incremental Term Loans (other than
Incremental Tranche A Term Loans), the Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, in each case determined as of
such date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted Average
Yield on the Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans, as
applicable, that became effective subsequent to the Closing Date
but prior to such date, but excluding the effect of any increase in
interest margins with respect thereto pursuant to this clause
(iii)), plus 0.50% per annum unless the Applicable Rate (together
with, as provided in the proviso below, the Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate and Base Rate floors) with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans
or Tranche B Term Loans, as applicable, is increased, or fees to
Lenders then holding the Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term
Loans, as applicable, are paid, so as to cause (x) the Weighted
Average Yield with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans to equal the
Weighted Average Yield with respect to such Incremental Tranche A
Term Loans minus 0.50% or (y) the Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to equal the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to such Incremental Term Loans (other than
Incremental Tranche A Term Loans) minus 0.50%, as applicable,
provided that any increase in the effective Weighted Average Yield
with respect to the Tranche A Term Loans or the Tranche B Term
Loans, as the case may be, due to the application of an Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor to any Incremental Term Loans
shall be effected solely through an increase in the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the Tranche A Term
Loans or the Tranche B Term Loans, as the case may be, and only to
the extent an increase in such floor with respect to the Tranche A
Term Loans or the Tranche B Term Loans, as the case may be, would
cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect with respect
thereto, (iv) Incremental Term Loans may participate in any
mandatory prepayments on a pro rata basis (or on a basis that is
less than pro rata) with the other Term Loans, but may not provide
for mandatory prepayment requirements that are more favorable than
those applicable to the other Term Loans, (v) any Incremental
Commitments and any Loans thereunder shall rank pari passu in right
of payment, and shall be secured by the Collateral on an equal and
ratable basis, with the other Commitments and Loans, and shall be
extensions of credit to the Borrower that are Guaranteed only by
the Credit Parties and (vi) except for the terms referred to above
and subject to Section 2.23(c), to the extent the terms of any
Incremental Term Loans (other than interest rates (whether fixed or
floating), interest margins, benchmark rate floors, fees, original
issue discounts and prepayment terms (including “no
call” terms and other restrictions thereon) and premiums) are
not consistent with (A) in the case of any Incremental Tranche A
Term Loans, those of the Tranche A Term Loans and (B) in the case
of any Incremental Term Loans (other than Incremental Tranche A
Term Loans), those of the Tranche B Term Loans, in each case, as in
effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans,
such differences shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent (except for terms benefitting the Incremental
Term Lenders (x) where this Agreement is amended to include such
beneficial terms for the benefit of all Lenders (or, in the case of
any Incremental Tranche A Term Loans, all Lenders holding TLA Term
Loans or Revolving Commitments) or (y) applicable only to periods
after the latest Maturity Date in effect as of the date of
incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans). In the event any
Incremental Term Loans have the same terms as any existing Class of
Term Loans then outstanding or any Extended/Modified Term Loans or
Refinancing Term Loans then substantially concurrently established
(in each case, disregarding any differences in original issue
discount or upfront fees if not affecting the fungibility thereof
for US federal income tax purposes), such Incremental Term Loans
may, at the election of the Borrower, be treated as a single Class
with such outstanding Term Loans or such Extended/Modified Term
Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, and the scheduled Installments set
forth in Section 2.11 with respect to any such Class of Term Loans
may be increased to reflect scheduled amortization of such
Incremental Term Loans.
(c)
The Incremental
Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Incremental
Facility Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, each
Incremental Lender providing such Incremental Commitments and the
Administrative Agent;
provided
that no Incremental
Commitments shall become effective unless (i) on the date of
effectiveness thereof, both immediately prior to and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Incremental Commitments (and
assuming that the full amount of such Incremental Commitments shall
have been funded as Loans on such date), and the use of proceeds
thereof
,
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would result therefrom and the representations and warranties of
each Credit Party set forth in the Credit Documents shall be true
and correct (A) in the case of the representations and warranties
qualified as to materiality, in all respects, and (B) otherwise, in
all material respects, in each case on and as of such date, except
in the case of any such representation and warranty that
specifically relates to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on and as
of such earlier date;
provided
that, in the case of
Incremental Term Loan Commitments established to finance, in whole
or in part, a Limited Conditionality Transaction, the conditions
set forth in this clause (i) may be tested in accordance with
Section 1.5 to the extent agreed by the Borrower and the
Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan
Commitments, all as set forth in the applicable Incremental
Facility Agreement, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have
received a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness thereof and
signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, confirming
compliance with the conditions set forth in clause (i) above
and, if such Incremental Term Loan Commitments or any portion
thereof are being established in reliance on clause (b) of the
definition of the term “Incremental Amount”, setting
forth a reasonably detailed calculation of the Incremental Amount
under such clause, (iii) the Borrower shall make any payments
required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17(c) in connection
with such Incremental Commitments and the related transactions
under this Section 2.23 and (iv) the Borrower shall have delivered
to the Administrative Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions,
secretary’s certificates, officer’s certificates,
reaffirmation agreements and other documents as shall reasonably be
requested (consistent in all material respects with the documents
delivered under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date) by the
Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction. Each
Incremental Facility Agreement may, without the consent of any
Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other
Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion
of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of
this Section 2.23, including any amendments necessary to treat
the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental
Term Loans as a new Class of Commitments and Loans hereunder
(including for purposes of prepayments and voting (it being agreed
that such new Class of Commitments and Loans may be included in the
definitions of “Majority in Interest”, “Pro Rata
Share”, “Requisite Lenders” and, as applicable,
“Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders” and may be
afforded class voting rights requiring the consent of Lenders under
such Class in addition to any other consent of Lenders that might
otherwise be required under Section 10.5) and to enable such new
Class of Commitments and Loans to be extended under Section 2.24 or
refinanced under Section 2.25).
(d)
Upon the
effectiveness of an Incremental Commitment of any Incremental
Lender, (i) in the case of an Incremental Term Loan
Commitment, such Incremental Lender shall be deemed to be a
“Lender” (and a Lender in respect of Commitments and
Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder, and henceforth shall be
entitled to all the rights of, and benefits accruing to, Lenders
(or Lenders in respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable
Class) hereunder and shall be bound by all agreements,
acknowledgements and other obligations of Lenders (or Lenders in
respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder
and under the other Credit Documents, and (ii) in the case of any
Incremental Revolving Commitment, (A) such Incremental Revolving
Commitment shall constitute (or, in the event such Incremental
Lender already has a Revolving Commitment, shall increase) the
Revolving Commitment of such Incremental Lender and (B) the
Total Revolving Commitments shall be increased by the amount of
such Incremental Revolving Commitment, in each case, subject to
further increase or reduction from time to time as set forth in the
definition of the term “Revolving Commitment”. For the
avoidance of doubt, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental
Revolving Commitment, the Revolving Exposure of the Incremental
Revolving Lender holding such Commitment, and the Pro Rata Shares
of all the Revolving Lenders, shall automatically be adjusted to
give effect thereto.
(e)
On the date of
effectiveness of any Incremental Revolving
Commitments:
(i)
the aggregate
principal amount of the Revolving Loans (the “
Existing Revolving Borrowings
”)
outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of such
Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be deemed to be
repaid,
(ii)
each
Incremental Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent
in same day funds an amount equal to the difference, if positive,
between:
(A)
the product of (1)
such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class
(calculated after giving effect to such effectiveness) multiplied
by (2) the aggregate amount of the Resulting Revolving Borrowings
(as hereinafter defined) and
(B)
the product of
(x) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class
(calculated without giving effect to such effectiveness) multiplied
by (y) the aggregate principal amount of the Existing
Revolving Borrowings,
(iii)
after
the Administrative Agent receives the funds specified in
clause (ii) above, the Administrative Agent shall pay to each
Revolving Lender the portion of such funds that is equal to the
difference, if positive, between:
(A)
the product of
(1) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class
(calculated without giving effect to such effectiveness) multiplied
by (2) the aggregate amount of the Existing Revolving
Borrowings, and
(B)
the product of
(1) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class
(calculated after giving effect to such effectiveness) multiplied
by (2) the aggregate amount of the Resulting Revolving
Borrowings,
(iv)
after
the effectiveness of such Incremental Revolving Commitments, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have made new Revolving Borrowings (the
“
Resulting Revolving
Borrowings
”) in an aggregate amount equal to the
aggregate amount of the Existing Revolving Borrowings and of the
Types and for the Interest Periods specified in a Funding Notice
delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with
Section 2.2 (and the Borrower shall deliver such Funding
Notice),
(v)
each Revolving
Lender shall be deemed to hold its applicable Pro Rata Share of
each Resulting Revolving Borrowing (calculated after giving effect
to such effectiveness), and
(vi)
the
Borrower shall pay each Revolving Lender any and all accrued but
unpaid interest on its Loans comprising the Existing Revolving
Borrowings.
The
deemed payments of the Existing Revolving Borrowings made pursuant
to clause (i) above shall be subject to compensation by the
Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17(c) if the
date of the effectiveness of such Incremental Revolving Commitments
occurs other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating
thereto.
(f)
Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein and in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement, each Incremental Term Lender
holding an Incremental Term Loan Commitment of any Class shall make
a loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Incremental Term
Loan Commitment on the date specified in such Incremental Facility
Agreement.
(g)
The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any notice from the Borrower referred to in
Section 2.23(a) and of the effectiveness of any Incremental
Commitments, in each case advising the Lenders of the details
thereof and, in the case of effectiveness of any Incremental
Revolving Commitments, of the Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving
Lenders after giving effect thereto and of the assignments required
to be made pursuant to Section 2.23(e).
2.24.
Extension/Modification
Offers
. (a) The Borrower may on one or more occasions, by
written notice to the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers
(each, an “
Extension/Modification Offer
”) to
all the Lenders of any Class (each Class subject to such an
Extension/Modification Offer being referred to as an
“
Extension/Modification
Request Class
”), on the same terms and conditions, and
on a pro rata basis, to each Lender within any
Extension/Modification Request Class, to make one or more
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments pursuant to procedures
reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably
acceptable to the Borrower. Such notice shall set forth (i) the
terms and conditions of the requested Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment and (ii) the date on which such
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment is requested to become
effective (which shall not be less than five Business Days or more
than 60 Business Days after the date of such notice, unless
otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent).
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments shall become effective
only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Lenders of
the Extension/Modification Request Class that accept the applicable
Extension/Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “
Extending/Modifying Lenders
”) and,
in the case of any Extending/Modifying Lender, only with respect to
such Lender’s Loans and Commitments of such
Extension/Modification Request Class as to which such
Lender’s acceptance has been made. Any Extended/Modified
Loans or Extended/Modified Commitments shall constitute a separate
Class of Loans or Commitments from the Extension/Modification
Request Class from which they were converted and, in the event any
Extended/Modified Term Loans have the same terms as any existing
Class of Term Loans then outstanding or any Incremental Term Loans
or Refinancing Term Loans then substantially concurrently
established (in each case, disregarding any differences in original
issue discount or upfront fees if not affecting the fungibility
thereof for US federal income tax purposes), such Extended/Modified
Term Loans may, at the election of the Borrower, be treated as a
single Class with such outstanding Term Loans or such Incremental
Term Loans or Refinancing Term Loans, and the scheduled
Installments set forth in Section 2.11 with respect to any such
Class of Term Loans may be increased to reflect scheduled
amortization of such Extended/Modified Term Loans. The
Extension/Modification Offer shall not be required to be in any
minimum amount or any minimum increment,
provided
that the Borrower may,
at its option and subject to its right to waive any such condition
in its sole discretion, specify as a condition to the effectiveness
of any Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment that a minimum
amount, as specified in the Extension/Modification Offer, of Loans
and Commitments of the Extension/Modification Request Class consent
thereto. The Borrower may amend, revoke or replace any
Extension/Modification Offer at any time prior to the effectiveness
of the applicable Extension/Modification Agreement. In connection
with any Extension/Modification Offer, the Borrower shall agree to
such procedures, if any, as may be reasonably established by, or
acceptable to, the Administrative Agent to accomplish the purposes
of this Section 2.24.
(b)
An
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment shall be effected
pursuant to an Extension/Modification Agreement executed and
delivered by the Borrower, each applicable Extending/Modifying
Lender and the Administrative Agent;
provided
that no
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment shall become effective
unless the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s
certificates, officer’s certificates, reaffirmation
agreements and other documents as shall reasonably be requested
(consistent in all material respects with the documents delivered
under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date) by the Administrative Agent
in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each
Extension/Modification Agreement. Each Extension/Modification
Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the
applicable Extending/Modifying Lenders, effect such amendments to
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary
or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give
effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24, including (i) a
reduction to the scheduled Installments set forth in Section 2.11
with respect to Loans of the Extension/Modification Request Class
to reflect the treatment of the Extended/Modified Loans as a new
Class of Loans (it being understood that the amount of any
scheduled amortization payable to any non-Extending/Modifying
Lender with respect to its Loans of the Extension/Modification
Request Class shall not be reduced as a result thereof) and (ii)
any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Loans and/or
Commitments of the Extending/Modifying Lenders as a new
“Class” of loans and/or commitments hereunder
(including for purposes of prepayments and voting) (it being agreed
that such new Class of Loans may be included in the definitions of
“Majority in Interest”, “Pro Rata Share”,
“Requisite Lenders” and, as applicable,
“Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders” and may be
afforded class voting rights requiring the consent of Lenders under
such Class in addition to any other consent of Lenders that might
otherwise be required under Section 10.5);
provided
that, in the case of
any Extension/Modification Offer relating to Revolving Commitments
or Revolving Loans, (A) the borrowing and repayment (except
for repayments required upon the maturity, repayments made in
connection with any Refinancing Facility Agreement and repayments
made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of
the applicable Commitments) of Loans under the Commitments of such
new Class and the remaining Revolving Commitments shall be made on
a ratable basis as between the Commitments of such new Class and
the remaining Revolving Commitments, (B) the allocation of the
participation exposure with respect to any then-existing or
subsequently issued Letter of Credit as between the Commitments of
such new Class and the remaining Revolving Commitments shall be
made on a ratable basis as between the Commitments of such new
Class and the remaining Revolving Commitments (and the applicable
Extension/Modification Agreement shall contain reallocation and
cash collateralization provisions, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, with
respect to Letters of Credit outstanding on the Revolving Maturity
Date) and (C) the Revolving Commitment Period and the
Revolving Maturity Date, as such terms are used in reference to
Letters of Credit of any Issuing Bank, may not be extended without
the prior written consent of such Issuing Bank.
2.25.
Refinancing
Facilities.
(a) The Borrower may, on one or more occasions,
by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request the
establishment hereunder of (i) one or more additional Classes of
revolving commitments (the “
Refinancing Revolving
Commitments
”) pursuant to which each Person providing
such a commitment (a “
Refinancing Revolving Lender
”)
will make revolving loans to the Borrower (“
Refinancing Revolving Loans
”) and,
if applicable under such Class, acquire participations in the
Letters of Credit and all the then existing Revolving Commitments
will be refinanced in full or (ii) one or more additional Classes
of term loan commitments (the “
Refinancing Term Loan
Commitments
”) pursuant to which each Person providing
such a commitment (a “
Refinancing Term Lender
”) will
make term loans to the Borrower (the “
Refinancing Term Loans
”). Each
such notice shall specify (A) the date on which the Borrower
proposes that the Refinancing Commitments shall be effective, which
shall be a date not less than five Business Days (or such shorter
period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) after the
date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent,
(B) the amount of the Refinancing Commitments requested to be
established and (C) the identity of each Person proposed to become
a Refinancing Lender in connection therewith (it being agreed that
(x) any Lender approached to provide any Refinancing Commitment may
elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such
Refinancing Commitment and (y) any Person that the Borrower
proposes to be a Refinancing Lender, if such Person is not then a
Lender, must be an Eligible Assignee and must be approved by the
Administrative Agent and, in the case of any proposed Refinancing
Revolving Lender if such Lender is to acquire participations in the
Letters of Credit, each Issuing Bank (such approvals not to be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)).
(b)
The terms and
conditions of any Refinancing Commitments and the Refinancing Loans
to be made thereunder shall be as determined by the Borrower and
the applicable Refinancing Lenders and set forth in the applicable
Refinancing Facility Agreement;
provided
that an Issuing Bank
shall not be required to issue, amend or extend any Letter of
Credit under any Refinancing Revolving Commitments unless such
Issuing Bank shall have consented to act in such capacity under
such Refinancing Revolving Commitments;
provided
further
that (i) the stated
termination date applicable to the Refinancing Commitments and the
Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date of any Class shall not be
earlier than the Maturity Date of the Class of Commitments or Loans
being refinanced, (ii) in the case of any Refinancing Term
Loans, the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinancing
Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted average
life to maturity of the Class of Term Loans being refinanced (and,
for purposes of determining the weighted average life to maturity
of such Class of Term Loans being refinanced, the effects of any
prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall be
disregarded), it being understood that, subject to this clause
(ii), the amortization schedule applicable to (and the effect
thereon of any prepayments of) any Refinancing Term Loans shall be
determined by the Borrower and the applicable Refinancing Lenders,
(iii) in the case of any partial refinancing of the Tranche B
Term Loans, the Weighted Average Yield with respect to such
Refinancing Term Loans, determined as of the date of incurrence of
such Refinancing Term Loans, shall not be greater than the Weighted
Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined
as of such date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted
Average Yield on the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective
subsequent to the Closing Date but prior to such date, but
excluding the effect of any increase in interest margins with
respect thereto pursuant to this clause (iii)), plus 0.50% per
annum unless the Applicable Rate (together with, as provided in the
proviso below, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors)
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding
after such refinancing is increased, or fees to Lenders then
holding the Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding after such
refinancing are paid, so as to cause the Weighted Average Yield
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding
after such refinancing to equal the Weighted Average Yield with
respect to such Refinancing Term Loans minus 0.50%,
provided
that any increase in
the effective Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans due to the application of an Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness shall be effected solely
through an increase in the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate
floor applicable to the Tranche B Term Loans and only to the extent
an increase in such floor with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans
would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect with
respect thereto, (iv) any Refinancing Term Loans may participate in
any mandatory prepayments hereunder on a pro rata basis (or on a
basis that is less than pro rata) with the other Term Loans, but
may not provide for mandatory prepayment requirements that are more
favorable than those applicable to the other Term Loans,
(v) any Refinancing Commitments and Refinancing Loans made
thereunder shall rank
pari
passu
in right of payment, and shall be secured by the
Collateral on an equal and ratable basis, with the other Loans and
Commitments hereunder, and shall be extensions of credit to the
Borrower that are Guaranteed only by the Credit Parties, and (vi)
except for the terms referred to above, to the extent the terms of
any Refinancing Commitments or Refinancing Loans (other than
interest rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins,
benchmark rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and
prepayment terms (including “no call” terms and other
restrictions thereon) and premiums) are not consistent with those
of the Class of Loans being refinanced, such differences shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (except for terms
benefitting the Refinancing Lenders (A) where this Agreement
is amended to include such beneficial terms for the benefit of all
Lenders (or, in the case of any Refinancing Term Loans that are TLA
Term Loans, all Lenders holding TLA Term Loans or Revolving
Commitments) or (B) applicable only to periods after the latest
Maturity Date in effect as of the date of establishment or
incurrence of such Refinancing Commitments or Refinancing Loans);
provided
further
that
clauses (i), (ii) and (vi) shall not apply if, at the time of the
incurrence of such Refinancing Loans and after giving effect to the
application of the proceeds thereof, such Refinancing Loans shall
be the sole Class of Loans outstanding under this Agreement. In the
event any Refinancing Term Loans have the same terms as any
existing Class of Term Loans then outstanding or any Incremental
Term Loans or Extended/Modified Term Loans then substantially
concurrently established (in each case, disregarding any
differences in original issue discount or upfront fees if not
affecting the fungibility thereof for US federal income tax
purposes), such Refinancing Term Loans may, at the election of the
Borrower, be treated as a single Class with such outstanding Term
Loans or such Incremental Term Loans or Extended/Modified Term
Loans, and the scheduled Installments set forth in Section 2.11
with respect to any such Class of Term Loans may be increased to
reflect scheduled amortization of such Refinancing Term
Loans.
(c)
The Refinancing
Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Refinancing
Facility Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, each
Refinancing Lender providing such Refinancing Commitments, the
Administrative Agent and, in the case of Refinancing Revolving
Commitments, as applicable, each Issuing Bank;
provided
that no Refinancing
Commitments shall become effective unless (i) the Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent such legal opinions,
board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s
certificates, reaffirmation agreements and other documents as shall
reasonably be requested (consistent in all material respects with
the documents delivered under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date)
by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith, (ii) in
the case of any Refinancing Revolving Commitments, substantially
concurrently with the effectiveness thereof, all the Revolving
Commitments then in effect shall be terminated and the Borrower
shall make any prepayment or deposit required to be made under
Section 2.13(f) as a result thereof and shall pay all interest on
the amounts prepaid and all fees accrued on the Revolving
Commitments (it being understood, however, that any Letters of
Credit may continue to be outstanding under the Refinancing
Revolving Commitments, in each case on terms agreed by each
applicable Issuing Bank and specified in the applicable Refinancing
Facility Agreement) and (iii) in the case of any Refinancing
Term Loan Commitments, (A) substantially concurrently with the
effectiveness thereof, the Borrower shall obtain Refinancing Term
Loans thereunder and shall repay or prepay then outstanding Term
Borrowings of any Class in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the aggregate amount of such Refinancing Term Loan Commitments
(less the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest with
respect to such outstanding Term Borrowings, any original issue
discount or upfront fees applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans
and any reasonable fees, premium and expenses relating to such
refinancing) and (B) any such prepayment of Term Borrowings of
any Class shall be applied to reduce the subsequent Installments to
be made pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Term Borrowings of
such Class on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the principal
amounts of such Installments) and, in the case of a prepayment of
Eurodollar Rate Term Borrowings, shall be subject to
Section 2.17(c). Each Refinancing Facility Agreement may,
without the consent of any Lender other than the applicable
Refinancing Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and
the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in
the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the
provisions of this Section 2.25, including any amendments
necessary to treat the applicable Refinancing Commitments and
Refinancing Loans as a new Class of Commitments or Loans hereunder
(including for purposes of prepayments and voting (it being agreed
that such new Class of Commitments and Loans may be included in the
definitions of “Majority in Interest”, “Pro Rata
Share”, “Requisite Lenders” and, as applicable,
“Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders” and may be
afforded class voting rights requiring the consent of Lenders under
such Class in addition to any other consent of Lenders that might
otherwise be required under Section 10.5) and to enable such new
Class of Commitments and Loans to be extended under Section 2.24 or
refinanced under this Section 2.25).
(d)
Upon the
effectiveness of a Refinancing Commitment of any Refinancing
Lender, such Refinancing Lender shall be deemed to be a
“Lender” (and a Lender in respect of Commitments and
Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder, and henceforth shall be
entitled to all the rights of, and benefits accruing to, Lenders
(or Lenders in respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable
Class) hereunder and shall be bound by all agreements,
acknowledgements and other obligations of Lenders (or Lenders in
respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder
and under the other Credit Documents.
(e)
The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any notice from the Borrower referred to in
Section 2.25(a) and of the effectiveness of any Refinancing
Commitments, in each case advising the Lenders of the details
thereof.
SECTION
3.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
3.1.
Closing
Date
. This Agreement and the obligation of each Lender and
each Issuing Bank to make any Credit Extension shall not become
effective until the date on which each of the following conditions
shall be satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section
10.5):
(a)
Credit Agreement
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary (including the Acquired Company and each of
its Subsidiaries that is a Designated Subsidiary) and each other
party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on
behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent (which may include a facsimile or electronic
image scan transmission) that such party has signed a counterpart
of this Agreement.
(b)
Organizational Documents;
Incumbency
. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in
respect of the Borrower and each Designated Subsidiary (including
the Acquired Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is a
Designated Subsidiary), a certificate of such Person (or, in the
case of a partnership, its general partner), dated the Closing Date
and executed by the secretary or an assistant secretary or manager
of such Person, attaching (i) a copy of each Organizational
Document of such Person, which shall be certified as of the Closing
Date or a recent date prior thereto by the appropriate Governmental
Authority, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the
officers/manager or general partner of such Person executing each
Credit Document, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Managers, Board
of Directors or similar governing body of such Person approving and
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party,
certified as of the Closing Date by such secretary or assistant
secretary or manager as being in full force and effect without
modification or amendment, and (iv) a good standing
certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of such
Person’s jurisdiction of organization, dated the Closing Date
or a recent date prior thereto.
(c)
Closing Date Refinancing
. The
Closing Date Refinancing shall have been consummated or shall be
consummated substantially simultaneously with the initial funding
of Loans on the Closing Date, and the Administrative Agent shall
have received customary payoff letters with respect thereto or
other evidence thereof reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Arrangers.
(d)
Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement
. Subject to the final paragraph of this
Section 3.1, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall
have been satisfied. The Collateral Agent shall have received a
completed Collateral Questionnaire in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Arrangers, dated the
Closing Date and executed by an Authorized Officer of each of the
Borrower and the Acquired Company, together with all attachments
contemplated thereby, including the results of a search of the UCC
(or equivalent) filings made with respect to the Credit Parties in
the jurisdictions contemplated by the Collateral Questionnaire and
copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed
by such search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent and the Arrangers that the Liens indicated by such
financing statements (or similar documents) are Permitted Liens or
have been, or substantially contemporaneously with the initial
funding of Loans on the Closing Date will be,
released.
(e)
Evidence of Insurance
. Subject
to the final paragraph of this Section 3.1, the Collateral
Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrower’s
insurance broker or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent and the Arrangers that the insurance required to
be maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 is in full force and effect,
together with customary endorsements naming the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of Secured Parties, as additional insured and
lender’s loss payee thereunder to the extent required under
Section 5.5.
(f)
Opinions of Counsel
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written
opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral
Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks and dated the Closing
Date) of each of (i) Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, counsel for
the Credit Parties, (ii) Kelley Drye & Warren LLP,
regulatory counsel for the Credit Parties, (iii) Jones Day, Georgia
counsel for the Credit Parties, and (iv) Spencer Fane LLP, Kansas
counsel for the Credit Parties, in each case in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the
Arrangers (and each Credit Party hereby instructs such counsel to
deliver such opinion to the Administrative Agent).
(g)
Fees and Expenses
. The Borrower
shall have paid to the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders all fees and expenses (including legal fees and expenses
and recording fees) and other amounts due and payable on or prior
to the Closing Date pursuant to the Credit Documents, the
Engagement Letter and the Fee Letters.
(h)
Solvency Certificate
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received the Solvency Certificate,
dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of
the Borrower.
(i)
Closing Date Certificate
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received the Closing Date
Certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments
thereto.
(j)
Letter of Direction
. The
Administrative Agent and Goldman Sachs, as an Arranger, shall have
received a duly executed letter of direction from the Borrower
addressed to Goldman Sachs, as an Arranger, directing the
disbursement on the Closing Date of the proceeds of the Loans to be
made on such date.
(k)
PATRIOT Act
. At least five days
prior to the Closing Date, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
shall have received all documentation and other information
(including with respect to the Acquired Company and its
Subsidiaries) required by bank regulatory authorities under
applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money
laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT
Act.
(l)
Consummation of the Merger
. The
Merger shall have been (or substantially concurrently with the
funding of the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term
Loans on the Closing Date shall be) consummated, pursuant to and on
the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Arrangers shall
have received a copy of the Merger Agreement (including a copy of
the Acquired Company Indemnity Letter Agreement), together with all
closing deliverables thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer
of the Borrower as complete and correct.
(m)
Distribution of the Consumer/SMB
Business
. The Consumer/SMB Business shall have been (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche A Term
Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
be) distributed by the Acquired Company, pursuant to and on the
terms set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Arrangers shall have
received a copy of the definitive agreements relating to the
distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business, together with all
closing deliverables thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer
of the Acquired Company as complete and correct.
(n)
Fusion Global Transactions
. The
Borrower shall have consummated (or substantially concurrently with
the funding of the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term
Loans on the Closing Date shall consummate) the Fusion Global
Arrangement, pursuant to and on the terms set forth in the Merger
Agreement. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
definitive agreements relating to the Fusion Global Arrangement,
together with all closing deliverables thereunder, certified by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and
correct.
(o)
Subordinated Notes Issuance or
Amendment
. The Borrower shall have received (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche A Term
Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
receive) gross cash proceeds of not less than $10,000,000 from the
issuance of the New Subordinated Note. The Existing Subordinated
Notes shall have been (or substantially concurrently with funding
of the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the
Closing Date shall be) amended and restated to, among other things,
provide that the Existing Subordinated Notes are subordinated in
right of payment to the Obligations and all Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness
and Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness (in each case,
other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Borrower or any
Guarantor Subsidiary, as applicable, in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to the Arrangers. The Administrative Agent shall have
received a copy of the Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents with respect to the Subordinated Notes, certified by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and correct, and the
terms and conditions of the Subordinated Notes, and the provisions
of the Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Documents with respect
thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Arrangers.
(p)
Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance
. The Closing Date Common Equity Issuance shall have
occurred (or substantially concurrently with the funding of the
Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the
Closing Date shall occur), and the Borrower shall have received (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche A Term
Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
receive) gross cash proceeds of not less than $4,999,998.50
therefrom. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
definitive agreements relating to the Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance, together with all closing deliverables thereunder,
certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and
correct.
(q)
Closing Date Preferred Equity
Issuance
. The Borrower shall have issued and sold (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche A Term
Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall issue
and sell) the Closing Date Preferred Stock to Holcombe T. Green,
Jr. (or an entity majority-owned and Controlled by Holcombe T.
Green, Jr.), and the Borrower shall have received (or substantially
concurrently with the funding of the Tranche A Term Loans and the
Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall receive) gross cash
proceeds of not less than $14,700,000 therefrom. The Arrangers
shall have received a copy of the definitive agreements relating to
the Closing Date Preferred Stock, together with all closing
deliverables relating thereto, all of which shall be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and certified by
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and
correct.
(r)
Escrow Cash Collateral
Arrangement
. The Borrower shall have established a blocked
deposit account maintained with a depository institution reasonably
acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Arrangers (i) in which
the Escrow Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the Escrow Cash
Amount shall have been (or substantially concurrently with the
funding of the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall be)
deposited to be held as cash collateral securing the Obligations
pending use as contemplated by Section 2.5(c) and (ii) that is
subject to a control agreement in favor of the Collateral Agent, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent
and the Arrangers (the “
Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement
”), pursuant to which the Escrow Cash
Collateral shall be subject to the sole control and dominion of the
Collateral Agent, to be released by the Collateral Agent solely for
the purposes contemplated by Section 2.5(c) in accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.8(d)(ii) (the “
Escrow Cash Collateral
Account
”).
Each
Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement, and
funding its Loans on the Closing Date and/or providing its
Revolving Commitment on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have
acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit
Document and each other document required to be approved by any
Agent, the Requisite Lenders or any other Lenders, as applicable,
on the Closing Date.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, solely with respect to the matters expressly identified
in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement, the satisfaction by the
Credit Parties of the foregoing conditions shall not be required on
the Closing Date, and shall not be a condition to the making of the
Credit Extensions on the Closing Date, but shall be required to be
accomplished in accordance with the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement.
3.2.
Each
Credit Extension
. The obligation of each Lender and each
Issuing Bank to make any Credit Extension on any Credit Date,
including the Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver in accordance with Section 10.5) of the following conditions
precedent (it being understood and agreed that, in the case of any
Term Loans the proceeds of which are intended to be applied to
finance a Limited Conditionality Transaction, the conditions
precedent set forth in clauses (b) and (c) below may be satisfied
as of the applicable LCT Test Date in accordance with
Section 1.5):
(a)
the Administrative
Agent and, in the case of any issuance, amendment or extension
(other than an automatic extension permitted under
Section 2.3(a)) of any Letter of Credit, the applicable
Issuing Bank shall have received a fully completed and executed
Funding Notice or Issuance Notice, as the case may be;
(b)
the representations
and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Credit
Documents shall be true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified or modified as to
materiality in the text thereof, in all respects and (ii)
otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and as of such
Credit Date, except in the case of any such representation and
warranty that expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case
such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on
and as of such earlier date; and
(c)
at the time of and
immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would result therefrom.
On the
date of any Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
represented and warranted that the conditions specified in Sections
3.2(b) and 3.2(c) have been satisfied and that, after giving effect
to such Credit Extension, the Total Utilization of Revolving
Commitments (or any component thereof) shall not exceed the maximum
amount thereof (or the maximum amount of any such component)
specified in Section 2.2(a) or 2.3(a).
SECTION
4.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
In
order to induce the Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to
enter into this Agreement and to make each Credit Extension to be
made thereby, each Credit Party represents and warrants to each
Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank on the Closing Date and on
each Credit Date as follows:
4.1.
Organization;
Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification
. Each of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite power and
authority (i) to own and operate its properties and to carry
on its business and operations as now conducted and (ii) in the
case of the Credit Parties, to execute and deliver the Credit
Documents to which it is a party and to perform the other
Transactions to be performed by it and (c) is qualified to do
business and in good standing under the laws of every jurisdiction
where its assets are located or where such qualification is
necessary to carry out its business and operations, except, in each
case referred to in clauses (a) (other than with respect to
the Borrower), (b)(i) and (c), where the failure so to be or so to
have, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2.
Equity
Interests and Ownership
.
Schedule 4.2
sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the name and jurisdiction of
organization of, and the percentage of each class of Equity
Interests owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in, (a) each
Subsidiary and (b) each joint venture and other Person in which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary owns any Equity Interests, and
identifies each Designated Subsidiary and each Material Subsidiary.
The Equity Interests owned by any Credit Party in any Subsidiary
have been duly authorized and validly issued and, to the extent
such concept is applicable, are fully paid and non-assessable.
Except as set forth on
Schedule
4.2
, as of the Closing Date (i) there are no Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding that upon
exercise, conversion or exchange would require the issuance by any
Restricted Subsidiary of any additional Equity Interests or other
Securities exercisable for, convertible into, exchangeable for or
evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase any Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) there are no
existing options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or other
agreements to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a
party requiring the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of any
additional Equity Interests or other Securities exercisable for,
convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to
subscribe for or purchase any Equity Interests in any Restricted
Subsidiary.
4.3.
Due
Authorization
. The Transactions to be entered into by each
Credit Party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
or other organizational and, if required, stockholder, shareholder
or other equityholder action on the part of such Credit
Party.
4.4.
No
Conflict
. The Transactions do not and will not (a) violate
any applicable law, including any order of any Governmental
Authority, except to the extent any such violation, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, (b) violate the Organizational Documents
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) violate or result
(alone or with notice or lapse of time, or both) in a default under
any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any
payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, or give rise to a right of, or result in,
any termination, cancelation or acceleration or right of
renegotiation of any obligation thereunder, except to the extent
any such violation, default, right or result, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (d) except for Liens created under the
Credit Documents or the Second Lien Credit Documents, result in or
require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
4.5.
Governmental
Approvals
. The Transactions do not and will not require any
registration with, consent or approval of, notice to, or other
action by any Governmental Authority, except (a) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) filings
and recordings with respect to the Collateral necessary to perfect
Liens created under the Credit Documents or the Second Lien Credit
Documents and (c) filings and registrations under applicable
securities laws relating to the Disposition by the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement of Collateral that
constitute Securities.
4.6.
Binding
Obligation
. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and
delivered by each Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the
legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party,
enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting
creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles
relating to enforceability.
4.7.
Historical
Financial Statements; Projections; Pro Forma Financial
Statements
. The Historical Borrower Financial Statements
were prepared in conformity with GAAP and present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof
and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each of the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to
changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and the
absence of footnotes. The Historical Acquired Company Financial
Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of the Acquired Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations
and cash flows of the Acquired Company and its Subsidiaries for
each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such
unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and
normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes. As of the
Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any
contingent liability or liability for Taxes, long-term lease or
unusual forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected in
the Historical Borrower Financial Statements, the Historical
Acquired Company Financial Statements or the notes thereto and
that, in any such case, is material in relation to the business,
operations, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(a)
The Projections
have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were
believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it
being understood and agreed that the Projections are not a
guarantee of financial performance and actual results may differ
therefrom and such differences may be material.
(b)
The Pro Forma
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared by the Borrower in good
faith based on assumptions that were believed by the Borrower to be
reasonable at the time made and are believed by the Borrower to be
reasonable on the Closing Date, (ii) accurately reflect in all
material respects all adjustments necessary to give effect to the
Transactions as contemplated by such Pro Forma Financial Statements
and (iii) present fairly, in all material respects, the pro
forma financial position and results of operations of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries as of the date and for the period stated
therein as if the Transactions as contemplated by such Pro Forma
Financial Statements had occurred on such date or at the beginning
of such period, as the case may be.
4.8.
No
Material Adverse Effect
. Since December 31, 2017, there
has been no event or condition that has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.9.
Adverse
Proceedings
. There are no Adverse Proceedings that (a)
individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) in any manner question the
validity or enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or
otherwise involve any of the Credit Documents or the
Transactions.
4.10.
Payment
of Taxes
. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5.3,
all Tax returns and reports of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and all
Taxes shown on such Tax returns to be due and payable, and all
assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries and upon their properties, income, businesses
and franchises that are due and payable, have been paid when due
and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books reserves with
respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent
that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.11.
Properties
.
Title
. The Borrower
and each Restricted Subsidiary has (i) good, sufficient and
marketable title to (in the case of fee interests in real
property), (ii) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of
leasehold interests in real or personal property), (iii) valid
licensed rights in (in the case of licensed interests in
Intellectual Property) and (iv) good title to (in the case of all
other personal property) all of their material assets reflected in
the Historical Borrower Financial Statements or the Historical
Acquired Company Financial Statements, as applicable, or, after the
first delivery thereof, in the consolidated financial statements of
the Borrower most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.1,
in each case except for assets disposed of since the date of such
financial statements in the ordinary course of business or as
otherwise permitted by this Agreement (including the Fusion Global
Arrangement and the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business) and
except for Permitted Liens and defects that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of the affected
property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
(a)
Real Estate
. Set forth on
Schedule
4.11(b)
is true and complete list, as of the Closing Date,
of all Real Estate Assets owned in fee by any Credit Party,
identifying each Material Real Estate Asset, if any, and the proper
jurisdiction for the filing of a Mortgage in respect
thereof.
(b)
Intellectual Property
. The
Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to
use, all Intellectual Property that is necessary for the conduct of
its business as currently conducted, and without conflict with the
rights of any other Person, except to the extent any such conflict,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Intellectual Property used by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the operation of its
business infringes upon the rights of any other Person, except for
any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No claim or litigation regarding any Intellectual Property owned or
used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
threatened in writing against the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.12.
Environmental
Matters
. Except with respect to any matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary (a) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law
or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other
approval required under any Environmental Law, (b) has become
subject to any Environmental Liability, (c) has received
notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or
(d) knows of any basis for any Environmental
Liability.
4.13.
No
Defaults
. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
4.14.
Investment
Company Act
. None of the Credit Parties is a
“registered investment company” or a company
“controlled” by a “registered investment
company” or a “principal underwriter” of a
“registered investment company” as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4.15.
Federal
Reserve Regulations
. None of the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important
activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock
or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock.
(a)
No portion of the
proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used, directly or
indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation (including on
the part of any Lender) of any of the regulations of the Board of
Governors, including Regulations U and X. Not more than 25% of the
value of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
subject to any restrictions on the sale, pledge or other
Disposition of assets under this Agreement, any other Credit
Document or any other agreement to which any Lender or Affiliate of
a Lender is party will at any time be represented by Margin
Stock.
4.16.
Employee
Benefit Plans
. The Borrower, each Restricted Subsidiary and
each of their respective ERISA Affiliates is in compliance with all
applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, and has
performed all its obligations under each Employee Benefit Plan,
except where such failure to comply or perform, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to
qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has
received a favorable determination letter or opinion letter from
the IRS indicating that such Employee Benefit Plan is so qualified
and nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of such
determination letter or opinion letter which would cause such
Employee Benefit Plan to lose its qualified status. No liability to
the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the IRS, any
Employee Benefit Plan or any trust established under Title IV of
ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by the Borrower, any
Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event or
Foreign Plan Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except to the extent
required under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code or
similar state laws, no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or
welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise)
for any retired or former employee of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. The present
value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each Pension Plan
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any
Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates
(determined as of the end of the most recent plan year on the basis
of assumptions used for purposes of Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 715), did not exceed the aggregate current value
of the assets of such Pension Plan. As of the most recent valuation
date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is
available, the potential liability of the Borrower, the Restricted
Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates for a complete
withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of
Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential
liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans,
based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA
is zero. The Borrower, each Restricted Subsidiary and each of their
respective ERISA Affiliates is not in material
“default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA)
with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan. None of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold
“plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR §
2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA).
4.17.
Solvency
.
On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the borrowing of the
Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans hereunder
and the other Transactions to occur on such date), the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are
Solvent.
4.18.
Compliance
with Laws
. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance
with all applicable laws, including all orders and other
restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority, in respect of
the conduct of its business and the ownership and operation of its
properties (including compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws), except where such failure to comply, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.19.
Disclosure
.
None of the Lender Presentation, any other documents, certificates
or statements or any other written information (other than
financial projections (including financial estimates, budgets,
forecasts and other forward-looking information) and information of
general economic or industry-specific nature) furnished to any
Arranger, any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by or on behalf
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the
negotiation of or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Credit
Document or otherwise in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, when taken as a whole, contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein
not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which
they were made (after giving effect to all supplements theretofore
provided);
provided
that, with respect to financial projections, financial estimates,
budgets, forecasts and other forward-looking information, the
Credit Parties represent only that such information was prepared in
good faith based upon estimates and assumptions believed by the
Credit Parties to be reasonable at the time such information is so
furnished (it being understood that such information is not a
guarantee of financial or other performance and actual results may
differ therefrom and that such differences may be material). There
are no facts known to the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than
matters of a general economic or industry-specific nature) that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect and that have not been disclosed in
such documents, certificates, statements or other
information.
4.20.
Collateral
Matters
. The Pledge and Security Agreement, upon execution
and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create in favor
of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a
valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as
defined therein) and (i) when the Collateral (as defined
therein) constituting certificated securities (as defined in the
UCC) is delivered to the Collateral Agent without “notice of
any adverse claims” (all within the meaning of the UCC),
together with instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the
security interest created under the Pledge and Security Agreement
will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right,
title and interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral,
prior and superior in right to any other Person (subject to any
Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), and (ii) when financing
statements in appropriate form are filed in the applicable filing
offices, the security interest created under the Pledge and
Security Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security
interest in all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in
the remaining Collateral (as defined therein) to the extent
perfection can be obtained by filing UCC financing statements,
prior and superior in right to any other Person, but subject to
Permitted Liens.
(a)
Each Mortgage, upon
execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create
in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all
the applicable mortgagor’s right, title and interest in and
to the Real Estate Asset subject thereto and the proceeds thereof,
and when the Mortgages have been filed in the jurisdictions
specified therein, the Mortgages will constitute fully perfected
security interests in all right, title and interest of the
mortgagors in the Real Estate Assets subject thereto and the
proceeds thereof, prior and superior in right to any other Person,
but subject to the Permitted Liens.
(b)
Upon the
recordation of the Intellectual Property Security Agreements with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, as applicable, and the filing of the financing
statements referred to in Section 4.20(a), the security interest
created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a
fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest
of the Credit Parties in the Intellectual Property in which a
security interest may be perfected by filing in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office, in
each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, but
subject to Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent
recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the
United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a
security interest in such Intellectual Property acquired by the
Credit Parties after the Closing Date).
(c)
Each Collateral
Document, other than any Collateral Document referred to in the
preceding paragraphs of this Section 4.20, upon execution and
delivery thereof by the parties thereto and the making of the
filings and taking of the other actions provided for therein, will
be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid
and enforceable security interest in the Collateral subject
thereto, and will constitute a fully perfected security interest in
all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in the
Collateral subject thereto to the extent perfection may be achieved
by making the filings and taking the other actions provided for
therein, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person,
except for rights secured by Permitted Liens.
4.21.
Sanctioned
Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; PATRIOT Act
. None of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
directors, officers or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, employees, agents or Affiliates is a Sanctioned Person
or otherwise the subject of any sanctions or economic embargoes
administered or enforced by the US Department of State or the
US Department of Treasury (including OFAC), the United Nations
Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member
state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any
other applicable sanctions authority (collectively,
“
Sanctions
”, and
the associated laws, rules, regulations and orders, collectively,
“
Sanctions
Laws
”). Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and
their respective directors, officers, and, to the knowledge of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, employees, agents or Affiliates is in
compliance, in all material respects, with (a) all Sanctions
Laws, (b) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom and any other applicable
anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, rules, regulations and orders
(collectively, “
Anti-Corruption Laws
”) and
(c) the PATRIOT Act and any other applicable terrorism and
money laundering laws, rules, regulations and orders. No part of
the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used,
directly or indirectly, (i) for the purpose of financing any
activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or
territory that at such time is the subject of any Sanctions, (ii)
for any payments to any governmental official or employee,
political party, official of a political party, candidate for
political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in
order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper
advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law or (iii) in any
manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions Laws
applicable to any party hereto.
4.22.
Communications
Regulatory Matters
.
(a)
The businesses of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries are being conducted in compliance with all
Communications Laws, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries possess all
Licenses required to conduct their businesses in the ordinary
course, and all such Licenses are in full force and
effect
.
(b)
There is no
condition, event or occurrence existing, nor, to the knowledge of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is there any proceeding being
conducted or threatened by any Governmental Authority, which would
reasonably be expected to cause the termination, revocation,
forfeiture, suspension, cancellation, adverse modification or
non-renewal of any of the Licenses held by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, or the imposition of any penalty or fine by any
Governmental Authority with respect to any such Licenses or the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case which, individually or in
the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(c)
There is no (i)
outstanding decree, decision, judgment, or order that has been
issued by the FCC or a State PUC against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any License held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
(ii) notice of violation, order to show cause, complaint,
investigation, inquiry or other administrative or judicial
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, threatened by or before the FCC or a State PUC against
the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any License held by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary that, assuming an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, in the case of each of (i) or (ii) above, would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(d)
Each of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries have filed with the FCC and State
PUCs all necessary reports, documents, instruments, information or
applications required to be filed pursuant to the Communications
Laws, and have paid all fees, assessments and other charges
required to be paid pursuant to the Communications Laws, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)
Except as has been
obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Date, no consent,
approval, authorization, order or waiver of, or filing with, the
FCC, the State PUCs or any other Governmental Authority is required
under the Communications Laws to be obtained or made by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary for (i) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or (ii)
the consummation of the Merger and the other
Transactions.
SECTION
5.
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable
hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit
shall have expired with no pending drawings or been terminated and
the Letter of Credit Usage shall have been reduced to zero, each
Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Agents, the Lenders and
the Issuing Banks that:
5.1.
Financial
Statements and Other Reports
. The Borrower will deliver to
the Administrative Agent and, where applicable, to the
Lenders:
(a)
Annual Financial Statements
.
Commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2018, as soon
as available, and in any event within 95 days after the end of
each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’
equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such
Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year, together with a
report thereon of EisnerAmper LLP or an independent registered
public accounting firm of recognized national standing (which
report shall not contain a “going concern” or like
statement, qualification, exception or emphasis or any
qualification, exception or emphasis as to the scope of audit,
provided
that such
report may contain a “going concern” statement solely
as a result of an impending maturity within 12 months of any Loans
or any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness or any prospective
(but not actual) failure to comply with Section 6.7(a) or 6.7(c)),
and shall state that such consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates
indicated and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the periods indicated in
conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years
(except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and
that the examination by such accounting firm in connection with
such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards;
(b)
Quarterly Financial Statements
.
Commencing with the first such Fiscal Quarter ending after the
Closing Date, as soon as available, and in any event within
45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal
Quarters of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter
and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter (in the case of such
statements of operations) and for the period from the beginning of
the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding periods of (or, in the case of the
balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year, together
with a Financial Officer Certification with respect
thereto;
(c)
Compliance Certificate and
Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statements
. Together
with each delivery of the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b),
a completed Compliance Certificate executed by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower and, if any Subsidiary shall be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, with respect to each such financial
statement an Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement
(which may be in a footnote form), which shall be accompanied by a
Financial Officer Certification;
(d)
Statements of Reconciliation after
Change in Accounting Principles
. If, as a result of any
change in GAAP or in the application thereof since the date of the
most recent balance sheet delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)
or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the first such delivery, since December 31,
2017), the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) will differ in any
material respect from the consolidated financial statements that
would have been delivered pursuant to such Section had no such
change occurred, then, together with the first delivery of such
financial statements after such change, one or more statements of
reconciliation specifying in reasonable detail the effect of such
change on such financial statements, including those for the prior
period;
(e)
Notice of Default and Material Adverse
Effect
. Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of any event or condition
set forth below, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower setting forth the details of such event or condition and
any action the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has taken, is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto:
(i)
the occurrence of
any Default or Event of Default; or
(ii)
any
event or condition that has had, or would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect;
(f)
Notice of Adverse Proceedings
.
Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of (i) any Adverse Proceeding that
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
that in any manner questions the validity or enforceability of
any of the Credit Documents or otherwise involves any of the Credit
Documents or (ii) any material and adverse development in any
Adverse Proceeding referred to in clause (i) above, in each case
where such development has not previously been disclosed in writing
by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth
the details of such Adverse Proceeding or development;
(g)
[Reserved]
;
(h)
Employee Benefit Plans
. (i)
Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any ERISA Event
or Foreign Plan Event, a written notice specifying the nature
thereof, what action the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action
taken or threatened by the IRS, the Department of Labor, the PBGC
or any other Governmental Authority with respect thereto; and
(ii) with reasonable promptness after written request by the
Administrative Agent, copies of (A) all material written
notices received by the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan
sponsor concerning an ERISA Event and (B) copies of such other
material documents or governmental reports or filings relating to
any Employee Benefit Plan with respect to which such ERISA Event
has occurred as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in
writing;
(i)
Financial Plan
. As soon as
available and in any event no later than 120 days after the
beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and financial
forecast for such Fiscal Year, including (i) a forecasted
consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements
of comprehensive income and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, and an explanation of the
assumptions on which such forecasts are based,
and (ii) forecasted
consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter of such
Fiscal Year;
(j)
Information Regarding Credit Parties
and Collateral
. Prompt written notice of any change in
(i) any Credit Party’s legal name, (ii) any Credit
Party’s form of organization, (iii) any Credit
Party’s jurisdiction of organization, (iv) the location of
the chief executive office of any Credit Party and (v) any
Credit Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or
state organizational identification number;
(k)
Collateral Verification
.
Commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2018, together
with each delivery of the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 5.1(a), a
completed Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire executed by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments
contemplated thereby;
(l)
Filed or Distributed
Information
. Promptly upon their becoming available, copies
of all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements
and prospectuses, if any, filed by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary with the SEC or any Governmental Authority performing
similar functions;
(m)
Notice of Modifications of Junior
Indebtedness Documents
. Promptly upon the effectiveness
thereof, notice of any execution and delivery of any credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Junior Indebtedness or
of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any such credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument, together
with a copy thereof; and
(n)
Other Information
. Promptly
after any request therefor, such other information regarding the
business, operations, assets, liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Credit
Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.
The
Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders
may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be
delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or otherwise are being
distributed through the Platform, any document or notice that the
Borrower has indicated contains Private-Side Information will not
be posted on the portion of the Platform that is designated for
Public Lenders,
provided
that the Borrower
shall make any disclosure required so that each Unrestricted
Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement shall be suitable for
distribution to Public Lenders. The Borrower agrees to clearly
designate all information provided to any Agent by or on behalf of
any Credit Party that contains only Public-Side Information, and by
doing so shall be deemed to have represented that such information
contains only Public-Side Information. If the Borrower has not
indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this
Section 5.1 contains Private-Side Information, the Administrative
Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on
the portion of the Platform that is designated for Private
Lenders.
Information
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or
5.1(l) shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information,
or one or more annual or quarterly reports containing such
information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on
the Platform or shall be available on the website of the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov or on the website of the Borrower at
http://www.fusionconnect.com,
provided
, in each case, that
the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent that such
information is available on such website and, if requested by the
Administrative Agent, shall have provided hard copies to the
Administrative Agent. Information required to be delivered pursuant
to this Section 5.1 may also be delivered by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no
obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies
of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no
responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with this
Section 5.1. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely
accessing posted documents and maintaining its copies of such
documents.
5.2.
Existence,
Licenses, Etc
. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary
will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect (a)
its existence and (b) all rights, franchises, licenses (including
all Licenses) and permits necessary for the ordinary conduct of the
business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that
(i) other than in the case of clause (a) above with respect to
the Borrower, the foregoing shall not apply to the extent the
failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii)
the foregoing shall not prohibit any transaction permitted under
Section 6.8.
5.3.
Payment
of Taxes
. The Borrower and each Subsidiary will pay all
Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties prior to the time
when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto;
provided
that no
such Tax need be paid if (a) it is being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
conducted so long as an adequate reserve or other appropriate
provision, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP, shall have
been made therefor or (b) the failure to make such payment
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.4.
Maintenance
of Properties
. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary
will maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all
properties used or useful in the business of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to
be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof,
in each case except where the failure to do so would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(a)
The Borrower and
each Restricted Subsidiary will take all actions reasonably
necessary to protect all Intellectual Property used or useful in
the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,
including (i) protecting the secrecy and confidentiality of the
confidential information and trade secrets of the Borrower and each
Restricted Subsidiary by having and enforcing a policy requiring
all employees, consultants, licensees, vendors and contractors to
execute confidentiality agreements, (ii) taking all actions
reasonably necessary to ensure that none of the trade secrets of
the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary shall fall or has fallen
into the public domain and (iii) protecting the secrecy and
confidentiality of the source code of all computer software
programs and applications owned or licensed by the Borrower and any
Restricted Subsidiary by having and enforcing a policy requiring
any licensees of such source code (including any licensees under
any source code escrow agreement) to enter into license agreements
with appropriate use and nondisclosure restrictions, except in each
case where the failure to take any such action, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
5.5.
Insurance
.
The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will maintain or cause
to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies, such public liability insurance, third-party property
damage insurance, business interruption insurance and casualty
insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect
of the assets and businesses of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under
similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged
in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar
locations, in each case in such amounts (with no greater risk
retention), covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and
conditions as shall be customary for such Persons. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries will maintain or cause to be maintained, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies, flood
insurance with respect to each Flood Hazard Property that is
located in a community that participates in the Flood Program, in
each case in compliance with any applicable regulations of the
Board of Governors or other applicable law. Each such policy of
insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Credit Parties shall
(a) in the case of liability insurance policies (other than
workers’ compensation and other policies for which such
endorsements are not customary), name the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder
and (b) in the case of business interruption and casualty insurance
policies, contain a lender’s loss payable clause or
endorsement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Collateral Agent, that names the Collateral Agent, for the benefit
of the Secured Parties, as the lender’s loss payee
thereunder, and shall provide that it shall not be canceled or not
renewed (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium upon not less than
10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the
Collateral Agent (giving the Collateral Agent the right to cure
defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason
upon not less than 30 days’ (or such shorter number of days
as may be agreed to by the Collateral Agent or as may be the
maximum number of days permitted by applicable law) prior written
notice thereof by the insurer to the Collateral Agent.
5.6.
Books
and Records; Inspections
. The Borrower and each Restricted
Subsidiary will keep proper books of record and accounts in which
full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material
respects with GAAP and applicable law are made of all dealings and
transactions in relation to its business and activities. The
Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary will permit the
Administrative Agent or any Lender (pursuant to a request made
through the Administrative Agent) (or their authorized
representatives, agents or advisors) to visit and inspect any of
its properties, to examine, copy and make extracts from its
financial and accounting records and to discuss its business,
operations, assets, liabilities (including contingent liabilities)
and condition (financial or otherwise) with its officers and
independent registered public accounting firm, all upon reasonable
notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours
and as often as may reasonably be requested;
provided
, that so long as no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing such
visits and inspections to be limited to not more than one visit and
inspection for the Administrative Agent and all Lenders
(coordinated through the Administrative Agent) in any Fiscal
Year.
5.7.
Lenders
Meetings
. The Borrower will, upon the request of the
Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, participate in a
telephonic conference with the Administrative Agent and Lenders
once during each Fiscal Quarter to be held at such time as may be
agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
5.8.
Compliance
with Laws
. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary will
comply with all applicable laws (including all Environmental Laws
and all orders of any Governmental Authorities), except (a) in
the case of Sanctions Laws, the PATRIOT Act and other applicable
anti-terrorism and money laundering laws and Anti-Corruption Laws,
where failure to comply, individually or in the aggregate, is not
material and (b) otherwise, where failure to comply,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.9.
Environmental
Matters
.
Environmental Disclosure
. The
Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
promptly upon the occurrence thereof, written notice describing in
reasonable detail (i) any material Release required to be
reported to any Governmental Authority under any applicable
Environmental Laws, (ii) any remedial action taken by the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Person in response
to any Release of Hazardous Materials Activities or any
Environmental Liability that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
(iii) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary obtaining
knowledge of any occurrence or condition on any Material Real
Estate Asset that would cause any Facility or any part thereof to
be subject to any material restrictions on the ownership,
occupancy, transferability or use thereof under any Environmental
Laws, and (iv) any Environmental Liability involving the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(a)
Environmental Response
. The
Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, take
promptly any and all actions necessary to (i) cure any violation of
applicable Environmental Laws by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) make an
appropriate response to any claim pursuant to Environmental Law
against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and discharge any
obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to
do so would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10.
Subsidiaries
.
If any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower not theretofore a Designated
Subsidiary becomes a Designated Subsidiary, including as a result
of a designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted
Subsidiary or any Subsidiary becoming a Material Subsidiary), the
Borrower will, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within
30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may
agree to in writing), notify the Administrative Agent in writing
thereof and cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be
satisfied with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary (if such
Restricted Subsidiary is a Designated Subsidiary) and with respect
to any Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of such Restricted
Subsidiary owned by any Credit Party.
5.11.
Additional
Collateral
. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative
Agent prompt written notice of (a) the acquisition by any
Credit Party of a Material Real Estate Asset after the Closing Date
and (b) the acquisition by any Credit Party of any other
material assets (other than any assets constituting Excluded
Property) after the Closing Date, other than any such assets
constituting Collateral under the Collateral Documents in which the
Collateral Agent shall have a valid, legal and perfected security
interest (with the priority contemplated by the applicable
Collateral Document) upon the acquisition thereof. The Borrower
will, as promptly as practicable and in any event within 60 days
(or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree to in
writing), cause the requirements of clause (g) of the Collateral
and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such
Material Real Estate Asset.
5.12.
Further
Assurances
. Each Credit Party will execute any and all
further documents, financing statements, agreements and
instruments, and take any and all further actions (including the
filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings,
mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), that may be
required under any applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent
or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to cause the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied at
all times (to the extent applicable, subject to the grace periods
set forth in Sections 5.10 and 5.11) or otherwise to effectuate the
provisions of the Credit Documents, all at the expense of the
Credit Parties. The Borrower will provide to the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, from time to time upon request,
evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent, as applicable, as to the perfection and priority
of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral
Documents.
5.13.
Maintenance
of Ratings
. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable
efforts to maintain continuously a public corporate family rating
(or comparable public ratings) from Moody’s and a public
corporate credit rating (or comparable public rating) from S&P,
in each case in respect of the Borrower, and a public credit rating
from each of Moody’s and S&P in respect of the Tranche A
Term Loans and the Tranche B Term Loans (in each case, with no
requirement as to any minimum rating).
5.14.
Use
of Proceeds
. The Borrower and the other Restricted
Subsidiaries will use the proceeds of the Loans made and the
Letters of Credit issued hereunder solely for the purposes set
forth in Section 2.5 and in compliance with
Section 4.15(b).
(a)
The Borrower will
not request any Loans or Letters of Credit and no part of the
proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used, directly
or indirectly, (i) for the purpose of financing any activities or
business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that
at such time is the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) for any payments
to any governmental official or employee, political party, official
of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone
else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or
direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of
any Anti-Corruption Law or (iii) in any manner that would result in
the violation of any Sanctions Laws applicable to any party
hereto.
5.15.
Post-Closing
Matters
. The Credit Parties shall satisfy each of the
requirements set forth in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement on or
before the date specified in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement for
each such requirement, or such later date as may be permitted with
respect thereto pursuant to the terms of the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement.
5.16.
Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account
. The Borrower
shall establish the Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account and cause the Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account to be subject to the Vector Subordinated Note Cash
Collateral Control Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the
requirements of the Post-Closing Letter Agreement. On the date of
receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral consisting of Cash or Cash
Equivalents, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in
writing of such receipt and shall cause an amount equal to such
Cash or Cash Equivalents to be deposited into the Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account, and prior to such
deposit, shall hold such Cash or Cash Equivalents in trust for the
benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties;
provided
that the
Borrower shall not be required to comply with the foregoing
requirements of this sentence in respect of any such Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral if on the date of receipt of such
Vector Subordinated Note Collateral (a) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) the Total
Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.50:1.00, determined as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period, and (c) the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying
that the requirements set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above
have been satisfied and including reasonably detailed calculations
demonstrating satisfaction of the requirement set forth in clause
(b) above.
SECTION
6.
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable
hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit
shall have expired with no pending drawings or been terminated and
the Letter of Credit Usage shall have been reduced to zero, each
Credit Party covenants and agrees with the Agents, the Lenders and
the Issuing Banks that:
6.1.
Indebtedness
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will, directly
or indirectly, incur or remain liable with respect to any
Indebtedness, except:
(a)
Indebtedness
created under the Credit Documents, including pursuant to
Sections 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25;
(b)
Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Indebtedness shall not have been transferred to any Person other
than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such
Indebtedness shall be evidenced by the Intercompany Note, and, if
owing to a Credit Party, shall have been pledged pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, (iii) such Indebtedness owing
by a Credit Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit
Party shall be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to
the payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the
Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(iv) such Indebtedness is permitted as an Investment under
Section 6.6(d);
(c)
Guarantees incurred
in compliance with Section 6.6(e);
(d)
Indebtedness
existing on the date hereof and set forth on
Schedule 6.1
and
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(e)
(i) Indebtedness
of the Credit Parties under the Second Lien Credit Agreement (or
under any documents governing Second Lien Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount at any
time outstanding, when taken together with the aggregate principal
amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause
(ii) below, not to exceed the sum of (A) $85,000,000,
plus
(B) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred
pursuant to Section 2.23 of the Second Lien Credit Agreement (or
any comparable successor provision);
provided
that if the Second
Lien Credit Agreement is amended, modified, waived or supplemented
or replaced following the Closing Date, this clause (B) shall
in no event allow on any date of determination an aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness to be incurred pursuant to this
clause (B) that is in excess of the aggregate principal amount
that could have been incurred on such date pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.23 in the Second Lien Credit Agreement as
in effect on the Closing Date;
provided
that, in the case of
any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (e)(i), (I) such
Indebtedness shall constitute Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness or Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness, (II) the
stated final maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be earlier
than 91 days after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date
such Indebtedness is incurred, (III) the weighted average life to
maturity of any such Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the
longest remaining weighted average life to maturity of any Class of
Term Loans outstanding as of the date of the incurrence thereof
(and, for purposes of determining the weighted average life to
maturity of any such Class of Term Loans, the effects of any
prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall be
disregarded), (IV) such Indebtedness satisfies the Specified
Permitted Indebtedness Documentation Requirements and (V) other
than in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred under the Second
Lien Credit Agreement on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent
shall have received a certificate, dated the date such Indebtedness
is incurred and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower,
confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in clause (i)
above and, if such Indebtedness or any portion thereof is being
incurred in reliance on clause (i)(B) above, setting forth a
reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of Indebtedness
permitted to be incurred under such clause; and (ii) Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted under clause
(i) above or under this clause (ii);
(f)
(i) Indebtedness of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) incurred to finance
the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or
capital assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
including Capital Lease Obligations,
provided
that such Indebtedness
is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or
the completion of such construction or improvement and the
principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of
acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets,
or (B) assumed in connection with the acquisition of any fixed
or capital assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided
, in the
case of this clause (i), that at the time of incurrence of such
Indebtedness and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use
of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness then outstanding under this clause (i), together with
the aggregate principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness then
outstanding under clause (ii) below and with the aggregate
principal amount of Capital Lease Obligations outstanding under
Section 6.1(n), shall not exceed the greater of (x)
$35,000,000 and (y) 7.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period; and (ii) any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted
under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
(g)
(i) Indebtedness of
any Person that becomes (other than as a result of a redesignation
of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any
Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated
with or into a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted
hereunder) after the date hereof, or Indebtedness of any Person
that is assumed or incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary after the date hereof in connection with an Acquisition
permitted hereunder consummated by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary after the date hereof (other than the Specified
Acquisition),
provided
, in the case of this
clause (i), that at the time of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary becoming liable with respect to such Indebtedness
(whether as a result of such Person becoming a Restricted
Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assumption),
and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the
proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness
then outstanding under this clause (i), together with the aggregate
principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness then outstanding under
clause (ii) below, shall not exceed the greater of
(x) $25,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as
of the last day of the then most recently ended Test Period; and
(ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness
permitted under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
provided
further
that the
aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under
this clause (g) incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not
Credit Parties, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount
of all Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit
Parties outstanding under Section 6.1(o), shall not at any
time exceed $10,000,000;
(h)
so long as, after
giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and
the use of proceeds thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds
of such Indebtedness (and any other Indebtedness incurred
substantially concurrently therewith), no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower shall be in
compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a),
determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test
Period (
provided
that to the extent the proceeds of such Indebtedness are intended
to be applied to finance a Limited Conditionality Transaction, at
the option of the Borrower, the foregoing conditions may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5), (i) Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness, Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness
and Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness;
provided
that (A) the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (h)(i) on
any date shall not exceed the Incremental Amount as of such date,
(B) the stated final maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be
earlier than the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date such
Indebtedness is incurred, (C) the weighted average life to maturity
of any such Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the longest
remaining weighted average life to maturity of any Class of Term
Loans outstanding as of the date of the incurrence thereof (and,
for purposes of determining the weighted average life to maturity
of any such Class of Term Loans, the effects of any prepayments
made prior to the date of the determination shall be disregarded),
(D) in the case of Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness,
the Weighted Average Yield, determined as of the date of incurrence
of such Indebtedness, shall not be greater than the Weighted
Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined
as of such date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted
Average Yield on the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective
subsequent to the Closing Date but prior to such date, but
excluding the effect of any increase in interest margins with
respect thereto pursuant to this clause (D)), plus 0.50% per annum
unless the Applicable Rate (together with, as provided in the
proviso below, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors)
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans is increased, or fees to
Lenders then holding the Tranche B Term Loans are paid, so as to
cause the Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term
Loans to equal the Weighted Average Yield with respect to such
Indebtedness minus 0.50%,
provided
that any increase in
the effective Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans due to the application of an Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness shall be effected solely
through an increase in the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate
floor applicable to the Tranche B Term Loans and only to the extent
an increase in such floor with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans
would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect with
respect thereto, (E) such Indebtedness satisfies the Specified
Permitted Indebtedness Documentation Requirements and (F) the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the
date such Indebtedness is incurred and signed by an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower, confirming the absence of Events of
Default as required above and compliance with the conditions set
forth in clause (A) above, setting forth a reasonably detailed
calculation of compliance with Section 6.7(a) on a Pro Forma
Basis and, if such Indebtedness or any portion thereof is being
incurred in reliance on clause (b) of the definition of the term
“Incremental Amount”, setting forth a reasonably
detailed calculation of the Incremental Amount under such clause;
provided
further
that such
Indebtedness may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other
interim credit facility intended to be extended, renewed or
refinanced with Long-Term Indebtedness (and such bridge or other
interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clauses (B) and
(C) above so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary
“rollover” provisions that are subject to no conditions
precedent other than (I) the occurrence of the date specified for
the “rollover” and (II) that no payment or bankruptcy
event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y)
assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such
“rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility
would comply with clauses (B) and (C) above); and (ii) any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted
under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
(i)
so long as, after
giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and
the use of proceeds thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds
of such Indebtedness (and any other Indebtedness incurred
substantially concurrently therewith), no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower shall be in
compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a),
determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test
Period, (i) Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness,
Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness and Permitted Unsecured
Indebtedness that, in each case, refinances, in whole or in part,
any Term Loans;
provided
that (A) the original
aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed
the aggregate principal amount of such Term Loans being refinanced
(except by an amount no greater than accrued and unpaid interest on
such Term Loans, any original issue discount or upfront fees
applicable to such Indebtedness and any reasonable fees, premiums
and expenses relating to such refinancing), (B) the stated final
maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be earlier than the
Maturity Date of the Class of Term Loans being refinanced in effect
at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, (C) the weighted
average life to maturity of such Indebtedness (if other than in the
form of revolving loans) shall be no shorter than the remaining
weighted average life to maturity of the Class of Term Loans being
refinanced (and, for purposes of determining the weighted average
life to maturity of such Class of Term Loans being refinanced, the
effects of any prepayments made prior to the date of the
determination shall be disregarded), (D) in the case of Permitted
Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness (and only if, after giving effect
to any substantially concurrent refinancing of Term Loans, any
Tranche B Term Loans shall remain outstanding), the Weighted
Average Yield, determined as of the date of incurrence of such
Indebtedness, shall not be greater than the Weighted Average Yield
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined as of such
date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted Average Yield
on the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective subsequent to the
Closing Date but prior to such date, but excluding the effect of
any increase in interest margins with respect thereto pursuant to
this clause (D)), plus 0.50% per annum unless the Applicable Rate
(together with, as provided in the proviso below, the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors) with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans is increased, or fees to Lenders then holding the
Tranche B Term Loans are paid, so as to cause the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to equal the
Weighted Average Yield with respect to such Indebtedness minus
0.50%,
provided
that any increase in the effective Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans due to the application of an
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness
shall be effected solely through an increase in the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the Tranche B Term
Loans and only to the extent an increase in such floor with respect
to the Tranche B Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest
rate then in effect with respect thereto, (E) such Term Loans being
refinanced shall be repaid or prepaid substantially concurrently on
the date such Indebtedness is incurred, (F) such Indebtedness
satisfies the Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation
Requirements and (G) the Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the date such Indebtedness is incurred and
signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, confirming the
absence of Events of Default as required above and setting forth a
reasonably detailed calculation of compliance with
Section 6.7(a) on a Pro Forma Basis;
provided
further
that such Indebtedness
may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit
facility intended to be extended, renewed or refinanced with
Long-Term Indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit
facility shall be deemed to satisfy clauses (B) and (C) above so
long as (x) such credit facility includes customary
“rollover” provisions that are subject to no conditions
precedent other than (I) the occurrence of the date specified for
the “rollover” and (II) that no payment or bankruptcy
event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and
(y) assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant
to such “rollover” provisions, such extended credit
facility would comply with clauses (B) and (C) above); and
(ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any
Indebtedness permitted under clause (i) above or under this clause
(ii);
(j)
to the extent
constituting Indebtedness, indemnification obligations (other than
in respect of any Indebtedness) incurred in connection with any
Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 6.6 or any
Disposition permitted by Section 6.8;
(k)
Indebtedness in
respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise
arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or
in connection with any automated clearing-house transfers of funds,
overdraft or any similar services, in each case in the ordinary
course of business;
(l)
Indebtedness in
respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar
instruments issued for the account of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) under
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, health,
disability or other employee benefits and other social security
laws and (ii) under bids, trade contracts, leases (other than
Capital Lease Obligations), supply and service agreements with
vendors, statutory obligations, surety, litigation and appeal
bonds, performance bonds and obligations of a like
nature;
(m)
Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any other Credit Party in the form of purchase price
adjustments, earnouts, deferred compensation or other similar
arrangements incurred in connection with any Acquisition
consummated prior to the Closing Date or any Acquisition
consummated after the Closing Date that is permitted by Section
6.6;
provided
that
such Indebtedness is not secured by any Liens on the assets of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(n)
Capital Lease
Obligations arising under any Sale/Leaseback Transaction incurred
in compliance with Section 6.9,
provided
that at the time of
the consummation of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and after
giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds
thereof, (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then
outstanding under this clause (n) shall not exceed the greater of
(A) $15,000,000 and (B) 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period and (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding under
this clause (n), together with the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness outstanding under Section 6.1(f), shall not
exceed the greater of (A) $35,000,000 and (B) 7.0% of Consolidated
Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended
Test Period;
(o)
other unsecured
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided
that at
the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding under
this clause (o), shall not exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000
and (ii) 10.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of
the then most recently ended Test Period;
provided
further
that the aggregate
principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under this clause
(o) incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit
Parties, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties
outstanding under Section 6.1(g), shall not at any time exceed
$10,000,000;
(p)
unsecured
Indebtedness owed to current or former officers, directors,
employees or consultants of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary (or their respective estates, heirs, family members,
spouses and former spouses, domestic partners and former domestic
partners or beneficiaries under their respective estates) to
finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests in the
Borrower permitted by Section 6.4;
provided
that the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under this clause (p)
shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(q)
(i) Indebtedness of
the Credit Parties under the New Subordinated Note and Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect thereof,
provided
that (A) the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness under this clause (q)(i) shall not
exceed $10,000,000 and (B) the stated final maturity of such
Indebtedness shall not be earlier than 91 days after the latest
Maturity Date, and such Indebtedness shall not require any
mandatory or scheduled prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or
other repayments of principal thereof prior to such stated final
maturity, and (ii) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties under the
Existing Subordinated Notes and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
thereof,
provided
that (A) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under this
clause (q)(ii) shall not exceed (x) $3,276,175.38
plus
(y) all interest on such
Indebtedness paid-in-kind by the addition thereof to the
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness after the Closing
Date and (B) such Indebtedness shall not require any mandatory or
scheduled prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or other repayments
of principal thereof (other than regularly scheduled amortization
payments required by the terms of the Existing Subordinated Notes
as in effect on the Closing Date) prior to the stated final
maturity thereof;
provided
further
, in the case of any
Indebtedness under this clause (q), (I) such Indebtedness shall not
be secured by any Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, and shall not be Guaranteed by any Person other than
the Credit Parties, (II) in the case of any such Refinancing
Indebtedness, the terms of such Indebtedness (excluding interest
rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins, benchmark rate
floors, fees, original issue discounts and any “call
protection”) are, when taken as a whole, not more favorable
to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than (x)
those applicable to the New Subordinated Note or the Existing
Subordinated Notes, as applicable, as in effect on the Closing
Date, when taken as a whole, or (y) those applicable under
this Agreement when taken as a whole,
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with any drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness, together
with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms of
such Refinancing Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation
relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good
faith that such terms satisfy the requirements of this clause (II)
shall be conclusive evidence that such terms satisfy such
requirement unless the Administrative Agent, the Requisite Tranche
A/Revolving Lenders or the Requisite Lenders notify the Borrower in
writing within such five Business Day period that it or they
disagree with such determination (including a reasonable
description of the basis upon which it or they disagree), and (III)
such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the
Obligations and all Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness (in each case, other than Subordinated
Indebtedness) of the Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary, as
applicable, on terms no less favorable to the Secured Parties than
the subordination terms applicable to the New Subordinated Note or
the Existing Subordinated Notes, as applicable, as of the Closing
Date;
(r)
Indebtedness
consisting of the financing of insurance premiums or take or pay
obligations contained in supply arrangements that do not constitute
Guarantees, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of
business; and
(s)
to the extent
constituting Indebtedness, all premiums (if any), interest
(including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and
additional or contingent interest on obligations described in this
Section 6.1.
For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.1 (subject
to the final sentence of each of the definitions of
“Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” and
“Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness”), (i) in
the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more
than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in this
Section 6.1, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify
such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and may include
the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the
above clauses, and the Borrower may later reclassify such item of
Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and include it in another of
such clauses in which it could have been included at the time it
was incurred (but not into any clause under which it could not have
been included at the time it was incurred);
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Subordinated Notes and any Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect thereof may only be incurred in reliance on
Section 6.1(q) and may not be reclassified and (ii) for
purposes of assessing whether any Dollar limit set forth in any
clause of this Section 6.1 has been observed in connection with
incurrence of any Indebtedness, any other Indebtedness
contemporaneously incurred pursuant to and in accordance with the
other available clauses of this Section 6.1 that do not require
such other Indebtedness to observe such Dollar limit shall be
disregarded, even if such other Indebtedness is of the same tranche
or series as such Indebtedness being incurred under such Dollar
limit.
6.2.
Liens
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will, directly
or indirectly, incur or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect
to any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired or licensed, or assign or sell any
income, profits or revenues (including accounts receivable and
royalties) or rights in respect of any thereof,
except:
(a)
Liens created under
the Credit Documents;
(b)
Permitted
Encumbrances;
(c)
any Lien on any
asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the
date hereof and set forth on
Schedule 6.2
,
and any extensions, renewals and replacements thereof;
provided
that (i) such
Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, other than to proceeds and products of, and
after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into, the
assets covered by such Lien, and (ii) such Lien shall secure
only those obligations that it secures on the date hereof and any
extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase
the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by an amount not
greater than accrued and unpaid interest on such obligations and
any reasonable fees, premiums and expenses relating to such
extension, renewal or refinancing) and, in the case of any such
obligations constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under
Section 6.1(d) as Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
thereof;
(d)
Liens on fixed or
capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Liens secure only Indebtedness outstanding under
Section 6.1(f) and obligations relating thereto not
constituting Indebtedness and (ii) such Liens shall not apply
to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
other than to proceeds and products of, and after-acquired property
that is affixed or incorporated into, the assets covered by such
Liens;
provided
further
that
individual financings of equipment or other fixed or capital assets
otherwise permitted to be secured hereunder provided by any Person
(or its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other such
financings provided by such Person (or its
Affiliates);
(e)
any Lien existing
on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes
(other than as a result of a redesignation of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not
previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into
a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after
the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated), and any extensions,
renewals and replacements thereof;
provided
that (i) such
Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such
acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or
such merger or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply
to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
(other than, in the case of any such merger or consolidation, the
assets of any special purpose merger Restricted Subsidiary that is
a party thereto), other than to proceeds and products of, and
after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into, the
assets covered by such Lien or becomes subject to such Lien
pursuant to an after-acquired property clause as in effect on the
date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated), and
(iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it
secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated),
and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not
increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by an
amount not greater than accrued and unpaid interest, fees and
premiums (if any) with respect to such original obligations and
reasonable fees and expenses arising from such extension, renewal
or refinancing) and, in the case of any such obligations
constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under
Section 6.1;
(f)
Liens on the
Collateral securing Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness and
obligations relating thereto not constituting
Indebtedness;
(g)
Liens on the
Collateral securing Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness
and obligations relating thereto not constituting
Indebtedness;
(h)
Liens on the
Collateral securing Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and obligations relating thereto not constituting
Indebtedness;
(i)
in connection with
any Disposition permitted under Section 6.8, customary rights
and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such
Disposition pending the completion thereof;
(j)
in the case of (i)
any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or
(ii) the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted
Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), any
encumbrance, restriction or other Lien, including any put and call
arrangements, related to the Equity Interests in such Restricted
Subsidiary or such other Person set forth (A) in its Organizational
Documents or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or
similar agreement, in each case so long as such encumbrance or
restriction is applicable to all holders of the same class of
Equity Interests or is otherwise of the type that is customary for
agreements of such type or (B) in the case of clause (ii) above, in
any agreement or document governing Indebtedness of such
Person;
(k)
any Lien on assets
of any CFC or CFC Holding Company that is not a Designated
Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Lien shall not apply to any Collateral (including any Equity
Interests in any Subsidiary that constitute Collateral) or any
other assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is
not a CFC or CFC Holding Company and (ii) such Lien shall
secure only Indebtedness or other obligations of such CFC or CFC
Holding Company permitted hereunder;
(l)
Liens solely on any
cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar
arrangements made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for any
Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder;
(m)
nonexclusive
outbound licenses of Intellectual Property and leases or sub-leases
of equipment or real property, in each case granted by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business
that do not materially detract from the value of the affected asset
or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(n)
any Lien in favor
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens on
assets of any Credit Party in favor of a Restricted Subsidiary that
is not a Credit Party);
(o)
Liens on fixed or
capital assets subject to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction permitted
under Section 6.9;
provided
that (i) such Liens
secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(n) and
obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness and (ii)
such Liens shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary, other than to proceeds and products of,
and after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into,
the assets covered by such Liens;
(p)
(i) deposits made
in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations to
insurance carriers providing casualty, liability or other insurance
to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens
on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the
financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(q)
Cash deposits not
to exceed $5,000,000 at any time securing letters of credit, bank
guarantees and similar instruments issued in currencies other than
Dollars; and
(r)
other Liens
securing Indebtedness or other obligations;
provided
that the aggregate
outstanding amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured by
Liens permitted by this clause (r) shall not exceed
$25,000,000.
6.3.
No
Further Negative Pledges
. Neither the Borrower nor any
Restricted Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into,
incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or
permit to exist any Lien upon any of its assets, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, to secure any Obligations;
provided
that the foregoing
shall not apply to (a) restrictions and conditions imposed by
law or by any Credit Document, (b) restrictions and conditions
existing on the date hereof identified on
Schedule
6.3
, and amendments, modifications, extensions and renewals
thereof (including any such extension or renewal arising as a
result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of any Indebtedness
containing such restriction or condition),
provided
, in each case, that
the scope of any such restriction or condition shall not have been
expanded as a result thereof, (c) in the case of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or the Equity
Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), restrictions and
conditions imposed by the Organizational Documents of such
Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint
venture, shareholders’ or similar agreement,
provided
, in each case, that
such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted
Subsidiary and to any Equity Interests in such Restricted
Subsidiary or to the Equity Interests in such other Person
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), as applicable,
(d) restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement or
document governing secured Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(f)
or 6.1(n) or governing Liens permitted by Section 6.2(d), 6.2(l),
6.2(o), 6.2(p)(i) or 6.2(q) or by clause (c), (d) or (m) of the
definition of “Permitted Encumbrances”,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness
or subject to such Liens, (e) restrictions and conditions
imposed by agreements relating to Indebtedness assumed in reliance
on Section 6.1(g)(i) or Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof
incurred in reliance on Section 6.1(g)(ii),
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to Persons that are permitted under such
Sections to be obligors in respect of such Indebtedness and are not
less favorable to the Lenders than the restrictions and conditions
imposed by such Indebtedness (or, in the case of any Refinancing
Indebtedness, by the applicable Original Indebtedness) at the time
such Indebtedness first became subject to Section 6.1, (f) in
connection with the sale of any Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or
any other assets, customary restrictions and conditions contained
in agreements relating to such sale pending the completion thereof,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or the
other assets to be sold and such sale is permitted under Section
6.8, (g) restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement or
document governing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that
is not, and is not required to become, a Credit Party hereunder,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted
Subsidiary, (h) restrictions and conditions imposed by customary
provisions in leases, licenses and other agreements restricting the
assignment thereof or, in the case of any lease or license,
permitting to exist any Lien on the assets leased or licensed
thereunder, (i) customary restrictions in respect of Intellectual
Property contained in licenses or sublicenses of, or other grants
of rights to use or exploit, such Intellectual Property,
(k) restrictions and conditions contained in any Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness Document or any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Document, in each case, as in effect on the Closing
Date and amendments, modifications, extensions and renewals
thereof,
provided
,
in each case, that the scope of any such restriction or condition
shall not have been expanded as a result thereof, and (l)
restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement or
instrument evidencing or governing any Indebtedness permitted by
Section 6.1(e), 6.1(g) (other than in respect of existing
Indebtedness assumed in reliance thereon), 6.1(h), 6.1(i) or 6.1(o)
to the extent, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, such
restrictions and conditions are on customary market terms for
Indebtedness of such type and so long as the Borrower has
determined in good faith that such restrictions and conditions
would not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect
the ability of the Credit Parties to meet their obligations under
the Credit Documents. Nothing in this Section 6.3 shall be deemed
to modify the requirements set forth in the definition of the term
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” or the
obligations of the Credit Parties under Sections 5.10, 5.11 or
5.12 or under the Collateral Documents.
6.4.
Restricted
Junior Payments
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will declare or pay or make, or agree to declare or pay
or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Junior Payment, or
incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except
that:
(a)
each of the
Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary may declare and pay
dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in
additional Equity Interests in such Person to the extent not
otherwise prohibited hereunder;
(b)
any Restricted
Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other
distributions with respect to its capital stock, partnership or
membership interests or other similar Equity Interests, and declare
and make other Restricted Junior Payments in respect of its Equity
Interests, in each case ratably to the holders of such Equity
Interests (or, if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries);
(c)
the Borrower may
make payments in respect of, or repurchases of its Equity Interests
deemed to occur upon the “cashless exercise” of, stock
options, stock purchase rights, stock exchange rights or other
equity-based awards if such payment or repurchase represents a
portion of the exercise price of such options, rights or awards or
withholding taxes, payroll taxes or other similar taxes due upon
such exercise;
(d)
the Borrower may
make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares
representing Equity Interests in the Borrower in connection with
the exercise of warrants, options or other Securities convertible
into or exchangeable for common stock in the Borrower;
(e)
the Borrower may
make Restricted Junior Payments in respect of its Equity Interests
pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other
benefit plans or agreements for, or otherwise make Restricted
Junior Payments to redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire
any of its Equity Interests held by, future, present or former
directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that (i) the aggregate
amount of the Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance on this
clause (e) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed the sum of (A)
$2,000,000
plus
(B)
an amount equal to any unutilized portion of such amount in
clause (A) in any preceding Fiscal Year ended after the
Closing Date and (ii) Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance
on this clause (e) during any Fiscal Year shall be deemed to use,
first, the amount set forth in clause (A) above for such Fiscal
Year and, second, any portion of the amount set forth in clause (A)
above for any preceding Fiscal Year that has been carried over to
such Fiscal Year pursuant to clause (B) above;
(f)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Junior
Payments;
provided
that, immediately prior to the making thereof, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, including to any related
incurrence of Indebtedness, (i) no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio,
determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test
Period, shall not exceed 1.15:1.00 and (iii) the Borrower shall be
in compliance with Sections 6.7(a) and, during the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, 6.7(c);
(g)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make (i) regularly scheduled
interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any
Junior Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of Subordinated
Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof,
and (ii) prepayments in respect of any Junior Indebtedness to the
extent required by Section 2.14(c);
(h)
the Borrower and
the other Credit Parties may refinance any Junior Indebtedness with
the proceeds of other Indebtedness to the extent permitted under
Section 6.1;
(i)
so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may make other
Restricted Junior Payments;
provided
that the aggregate
amount of Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance on this
clause (i) since the Closing Date shall not exceed
$1,000,000;
(j)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Junior
Payments;
provided
that (i) immediately prior to the making thereof, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, including to any related
incurrence of Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall
not be greater than the lesser of (x) 1.65:1.00 and (y) the
maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial
covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a), in each case, determined
as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test Period, and
(C) in the case of any such Restricted Junior Payment made during
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio shall not be less than the minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(c), determined for the then most recently ended Test
Period, (ii) the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment
shall not exceed the Available Basket Amount at the time such
Restricted Junior Payment is made and (iii) the Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that all the
requirements set forth in this clause (j) have been satisfied with
respect to such Restricted Junior Payment and including reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating satisfaction of the
requirements set forth in clauses (i)(B), (i)(C) (if applicable)
and (ii) above;
(k)
any Restricted
Junior Payment arising solely on account of any Permitted Holder
using its Equity Interests in the Borrower to satisfy such
Permitted Holders’ payment obligations under the Acquired
Company Indemnity Letter Agreement;
(l)
any Restricted
Junior Payment required to be made to consummate the Iqmax
Disposition; and
(m)
the Borrower may
redeem the Closing Date Preferred Stock solely with the Net
Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower
substantially concurrently with the making of such redemption from
any issuance and sale of Equity Interests in the Borrower (other
than any Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Equity
Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of the Borrower);
provided
that,
immediately prior to the making of such redemption, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.
6.5.
Restrictions
on Subsidiary Distributions
. Neither the Borrower nor any
Restricted Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into,
incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of
any Restricted Subsidiary (a) to pay dividends or make other
distributions on its Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, (b) to repay or prepay any Indebtedness
owing by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, (c) to make loans or advances to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee the
Obligations or (d) to transfer, lease or license any of its assets
to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that the foregoing
shall not apply to (i) restrictions and conditions imposed by
law or by any Credit Document, (ii) restrictions and
conditions existing on the date hereof identified on
Schedule
6.5
, and amendments, modifications, extensions or renewals
thereof (including any such extension or renewal arising as a
result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of any Indebtedness
containing such restriction or condition),
provided
, in each case, that
the scope of any such restriction or condition shall not have been
expanded as a result thereof, (iii) in the case of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
or, in the case of restrictions and conditions referred to in
clause (d) above, the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary),
restrictions and conditions imposed by agreements and documents
governing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary or such Person
or its Organizational Documents or any related joint venture,
shareholders’ or similar agreement,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary or, in the
case of restrictions and conditions referred to in clause (d)
above, to any Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary or
such other Person (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), as
applicable, (iv) in the case of restrictions and conditions
referred to clause in (d) above, restrictions and conditions
imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted
by Section 6.1(f) or 6.1(n) or governing Liens permitted by
Section 6.2(d), 6.2(l), 6.2(o), 6.2(p)(i) or 6.2(q) or by
clause (c), (d) or (m) of the definition of “Permitted
Encumbrances”,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness
or subject to such Liens, (v) restrictions and conditions imposed
by any agreement or document relating to Indebtedness assumed in
reliance on Section 6.1(g)(i) or Refinancing Indebtedness in
respect thereof incurred in reliance on Section 6.1(g)(ii),
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to Persons that are
permitted under such Section to be obligors in respect of such
Indebtedness and are not less favorable to the Lenders than the
restrictions and conditions imposed by such Indebtedness (or, in
the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, by the applicable
Original Indebtedness) at the time such Indebtedness first became
subject to Section 6.1, (vi) in connection with the sale of any
Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or any other assets, customary
restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to
such sale pending the completion thereof,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or the other assets to
be sold and such sale is permitted under Section 6.8, (vii) in the
case of restrictions or conditions referred to in clauses (c) and
(d) above, restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement or
document governing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that
is not, and is not required to become, a Credit Party hereunder,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted
Subsidiary, (viii) in the case of restrictions and conditions
referred to in clause (d) above, restrictions and conditions
imposed by customary provisions in leases, licenses and other
agreements restricting the assignment thereof or, in the case of
any lease or license, permitting to exist any Lien on the assets
leased or licensed thereunder, (ix) restrictions on cash or
deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or landlords
under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business,
(x) in the case of restrictions and conditions referred to in
clause (d) above, customary restrictions in respect of Intellectual
Property contained in licenses or sublicenses of, or other grants
of rights to use or exploit, such Intellectual Property,
(xi) restrictions and conditions contained in any Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness Document or any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Document, in each case, as in effect on the Closing
Date and amendments, modifications, extensions and renewals
thereof,
provided
,
in each case, that the scope of any such restriction or condition
shall not have been expanded as a result thereof,
(xii) restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement
or instrument evidencing or governing any Indebtedness permitted by
Section 6.1(e), 6.1(g) (other than in respect of existing
Indebtedness assumed in reliance thereon), 6.1(h), 6.1(i) or 6.1(o)
so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such
restrictions and conditions would not reasonably be expected to
impair in any material respect the ability of the Credit Parties to
meet their obligations under the Credit Documents, and
(xiii) in the case of restrictions and conditions referred to
in clause (d) above, restrictions and conditions imposed by the
Vector Facility Arrangements on the assignment or transfer by the
Borrower of its rights under the Vector Subordinated Note. Nothing
in this Section 6.5 shall be deemed to modify the requirements set
forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement” or the obligations of the Credit Parties under
Sections 5.10, 5.11 or 5.12 or under the Collateral
Documents.
6.6.
Investments
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will purchase or
acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any
Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower prior thereto), hold, make or otherwise permit to exist
any Investment in any other Person, or make any Acquisition,
except:
(a)
Investments in Cash
and Cash Equivalents;
(b)
Investments
existing on the date hereof that are set forth on
Schedule 6.6
(but not any additions thereto (including any capital
contributions) made after the date hereof);
(c)
Investments by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in
their Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that (i) such
investees are Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such Investments (or
such Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary are held as the
result of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) any such Equity Interests held by a
Credit Party shall be pledged in accordance with the requirements
of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement” and (iii) the aggregate amount of such
Investments by the Credit Parties in, and loans and advances under
clause (d) below by the Credit Parties to, and Guarantees under
clause (e) by the Credit Parties of Indebtedness and other
obligations of, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties
(excluding all such Investments, loans, advances and Guarantees
existing on the date hereof and permitted by clause (b) above)
shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(d)
loans or advances
made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) the
Indebtedness resulting therefrom is permitted by
Section 6.1(b) and (ii) the amount of such loans and
advances made by the Credit Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that
are not Credit Parties shall be subject to the limitation set forth
in clause (c) above;
(e)
Guarantees by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including
any such Guarantees arising as a result of any such Person being a
joint and several co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit
or letter of guaranty);
provided
that (i) a Restricted
Subsidiary shall not Guarantee any Junior Indebtedness unless (A)
such Restricted Subsidiary has Guaranteed the Obligations pursuant
hereto and (B) in the case of Junior Indebtedness that is
Subordinated Indebtedness such Guarantee is subordinated to such
Guarantee of the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the
Lenders than the subordination provisions of such Subordinated
Indebtedness, (ii) a Subsidiary that has not Guaranteed the
Obligations pursuant hereto shall not Guarantee any Indebtedness of
any Credit Party and (iii) the aggregate amount of
Indebtedness and other obligations of Subsidiaries that are not
Credit Parties that is Guaranteed by any Credit Party shall be
subject to the limitation set forth in clause (c)
above;
(f)
(i) Investments
received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of obligations
thereof from financially troubled account debtors and
(ii) deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers made
in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past
practices of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(g)
Investments made as
a result of the receipt of noncash consideration from any
Disposition of any asset in compliance with
Section 6.8;
(h)
Investments by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that result solely from the
receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any of
its Subsidiaries of a dividend or other Restricted Junior Payment
in the form of Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other
Securities (but not any additions thereto made after the date of
the receipt thereof);
(i)
Investments in the
form of Hedge Agreements permitted under Section 6.12;
(j)
payroll, travel and
similar advances to directors, officers, employees and consultants
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances to be treated as expenses
of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary for accounting
purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of
business;
(k)
loans or advances
to directors, officers, employees and consultants (or their
respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses and former
spouses, domestic partners and former domestic partners or
beneficiaries under their respective estates) of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Person’s
purchase of Equity Interests in the Borrower;
provided
that the aggregate
amount of Investments permitted by this clause (k) (other than any
such loan or advance where no Cash or Cash Equivalent is actually
advanced by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) shall not
exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(l)
Permitted
Acquisitions;
provided
that the Acquisition
Consideration with respect to any such Acquisition of Subsidiaries
that do not become Guarantor Subsidiaries, or any Acquisitions by
Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, shall not cause the aggregate
amount of all Acquisition Consideration paid in connection with all
such Permitted Acquisitions made in each case in reliance on this
clause (l) to exceed $5,000,000;
(m)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment (other than Investments between or
among the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries);
provided
that, immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not be
greater than the lesser of (A) 1.90:1.00 and (B) the maximum Total
Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth
in Section 6.7(a), in each case, determined as of the last day of
the then most recently ended Test Period, and (iii) in the
case of any such Acquisition or Investment consummated during the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio shall not be less than the minimum Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(c), determined for the then most recently ended Test
Period;
provided
further
that, in
the case of any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option
of the Borrower, the conditions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) above may be tested in accordance with
Section 1.5;
(n)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment;
provided
that (i) immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not be greater
than the lesser of (x) 2.15:1.00 and (y) the maximum Total Net
Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(a), in each case, determined as of the last day of
the then most recently ended Test Period, and (C) in the case of
any such Acquisition or Investment consummated during the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period, the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall not be less than the minimum Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth in Section
6.7(c), determined for the then most recently ended Test Period,
(ii) the Acquisition Consideration with respect to any such
Acquisition or the amount of any such other Investment, in each
case made in reliance on this clause (n), shall not exceed the
Available Basket Amount at the time of the consummation thereof and
(iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
certifying that all the requirements set forth in this clause (n)
have been satisfied with respect to such Investment or Acquisition
and including reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating
satisfaction of the requirements set forth in clauses (i) and (ii)
above;
provided
further
that, in
the case of any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option
of the Borrower, the condition set forth in clause (i) above may be
tested in accordance with Section 1.5;
(o)
Investments not
constituting Acquisitions;
provided
that the amount of any
such Investment made in any Fiscal Year and outstanding in reliance
on this clause (o) shall not cause the aggregate amount of all
Investments made in such Fiscal Year and outstanding in reliance on
this clause (o) to exceed for such Fiscal Year the sum of
(i) $1,000,000
plus
(ii) an amount equal to
any unutilized portion of such amount in clause (i) in respect of
any preceding Fiscal Year ended after the Closing Date;
provided
further
that (A)
the aggregate amount of Investments permitted by this
clause (o) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding
and (B) Investments made in reliance on this clause (o) during any
Fiscal Year shall be deemed to use, first, the amount set forth in
clause (i) above for such Fiscal Year and, second, any portion
of the amount set forth in clause (i) above for any preceding
Fiscal Year that has been carried over to such Fiscal Year pursuant
to clause (ii) above;
(p)
Investments (i) by
the Borrower or any other Credit Party in any Restricted Subsidiary
that is not a Credit Party to the extent made with Cash or Cash
Equivalents necessary to fund an Acquisition permitted hereunder or
(ii) consisting of the transfer or contribution to any CFC or
CFC Holding Company of Equity Interests in any other CFC or CFC
Holding Company or exchange of Indebtedness owing by any CFC or CFC
Holding Company for Indebtedness, in a like amount, owing by
another CFC or CFC Holding Company;
(q)
Investments in the
ordinary course of business consisting of (i) endorsements for
collection or deposit and (ii) customary trade arrangements
with customers;
(r)
Guarantees of
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect
of leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) entered into in
the ordinary course of business;
(s)
Investments held by
a Person that becomes (other than as a result of a redesignation of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any
Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated
with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a
transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date,
provided
that such
Investments exist at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) and are not made in
contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a
Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or
consolidation);
(t)
Investments held by
any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted
Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to
the definition of the term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”,
provided
that such
Investments have not been made in contemplation of or in connection
with such redesignation;
(u)
the
Merger;
(v)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment to the extent consideration
therefor is made with Equity Interests, or with the Net Proceeds
received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower within 120
consecutive days prior to the date of consummation of such
Acquisition or Investment from any issuance and sale of Equity
Interests, in each case, in the Borrower (other than any
Disqualified Equity Interests, unless the issuance of such
Disqualified Equity Interests is otherwise permitted hereunder, and
other than any Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of
the Borrower);
(w)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment consummated on or prior to
December 31, 2018;
provided
that (i) immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and (B) the Total Leverage Ratio shall not be greater
than 3.65:1.00, determined as of the last day of the then most
recently ended Test Period, (ii) the Acquisition Consideration with
respect to any such Acquisition or the amount of any such other
Investment shall not cause the aggregate amount of all Acquisition
Consideration paid in connection with all Acquisitions made,
together with the aggregate amount of all Investments outstanding,
in each case in reliance on this clause (w), to exceed $75,000,000,
(iii) no Acquisition of, or Investment in, Subsidiaries that
do not become Guarantor Subsidiaries, and no acquisition of assets
by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor Subsidiary,
may be made in reliance on this clause (w), (iv) all actions
required to be taken with respect to any Person or assets acquired
pursuant to such Acquisition or other Investment, as the case may
be, in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in clauses (a),
(b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Collateral
and Guarantee Requirement” (subject to the discretion of the
Collateral Agent set forth in such definition) shall have been
taken (or arrangements for the taking of such actions satisfactory
to the Collateral Agent shall have been made) (it being understood
that all other requirements set forth in such definition that are
applicable to such Acquisition or Investment shall be required to
be satisfied in accordance with (and within the time periods
provided in) Sections 5.10 and 5.11) and (v) the Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that all the
requirements set forth in this clause (w) have been satisfied with
respect to such Acquisition or Investment and including reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating satisfaction of the
requirements set forth in clause (i) above;
provided
further
that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in clause (i) above may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5; and
(x)
Investments made by
the Borrower on the Closing Date in the Vector Subordinated
Note.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 6.6, neither the Borrower
nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall make any Investment that
results in or facilitates in any manner any Restricted Junior
Payment not permitted under Section 6.4.
6.7.
Financial
Covenants
.
Total
Net Leverage Ratio
. The Borrower will not permit the Total
Net Leverage Ratio, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter,
beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2018, to exceed
the correlative ratio set forth below:
Fiscal Quarter Ending
|
Total Net Leverage Ratio
|
June
30, 2018 and September 30, 2018
|
5.00:1.00
|
December
31, 2018
|
4.50:1.00
|
March
31, 2019 through December 31, 2019
|
4.00:1.00
|
March
31, 2020 through December 31, 2020
|
3.50:1.00
|
March
31, 2021 and thereafter
|
3.00:1.00
|
(a)
Capital Expenditures.
The
Borrower will not permit Consolidated Capital Expenditures in any
Fiscal Year to exceed in the aggregate an amount equal to the
greater of (i) $55,000,000 (such amount for any Fiscal Year
being referred to as the “
Base CapEx Amount
” for such Fiscal
Year) and (ii) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall
have consummated any Material Acquisition (excluding the Merger)
after the Closing Date, the Material Acquisition CapEx Amount for
such Fiscal Year (determined as of the date of consummation of the
Material Acquisition most recently consummated after the Closing
Date and on or prior to the last day of such Fiscal Year);
provided
that
(A) commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on
December 31, 2018, the portion of the Base CapEx Amount for
any Fiscal Year that has not been expended to make Consolidated
Capital Expenditures during such Fiscal Year (but not in excess of
50% of the Base CapEx Amount for such Fiscal Year) may be carried
over for expenditure in the immediately following Fiscal Year and
(B) Consolidated Capital Expenditures made during any Fiscal
Year shall be deemed to use, first, the Base CapEx Amount for such
Fiscal Year and, second, any portion of the Base CapEx Amount for
the immediately preceding Fiscal Year that has been carried over to
such Fiscal Year pursuant to clause (A) above.
For
purposes of the foregoing:
“
Material Acquisition CapEx Amount
”
means, as of any date of determination for any Fiscal Year, an
amount equal to 10% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent period of 12
consecutive months prior to the consummation of the Material
Acquisition (other than the Merger) most recently consummated for
which financial statements are available as of such date of
determination, determined on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to
such Material Acquisition (and each other Material Acquisition that
shall have been consummated during such period).
(b)
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
The Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as of
the last day of any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters,
beginning with the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters
ending June 30, 2018, to be less than the correlative ratio set
forth below:
Four Fiscal Quarter Period Ending
|
Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio
|
June
30, 2018 through December 31, 2020
|
1.00:1.00
|
March
31, 2021 and thereafter
|
1.25:1.00
|
;
provided
that the
provisions of this Section 6.7(c), and the obligation of the
Borrower to comply with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant,
shall automatically cease to be in effect upon the termination of
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant Period.
6.8.
Fundamental
Changes; Disposition of Assets; Equity Interests of
Subsidiaries.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will merge or consolidate with or into any other Person,
or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution), and neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary shall Dispose (whether in one transaction or in a series
of transactions) of assets that represent all or substantially all
of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, except that:
(i)
any Person may
merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is
the surviving Person;
(ii)
any
Person (other than the Borrower) may merge or consolidate with or
into any Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the
surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary (and if any party to
such merger or consolidation is a Guarantor Subsidiary, the
surviving Person is a Guarantor Subsidiary);
(iii)
any
Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into any
Person (other than the Borrower) in a transaction permitted under
Section 6.8(b) in which, after giving effect to such
transaction, the surviving Person is not a Subsidiary, except to
the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment in a
Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party permitted by
Section 6.6;
(iv)
any
Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower
determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in
the best interests of the Borrower and is not disadvantageous to
the Lenders in any material respect;
(v)
the Borrower or any
other Credit Party may Dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets to the Borrower or to another Credit Party; and
(vi)
the
Merger may be consummated;
provided
that, in the case of
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, any such merger or consolidation
shall not be permitted unless it, and each Investment resulting
therefrom, is also permitted under Section 6.6.
(c)
Neither the
Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will Dispose of, or
exclusively license, any asset, including any Equity Interest,
owned by it, except:
(i)
Dispositions of (A)
inventory and obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment in the
ordinary course of business, (B) leasehold improvements to
landlords pursuant to the terms of leases in respect of any
Leasehold Property and (C) Cash and Cash
Equivalents;
(ii)
Dispositions,
and exclusive licenses, to any Credit Party;
(iii)
Investments
made in compliance with Sections 6.6 and 6.10;
(iv)
Dispositions
of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise or
collection thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice and not as part of any accounts receivables
financing transaction;
(v)
Dispositions of
Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other Securities of, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary,
provided
that all Dispositions
made in reliance on this clause (v) shall be made for fair value
(as determined reasonably and in good faith by the
Borrower);
(vi)
leases
and licenses entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary as a licensor or lessor in the ordinary course of
business,
provided
that such leases or license do not adversely affect in any material
respect the value of the properties subject thereto (including the
value thereof as Collateral) or interfere in any material respect
with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary;
(vii)
Dispositions
of assets in any Insurance/Condemnation Event;
(viii)
to
the extent constituting Dispositions, Restricted Junior Payments
made in compliance with Section 6.4;
(ix)
other
Dispositions of assets that are not permitted by any other clause
of this Section 6.8(b);
provided
that (A) all
Dispositions made in reliance on this clause (ix) shall be made for
fair value and at least 75% Cash consideration, (B) the Net
Proceeds thereof shall be applied as required by Section 2.13
and (C) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time such Disposition is made or would result
therefrom; and
(x)
the Iqmax
Disposition.
(d)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) neither the Borrower
nor any Restricted Subsidiary will sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary unless
(A) such Equity Interests constitute all the Equity Interests
in such Restricted Subsidiary held by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall otherwise be in compliance with Section 6.6
and (ii) no Restricted Subsidiary will issue any additional Equity
Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary other than (A) to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with
Section 6.4, (B) directors’ qualifying shares and
(C) other nominal amounts of Equity Interests that are
required to be held by other Persons under applicable
law.
(e)
The Borrower will
not permit any Person other than the Borrower, or one or more of
its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a CFC or CFC Holding
Company, to own any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary
that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Domestic Subsidiary
that itself is a CFC Holding Company).
6.9.
Sales
and Leasebacks
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction unless
(a) any Capital Lease Obligations arising in connection therewith
are permitted under Section 6.1(n) and (b) any Liens arising
in connection therewith (including Liens deemed to arise in
connection with any such Capital Lease Obligations) are permitted
under Section 6.2(o).
6.10.
Transactions
with Affiliates
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to
exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any
Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary on terms
that are less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would prevail in an
arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties;
provided
that the
foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) transactions between
or among the Credit Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (b)
any Restricted Junior Payment permitted under Section 6.4, (c)
issuances by the Borrower of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Equity Interests) and receipt by the Borrower of
capital contributions, (d) compensation and indemnification
arrangements for directors, officers, employees and consultants of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into in the
ordinary course of business (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
grants of stock options, stock purchase rights, stock exchange
rights or other equity-based awards to directors, employees and
officers and any “key-man” insurance policy maintained
by a Credit Party), (e) loans and advances permitted under Section
6.6(j) or 6.6(k), (f) the Transactions and the payment of fees and
expenses in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,
(g) the Acquired Company Indemnity Letter Agreement and
(h) the transactions set forth on
Schedule 6.10
(without giving effect to any amendment, restatement, supplement or
other modification thereto after the Closing Date that could
reasonably be expected to be adverse in any material respect to the
Lenders).
6.11.
Conduct
of Business
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will engage in any business other than the businesses
engaged in by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the
Closing Date (for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to
the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business as contemplated by
Section 3.1(m) and the consummation of the Fusion Global
Arrangement as contemplated by Section 3.1(n)),
provided
that the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to engage in any
business that is similar, complementary or related to, or a
reasonable extension of, the business engaged in by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date (giving effect
to the foregoing parenthetical).
6.12.
Hedge
Agreements
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will enter into any Hedge Agreement, except
(a) Hedge Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks
to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has actual
exposure (other than in respect of Equity Interests or Indebtedness
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) and (b) Hedge
Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or
exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one
floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect
to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary.
6.13.
Amendments
or Waivers of Organizational Documents and Certain
Agreements
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will agree to any amendment, restatement, supplement or
other modification to, or waiver of any of its rights under, (a)
its Organizational Document, (b) any certificate of designation or
other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing the Closing
Date Preferred Stock or (c) any agreement or instrument governing
or evidencing Junior Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent such
amendment, modification or waiver could reasonably be expected to
be adverse in any material respect to the Lenders, it being
understood that any Junior Indebtedness may be modified to permit
any extension or refinancing thereof to the extent otherwise
permitted by this Agreement.
6.14.
Fiscal
Year
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary
will change its Fiscal Year to end on a date other than December
31.
SECTION
7.
GUARANTEE
7.1.
Guarantee
of the Obligations
. The Guarantors jointly and severally
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the due and
punctual payment in full of all Obligations when and as the same
shall become due. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantors
hereby jointly and severally agree that upon the failure of the
Borrower or any other Person to pay any of the Obligations when and
as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by
required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including
amounts that would become due but for the operation of the
automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or
any similar provision of, or stay imposed under, any other Debtor
Relief Law), the Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be
paid, in Cash, to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit
of Secured Parties, an amount equal to the sum of all Obligations
then due as aforesaid.
7.2.
Indemnity
by the Borrower; Contribution by the Guarantors
. In addition
to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as any Guarantor
Subsidiary may have under applicable law (but subject to Section
7.5), the Borrower agrees that (i) in the event a payment shall be
made by any Guarantor Subsidiary under its Obligations Guarantee,
the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor Subsidiary for the full
amount of such payment and such Guarantor Subsidiary shall be
subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall
have been made to the extent of such payment and (ii) in the event
any Collateral provided by any Guarantor Subsidiary shall be sold
pursuant to any Collateral Document to satisfy in whole or in part
any Obligations, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor
Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
assets so sold.
(a)
The Guarantor
Subsidiaries desire to allocate among themselves, in a fair and
equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Section 7
and under the Collateral Documents. Accordingly, in the event any
payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor
Subsidiary under its Obligations Guarantee such that its Aggregate
Payments exceed its Fair Share as of such date (such Guarantor
Subsidiary being referred to as a “
Claiming Guarantor
”) and the
Borrower does not indemnify such Claiming Guarantor in accordance
with Section 7.2(a), such Claiming Guarantor shall be entitled to a
contribution from each other Guarantor Subsidiary in an amount
sufficient to cause each Guarantor Subsidiary’s Aggregate
Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date (and for all
purposes of this Section 7.2(b), any sale or other
dispositions of Collateral of a Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to an
exercise of remedies under any Collateral Document shall be deemed
to be a payment by such Guarantor Subsidiary under its Obligations
Guarantee in an amount equal to the fair market value of such
Collateral, less any amount of the proceeds of such sale or other
dispositions returned to such Guarantor Subsidiary).
“
Fair Share
”
means, with respect to any Guarantor Subsidiary as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to (i) the ratio of (A) the
Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Guarantor
Subsidiary to (B) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution
Amounts with respect to all Guarantor Subsidiaries
multiplied by
(ii) the
aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all
Claiming Guarantors under their Obligations Guarantees.
“
Fair Share Contribution
Amount
” means, with respect to any Guarantor
Subsidiary as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate
amount of the obligations of such Guarantor Subsidiary under its
Obligations Guarantee that would not render its obligations
thereunder subject to avoidance as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or conveyance or transfer at undervalue under Section 548
of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable applicable provisions of
state or foreign law;
provided
that solely for
purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution
Amount” with respect to any Guarantor Subsidiary for purposes
of this Section 7.2(b), any assets or liabilities of such
Guarantor Subsidiary arising by virtue of any rights to
subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or
obligations of contribution under this Section 7 shall not be
considered as assets or liabilities of such Guarantor Subsidiary.
“
Aggregate
Payments
” means, with respect to any Guarantor
Subsidiary as of any date of determination, an amount equal to
(A) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions
made on or before such date by such Guarantor Subsidiary in respect
of its Obligations Guarantee (including any payments and
distributions made under this Section 7.2(b)),
minus
(B) the aggregate
amount of all payments received on or before such date by such
Guarantor Subsidiary from the Borrower pursuant to
Section 7.2(a) or the other Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to
this Section 7.2(b). The amounts payable under this
Section 7.2(b) shall be determined as of the date on which the
related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Claiming
Guarantor. The allocation among Guarantor Subsidiaries of their
obligations as set forth in this Section 7.2(b) shall not be
construed in any way to limit the liability of any Guarantor
Subsidiary hereunder or under any Collateral Document.
7.3.
Liability
of Guarantors Absolute
. Each Guarantor agrees that its
obligations under this Section 7 are irrevocable, absolute,
independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance that constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a
guarantor or surety other than payment in full in Cash of the
Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting
the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as
follows:
(a)
its Obligations
Guarantee is a guarantee of payment when due and not of
collectability and is a primary obligation of such Guarantor and
not merely a contract of surety;
(b)
the Administrative
Agent may enforce its Obligations Guarantee upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default notwithstanding the existence of any dispute
between the Borrower and any Secured Party with respect to the
existence of such Event of Default;
(c)
the obligations of
each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of the
Borrower or of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor)
of the Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought
and prosecuted against such Guarantor whether or not any action is
brought against the Borrower, any such other Guarantor or any other
Person and whether or not the Borrower, any such other Guarantor or
any other Person is joined in any such action or
actions;
(d)
payment by any
Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Obligations shall in no
way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s
liability for any portion of the Obligations that has not been paid
(and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the
Administrative Agent is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to
enforce any Guarantor’s covenant to pay a portion of the
Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such
Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Obligations
that is not the subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not,
except to the extent satisfied by such Guarantor, limit, affect,
modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder
in respect of the Obligations);
(e)
any Secured Party
may, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or
demand and without affecting the validity or enforceability of the
Obligations Guarantees or giving rise to any reduction, limitation,
impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s
liability under this Section 7, at any time and from time to time
(i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest
on, or otherwise change the time, place, manner or terms of payment
of the Obligations, (ii) settle, compromise, release or discharge,
or accept or refuse any offer of performance with respect to, or
substitutions for, the Obligations or any agreement relating
thereto, and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment
of any other obligations, (iii) request and accept other
guarantees of the Obligations and take and hold security for the
payment of the Obligations, (iv) release, surrender, exchange,
substitute, compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate
or modify, with or without consideration, any security for payment
of the Obligations, any other guarantees of the Obligations or any
other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with
respect to the Obligations, (v) enforce and apply any security
now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of such Secured Party
in respect of the Obligations and direct the order or manner of
sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such
Secured Party may have against any such security, in each case as
such Secured Party in its discretion may determine consistent
herewith or with the applicable Hedge Agreement or Specified Cash
Management Services Agreement and any applicable security
agreement, including foreclosure on any such security or exercise
of a power of sale pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial
sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially
reasonable, and even though such action operates to impair or
extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right
or remedy of any Guarantor against any other Credit Party or any
security for the Obligations, and (vi) exercise any other
rights available to it under the Credit Documents, any Hedge
Agreements or any Specified Cash Management Services Agreements;
and
(f)
the Obligations
Guarantees and the obligations of the Guarantors thereunder shall
be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any reduction,
limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any reason,
including the occurrence of any of the following, whether or not
any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them (in
any case other than payment in full in Cash of the Obligations or
release of a Guarantor Subsidiary’s Obligations Guarantee in
accordance with Section 9.8(d)(ii)): (i) any failure or
omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to
assert or enforce, or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by
operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or enforcement of,
any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising
under the Credit Documents, any Hedge Agreements or any Specified
Cash Management Services Agreements, at law, in equity or
otherwise) with respect to the Obligations or any agreement
relating thereto, or with respect to any other guarantee of or
security for the payment of the Obligations, (ii) any
rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to
departure from, any of the terms or provisions (including
provisions relating to events of default) of any Credit Document,
any Hedge Agreement or any Specified Cash Management Services
Agreement or any agreement or instrument executed pursuant thereto,
or of any other guarantee or security for the Obligations, in each
case whether or not in accordance with the terms hereof or such
Credit Document, such Hedge Agreement or such Specified Cash
Management Services Agreement or any agreement relating to such
other guarantee or security, (iii) the Obligations, or any
agreement relating thereto, at any time being found to be illegal,
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, (iv) the application
of payments received from any source (other than payments received
pursuant to the other Credit Documents, any Hedge Agreement or any
Specified Cash Management Services Agreement under which any
Obligations arose or from the proceeds of any security for the
Obligations, except to the extent such security also serves as
collateral for Indebtedness other than the Obligations) to the
payment of obligations other than the Obligations, even though any
Secured Party could have elected to apply such payment to all or
any part of the Obligations, (v) any Secured Party’s
consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the
corporate structure or existence of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
and to any corresponding restructuring of the Obligations,
(vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of a
security interest in any collateral that secures any of the
Obligations, (vii) any defenses, set-offs or counterclaims
that the Borrower or any other Person may allege or assert against
any Secured Party in respect of the Obligations, including failure
of consideration, breach of warranty, statute of frauds, statute of
limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury, and (viii) any
other act or thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or
thing, that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the
risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the
Obligations.
7.4.
Waivers
by the Guarantors
. Each Guarantor hereby waives, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties: (a) any right to require any
Secured Party, as a condition of payment or performance by such
Guarantor in respect of its obligations under this Section 7, (i)
to proceed against the Borrower, any other guarantor (including any
other Guarantor) of the Obligations or any other Person, (ii) to
proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Borrower, any
such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) to proceed
against or have resort to any balance of any deposit account or
credit on the books of any Secured Party in favor of any Credit
Party or any other Person, or (iv) to pursue any other remedy in
the power of any Secured Party whatsoever; (b) any defense arising
by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or
other defense of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, including any
defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the
unenforceability of the Obligations or any agreement or instrument
relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of
the Borrower or any other Guarantor from any cause other than
payment in full in Cash of the Obligations; (c) any defense based
upon any law that provides that the obligation of a surety must be
neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than
that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Secured
Party’s errors or omissions in the administration of the
Obligations; (e) (1) any principles or provisions of any law
that are or might be in conflict with the terms hereof or any legal
or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations
hereunder, (2) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting
such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement
hereof, (3) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims
and (4) promptness, diligence and any requirement that any
Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security
interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices,
demands, presentments, protests, notices of protest, notices of
dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including
acceptance hereof, notices of default under the Credit Documents,
any Hedge Agreement or any Specified Cash Management Services
Agreement or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices
of any renewal, extension or modification of the Obligations or any
agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to
the Borrower or any other Guarantor and notices of any of the
matters referred to in Section 7.3 and any right to consent to
any thereof; and (g) any defenses or benefits that may be derived
from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate
guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms
hereof.
7.5.
Guarantors’
Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, Etc.
Until the
Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in Cash, the
Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall
have expired with no pending drawings or been cancelled, each
Guarantor hereby waives any claim, right or remedy, direct or
indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against
the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any of its assets in
connection with its Obligations Guarantee or the performance by
such Guarantor of its obligations thereunder, in each case whether
such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by
statute, under common law or otherwise and including (a) any right
of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnity that such Guarantor now
has or may hereafter have against the Borrower with respect to the
Obligations, including any such right of indemnity under Section
7.2(a), (b) any right to enforce, or to participate in, any
claim, right or remedy that any Secured Party now has or may
hereafter have against the Borrower, and (c) any benefit of, and
any right to participate in, any collateral or security now or
hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Secured Party. In
addition, until the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid
in full in Cash, the Commitments shall have terminated and all
Letters of Credit shall have expired with no pending drawings or
been cancelled, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any right
of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other guarantor
(including any other Guarantor) of the Obligations, including any
such right of contribution under Section 7.2(b). Each Guarantor
further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or agreement to
withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation, reimbursement,
indemnity and contribution as set forth herein is found by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason,
any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnity such
Guarantor may have against the Borrower or against any collateral
or security, and any rights of contribution such Guarantor may have
against any such other Guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate
to any rights any Secured Party may have against the Borrower or
any other Guarantor, to all right, title and interest any Secured
Party may have in any such collateral or security, and to any right
any Secured Party may have against such other Guarantor. If any
amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such
subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity or contribution rights at any
time when all Obligations shall not have been indefeasibly paid in
full in Cash, all Commitments not having terminated and all Letters
of Credit not having expired or been cancelled, such amount shall
be held in trust for the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, and shall forthwith be paid over to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, to be
credited and applied against the Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof.
7.6.
Continuing
Guarantee
. The Obligations Guarantee is a continuing
guarantee and shall remain in effect (except, in the case of a
Guarantor Subsidiary, if such Guarantor Subsidiary’s
Obligations Guarantee shall have been released in accordance with
Section 9.8(d)(ii)) until all of the Obligations (excluding
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made and the
Specified Hedge Obligations and Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations) shall have been paid in full in Cash, the Commitments
shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired
with no pending drawings or been cancelled. Each Guarantor hereby
irrevocably waives any right to revoke its Obligations Guarantee as
to future transactions giving rise to any Obligations.
7.7.
Authority
of the Guarantors or the Borrower
. It is not necessary for
any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of any
Guarantor or the Borrower or any Related Party acting or purporting
to act on behalf of any such Person.
7.8.
Financial
Condition of the Credit Parties
. Any Credit Extension may be
made or continued from time to time, and any Obligations arising
under Hedge Agreements or Specified Cash Management Services
Agreements may be incurred from time to time, in each case without
notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the
financial or other condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at
the time of any such making or continuation or at the time such
other Obligations are incurred, as the case may be. No Secured
Party shall have any obligation to disclose or discuss with any
Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of
the financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary. Each
Guarantor has adequate means to obtain information from the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a continuing basis concerning the
financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and their
ability to perform the Obligations, and each Guarantor assumes the
responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial
condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and of all
circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the
Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty
on the part of any Secured Party to disclose any matter, fact or
thing relating to the business, results of operations, assets,
liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter known by any Secured
Party.
7.9.
Bankruptcy,
Etc.
The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall not
be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended or
terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary,
involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization,
liquidation, arrangement or similar proceeding of the Borrower or
any other Guarantor or by any defense that the Borrower or any
other Guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision
of any court or administrative body resulting from any such
proceeding.
(a)
Each Guarantor
acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the
Obligations that accrues after the commencement of any case or
proceeding referred to in Section 7.9(a) (or, if interest on any
portion of the Obligations ceases to accrue by operation of law by
reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such
interest as would have accrued on such portion of the Obligations
if such case or proceeding had not been commenced) shall be
included in the Obligations because it is the intention of the
Guarantors and the Secured Parties that the Obligations that are
guaranteed by the Guarantors pursuant to this Section 7 should be
determined without regard to any rule of law or order that may
relieve the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any portion of any
Obligations. The Guarantors will permit any trustee in bankruptcy,
receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of
creditors or similar Person to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the benefit of the Secured Parties, or allow the claim of any
Secured Party or of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, in respect of, any such interest accruing
after the date on which such case or proceeding is
commenced.
In the
event that all or any portion of the Obligations are paid by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, the obligations of the Guarantors under
this Section 7 shall continue and remain in full force and effect
or be reinstated, as the case may be (notwithstanding any prior
release of any Obligations Guarantee), in the event that all or any
part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or
indirectly from any Secured Party as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or conveyance or transfer at undervalue or otherwise, and
any such payments that are so rescinded or recovered shall
constitute Obligations for all purposes hereunder.
7.10.
Keepwell.
Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally
absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide
such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by
any other Guarantor to honor all of such Guarantor’s
obligations under this Obligations Guarantee or any other Credit
Document in respect of Swap Obligations,
provided
that each Qualified
ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 7.10 for the
maximum amount of such liability that can be incurred without
rendering its obligations under this Section 7.10, or otherwise
under this Obligations Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor,
voidable under applicable law relating to preferences, fraudulent
conveyance or fraudulent transfer, transfer at undervalue, and not
for any greater amount. The obligations of each Qualified ECP
Guarantor under this Section 7.10 shall remain in full force and
effect until the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in
full, the Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of
Credit shall have expired with no pending drawings or been
cancelled. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section
7.10 constitute, and this Section 7.10 shall be deemed to
constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement”
for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section
1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
SECTION
8.
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
8.1.
Events
of Default
. If any one or more of the following conditions
or events shall occur:
(a)
Failure to Make Payments When
Due
. Failure by the Borrower (i) to pay, when due, any
principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration,
by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or
otherwise, (ii) to pay, when due, any amount payable to the
applicable Issuing Bank in reimbursement of any drawing under any
Letter of Credit or to deposit, when due, any Cash Collateral
required pursuant to Section 2.13(f) or 2.21 or (iii) to pay,
within five Business Days after the date due, any interest on any
Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder;
(b)
Default in Other Agreements
.
(i) Failure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, to make any payment that
shall have become due and payable (whether of principal, interest
or otherwise) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, or (ii) any
condition or event shall occur that results in any Material
Indebtedness becoming due, or being required to be prepaid,
repurchased, redeemed or defeased, prior to its stated maturity or,
in the case of any Hedge Agreement, being terminated, or that
enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material
Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf, or, in
the case of any Hedge Agreement, the applicable counterparty, with
or without the giving of notice but only after the expiration of
any applicable grace period, to cause such Material Indebtedness to
become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or
defeasance thereof, prior to its stated maturity or, in the case of
any Hedge Agreement, to cause the termination thereof;
provided
that this
clause (b) shall not apply to (A) any secured
Indebtedness becoming due as a result of the voluntary sale or
transfer of the assets securing such Indebtedness; (B) any
Indebtedness becoming due as a result of a voluntary refinancing
thereof permitted under Section 6.1; or (C) any Indebtedness
becoming due as a result of a voluntary (or, to the extent
permitted by Section 2.14(c) or, in the case of Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, Sections 2.13(a), 2.13(b) and 2.13(e),
mandatory) prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof
permitted hereunder;
(c)
Breach of Certain Covenants
.
Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply with any term or
condition contained in Section 2.5, 5.1(e)(i), 5.2 (with respect to
the Borrower only), 5.14, 5.16 or 6,
provided
that any failure to
comply with Section 6.7(c) will not constitute a Default or an
Event of Default with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans unless
and until the Administrative Agent at the request of (or with the
consent of) the Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders shall have
declared the Tranche A Term Loans and/or the Revolving Loans to be
due and payable and/or the Revolving Commitments to be
terminated;
(d)
Breach of Representations, Etc
.
Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made
or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in any Credit
Document or in any report, certificate or statement at any time
provided in writing by or on behalf of any Credit Party pursuant to
or in connection with any Credit Document or the Transactions shall
be incorrect in any material respect as of the date made or deemed
made (or if any representation or warranty is expressly stated to
have been made as of a specific date incorrect in any material
respect as of such specific date);
(e)
Other Defaults under Credit
Documents
. Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply
with any term or condition contained herein or in any other Credit
Document, other than any such term or condition referred to in any
other clause of this Section 8.1, and, except as may be
expressly set forth in any such other Credit Document, such failure
shall not have been remedied within 30 days after receipt by the
Borrower of notice from the Administrative Agent or the Requisite
Lenders of such failure;
(f)
Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of
Receiver, Etc
. (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall
enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary in an
involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, which decree or
order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted
under any applicable federal, state or foreign law; or (ii) an
involuntary case shall be commenced against the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary under any
Debtor Relief Laws; or a decree or order of a court having
jurisdiction in the premises for the involuntary appointment of an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered;
or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of
attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued
against all or a substantial part of the property of the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, and any
such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for 60 days
without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged;
(g)
Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of
Receiver, Etc
. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
that is a Material Subsidiary shall have an order for relief
entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under
any Debtor Relief Laws, or shall consent to the entry of an order
for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an
involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any Debtor Relief Laws,
or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property (other than any
liquidation permitted by Section 6.8(a)(iv)); or the Borrower
or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material
Subsidiary shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit
in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become
due; or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary
(or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise
authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to in
this Section 8.1(g) or in Section 8.1(f);
(h)
Judgments and Attachments
. One
or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount
of $10,000,000 or more (other than any such judgment covered by
insurance (other than under a self-insurance program) provided by a
financially sound insurer to the extent a claim therefor has been
made in writing and liability therefor has not been denied in
writing by the insurer), shall be rendered against the Borrower,
any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same
shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days
during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any
action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or
levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
to enforce any such judgment;
(i)
Employee Benefit Plans
. The
occurrence of one or more ERISA Events or Foreign Plan Events that
have had, or could reasonably be expected to result in liability
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(j)
Change of Control
. A Change of
Control shall occur;
(k)
Obligations Guarantees, Collateral
Documents and other Credit Documents
. Any Obligations
Guarantee (other than any Obligations Guarantee by any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary) purported to be
created under the Credit Documents for any reason shall cease to
be, or shall be asserted by any Credit Party not to be, in full
force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms), or
shall be declared to be null and void; any Lien purported to be
created under any Collateral Document shall cease to be, or shall
be asserted by any Credit Party not to be, a valid and perfected
Lien on any material Collateral, with the priority required by the
applicable Collateral Document, except as a result of (i) a
Disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted
under the Credit Documents, (ii) the release thereof as
provided in Section 9.8(d) or (iii) the Collateral Agent’s
failure to maintain possession of any stock certificate, promissory
note or other instrument delivered to it under the Collateral
Documents; or this Agreement or any Collateral Document shall cease
to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its
terms), or shall be declared null and void, or any Credit Party
shall contest the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document
or deny that it has any further liability, including with respect
to future advances by Lenders, under any Credit Document to which
it is a party (other than in accordance with its
terms);
(l)
Intercreditor Agreement
. (i)
Any Credit Party shall knowingly contest, or knowingly support
another Person in any action that seeks to contest, the validity or
effectiveness of the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or
thereof) or (ii) the Intercreditor Agreement, or any other
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement entered into after the date
hereof, shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be
effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable
against any party thereto (other than pursuant to the terms hereof
or thereof); or
(m)
Certain Subordination
Agreements
. (i) Any Credit Party or any holder of Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness shall knowingly contest, or knowingly
support another Person in any action that seeks to contest, the
validity or effectiveness of the subordination of any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness to the Obligations on the terms required
under this Agreement or (ii) any agreement (including any
subordination provisions set forth in the Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Documents) providing for subordination of any
Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness to the Obligations shall, in
whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be
legally valid, binding and enforceable against any Credit Party or
any holder of such Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness;
THEN
, (i) upon the occurrence of any
Event of Default described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g),
automatically, and (ii) upon (A) the occurrence and during the
continuance of any other Event of Default and (B) notice to the
Borrower by the Administrative Agent provided at the request of (or
with the consent of) the Requisite Lenders (or, with respect to the
Tranche A Term Loans, the Revolving Exposure and/or the Revolving
Commitments only, at the request of (or with the consent of) the
Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders, in the case of an Event
of Default arising from any failure to comply with Section 6.7(c)),
which notice may be given with respect to all or any of the
following actions, at the same or different times, (1) the
Commitments and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue any
Letter of Credit shall immediately terminate, (2) the unpaid
principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loans and all other
Obligations (other than the Specified Hedge Obligations and the
Specified Cash Management Services Obligations) shall immediately
become due and payable, and the Borrower shall immediately be
required to deposit Cash Collateral in respect of Letter of Credit
Usage in accordance with Section 2.3(h), in each case without
presentment, demand, protest or other requirement of any kind, all
of which are hereby expressly waived by each Credit Party, and (3)
the Administrative Agent may cause the Collateral Agent to enforce
any and all Liens created pursuant to the Collateral
Documents.
SECTION
9.
AGENTS
9.1.
Appointment
of Agents
. Wilmington Trust is hereby appointed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents, and each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby
authorizes Wilmington Trust to act as the Administrative Agent and
the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and of the
other Credit Documents. Each such Agent hereby agrees to act in its
capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and
in the other Credit Documents, as applicable. Other than
Sections 9.7 and 9.8(d), the provisions of this Section 9 are
solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing
Banks, and no Credit Party shall have any rights as a third party
beneficiary of any such provisions. In performing its functions and
duties hereunder, no Agent assumes, and shall not be deemed to have
assumed, any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust
with or for the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
9.2.
Powers
and Duties
. Each Lender and Issuing Bank irrevocably
authorizes each Agent to take such actions and to exercise such
powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit
Documents as are specifically delegated or granted to such Agent by
the terms hereof and thereof, together with such actions, powers,
rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each
Agent shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are
expressly specified herein and in the other Credit Documents. No
Agent shall have, by reason hereof or of any of the other Credit
Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender, any
Issuing Bank or any other Person (regardless of whether or not a
Default or an Event of Default has occurred), it being understood
and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any
other similar term) herein or in any other Credit Documents with
reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or
other implied obligations arising under any agency doctrine of any
applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market
custom; and nothing herein or in any of the other Credit Documents,
expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to
impose upon any Agent any obligations in respect hereof or of any
of the other Credit Documents except as expressly set forth herein
or therein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no
Agent shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other
Credit Documents, have any duty to disclose, or 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 the
Person serving as such Agent or any of its Affiliates in any
capacity.
9.3.
General
Immunity
.
(a)
No Responsibility for Certain
Matters
. No Agent shall be responsible to any Lender or
Issuing Bank for (i) the execution, effectiveness, genuineness,
validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency hereof or
of any other Credit Document; (ii) the creation, perfection,
maintenance, preservation, continuation or priority of any Lien or
security interest created, purported to be created or required
under any Credit Document; (iii) the value or the sufficiency of
any Collateral; (iv) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in
Section 3 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of
items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent; (v) the
failure of any Credit Party, Lender, Issuing Bank or other Agent to
perform its obligations hereunder or under any other Credit
Document; or (vi) any representations, warranties, recitals or
statements made herein or therein or in any written or oral
statements or in any financial or other statements, instruments,
reports or certificates or any other documents furnished or made by
any Agent to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks or by or on behalf of
any Credit Party to any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank in
connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions
contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or affairs of
any Credit Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any
Obligations, nor shall any Agent be required to ascertain or
inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of
the Credit Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans
or as to the existence or possible existence of any Default or
Event of Default (nor shall any Agent be deemed to have knowledge
of the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is
a “notice of default”) is given to such Agent by the
Borrower or any Lender) or to make any disclosures with respect to
the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any liability arising from, or
be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the
Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a
result of, confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans, the
Letter of Credit Usage or the component amounts thereof, the
calculation of the Yield Maintenance Amount or the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to any Indebtedness, any exchange rate
determination or currency conversion, the determination of whether
any Class of Term Loans constitutes Incremental Tranche A Term
Loans or TLA Term Loans, the terms and conditions of any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Document or of any subordination terms applicable to any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness or the calculation of the outstanding
amount of Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash Management
Services Obligations, in each case except to the extent caused by
such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as
determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(b)
Exculpatory Provisions
. None of
any Agent or any of its Related Parties shall be liable to the
Lenders or the Issuing Banks for any action taken or omitted by
such Agent under or in connection with any of the Credit Documents
except to the extent caused by such Agent’s gross negligence
or willful misconduct, as determined by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Each Agent shall be
entitled to refrain from the taking of any action (including the
failure to take an action) in connection herewith or with any of
the other Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power,
discretion or authority (including the making of any requests,
determinations, judgments, calculations or the expression of any
satisfaction or approval) vested in it hereunder or thereunder
unless and until such Agent shall have received instructions in
respect thereof from either the Requisite Tranche A/Revolving
Lenders or the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be
required, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith to be
required, to give such instructions under Section 10.5) and upon
receipt of such instructions from the Requisite Tranche A/Revolving
Lenders or the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders, as the
case may be), such Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so
instructed) refrain from acting, or to exercise such power,
discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions;
provided
that such
Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its
opinion, could expose such Agent to liability or be contrary to any
Credit Document or applicable law, including any action that may be
in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Laws or
that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of
property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief
Law. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) each
Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in
relying, upon any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement,
instrument, document or other writing (including any telephonic
notice, electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or
other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or otherwise provided by the proper Person (whether or
not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the
Credit Documents for being the signatory, sender or provider
thereof) and on opinions and judgments of attorneys (who may be
attorneys for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries), accountants,
insurance consultants, architects, engineers and other experts or
professional advisors selected by it, and such Agent shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
reliance on any of the foregoing documents; and (ii) no Lender or
Issuing Bank shall have any right of action whatsoever against any
Agent as a result of such Agent acting or (where so instructed)
refraining from acting hereunder or any of the other Credit
Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Requisite
Tranche A/Revolving Lenders or the Requisite Lenders (or such other
Lenders as may be required, or as such Agent shall believe in good
faith to be required, to give such instructions under Section
10.5). In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to
the making of any Credit Extension that by its terms must be
fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the
Administrative Agent may presume the satisfaction of such Lender or
Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
written notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank
reasonably in advance of such Credit Extension.
(c)
Delegation of Duties
. Each
Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise any and
all of its powers, rights and remedies under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such of its sub-agents
may perform any and all of its duties and exercise any and all of
its powers, rights and remedies by or through their respective
Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions
set forth in this Section 9.3 and in Sections 9.6 and 10.3 shall
apply to any such sub-agent or Affiliate (and to their respective
Related Parties) as if they were named as such Agent. No Agent
shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any
sub-agent appointed by it except to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction determines in a final, non-appealable
judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent
appointed by any Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party
beneficiary under the exculpatory, indemnification and other
provisions set forth in this Section 9.3 and Sections 9.6 and 10.3
and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party
beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce
such provisions directly, without the consent or joinder of any
other Person, against any or all of the Credit Parties and the
Lenders and (ii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to
such Agent, and not to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other
Person, and no Credit Party, Lender or any other Person shall have
any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or
otherwise, against such sub-agent.
(d)
Concerning Arrangers and Certain Other
Indemnitees
. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, none of the Arrangers, the Syndication Agent or any of
the co-agents, bookrunners or managers listed on the cover page
hereof shall have any duties or responsibilities under this
Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its
capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Bank hereunder or, in the
case of any Auction Manager or any other Person appointed under the
Credit Documents to serve as an agent or in a similar capacity, the
duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified in the
applicable Credit Documents with respect thereto, but all such
Persons shall have the benefit of the exculpatory, indemnification
and other provisions set forth in this Section 9 and in Section
10.3 and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party
beneficiary with respect thereto, including an independent right of
action to enforce such provisions directly, without the consent or
joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Credit
Parties and the Lenders. The exculpatory, indemnification and other
provisions set forth in this Section 9 and in Section 10.3 shall
apply to any Affiliate or other Related Party of any Arranger or
any Agent in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the
credit facilities provided for herein (including pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 and 2.25) and any amendment, supplement or
modification hereof or of any other Credit Document (including in
connection with any Extension/Modification Offer), as well as
activities as an Agent.
9.4.
Acts
in Individual Capacity
. Nothing herein or in any other
Credit Document shall in any way impair or affect any of the rights
and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent
in its individual capacity as a Lender or an Issuing Bank
hereunder. With respect to its Loans, Letters of Credit and
participations in the Letters of Credit, each Agent shall have the
same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender or Issuing
Bank and may exercise the same as if it were not performing the
duties and functions delegated to it hereunder. Each 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, financial
advisory, commodity, derivative or other business with the Borrower
or any of its Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties
and functions specified herein, and may accept fees and other
consideration from the Borrower and its Affiliates for services in
connection herewith and otherwise, in each case without having to
account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks. Each Agent
and its Affiliates, when acting under any agreement in respect of
any such activity or under any related agreements, will be acting
for its own account as principal and will be under no obligation or
duty as a result of such Agent’s role in connection with the
credit facility provided herein or otherwise to take any action or
refrain from taking any action (including refraining from
exercising any right or remedy that might be available to
it).
9.5.
Lenders’
and Issuing Banks’ Representations, Warranties and
Acknowledgments
. Each Lender and Issuing Bank represents and
warrants that it has made, and will continue to make, its own
independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection with Credit
Extensions or taking or not taking action under or based upon any
Credit Document, in each case without reliance on any Agent, any
Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties. No Agent shall
have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a
continuing basis, to make any such investigation or any such
appraisal on behalf of Lenders or Issuing Banks or to provide any
Lender or Issuing Bank with any credit or other information with
respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the
making of the Credit Extensions or at any time or times
thereafter.
(a)
Each Lender, by
delivering its signature page to this Agreement,
an Assignment Agreement, a
Refinancing Facility Agreement or an Incremental Facility Agreement
and funding its Loans on the Closing Date and/or providing its
Revolving Commitment on the Closing Date or by funding any
Refinancing Term Loan, any Incremental Term Loan or providing any
Incremental Revolving Commitment, as the case may be, shall be
deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and
approved, each Credit Document and each other document required to
be approved by any Agent, the Requisite Lenders or any other
Lenders, as applicable, on the Closing Date or as of the date of
funding of such Refinancing Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans or
the date of the effectiveness of such Incremental Revolving
Commitment.
(b)
Each Lender and
Issuing Bank acknowledges and agrees that Wilmington Trust or one
or more of its Affiliates will be acting as the administrative
agent and collateral agent under the Second Lien Credit Agreement
and may (but is not obligated to) act as administrative agent,
collateral agent or a similar representative for the holders of any
other Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness and, in its capacity as the administrative
agent and collateral agent under the Second Lien Credit Agreement,
is a party to the Intercreditor Agreement and, in such other
capacities, may be a party to a Permitted Intercreditor Agreement.
Each Lender, Issuing Bank and Credit Party waives any conflict of
interest, now contemplated or arising hereafter, in connection
therewith and agrees not to assert against Wilmington Trust or any
of its Affiliates any claims, causes of action, damages or
liabilities of whatever kind or nature relating to any such
conflict of interest.
9.6.
Right
to Indemnity
. Each Lender, in proportion to its applicable
Pro Rata Share (determined as set forth below), severally agrees to
indemnify each Agent and each Related Party thereof, to the extent
that such Agent or such Related Party shall not have been
reimbursed by any Credit Party (and without limiting any Credit
Party’s obligations under the Credit Documents to do so), for
and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses
(including fees, expenses and other charges of counsel) or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent or any such Related
Party in exercising the powers, rights and remedies, or performing
the duties and functions, of such Agent under the Credit Documents
or any other documents contemplated by or referred to therein or
otherwise in relation to its capacity as an Agent;
provided
that no Lender shall
be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final,
non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. 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
that in no event shall
this sentence require any Lender to indemnify such Agent against
any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, claim, action,
judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such
Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share thereof; and
provided
further
that this sentence
shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify such Agent
against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, claim,
action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in
the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. For purposes of
this Section 9.6, “Pro Rata Share” shall be determined
as of the time that the applicable indemnity payment is sought (or,
in the event at such time all the Commitments shall have terminated
and all the Loans shall have been repaid in full, as of the time
most recently prior thereto when any Loans or Commitments remained
outstanding).
9.7.
Successor
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
. Subject to the
terms of this Section 9.7, the Administrative Agent may resign at
any time from its capacity as such. In connection with such
resignation, the Administrative Agent shall give notice of its
intent to resign to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the
Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the
Requisite Lenders, subject to, unless an Event of Default shall
have occurred and is continuing, the prior written consent of the
Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed),
shall have the right to appoint a successor. If no successor shall
have been so appointed by the Requisite Lenders and shall have
accepted such appointment within 30 days after the resigning
Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, then the
resigning Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and
the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor;
provided
that in no event shall
any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender or a
Disqualified Institution. If the Administrative Agent shall be a
Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of such
term, the Requisite Lenders may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent remove the Administrative Agent in its
capacity as such and, subject to, unless an Event of Default shall
have occurred and is continuing, the prior written consent of the
Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed),
appoint a successor. Any resignation or removal of the
Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be a resignation of the
Collateral Agent, and any successor Administrative Agent appointed
pursuant to this Section 9.7 shall, upon its acceptance of such
appointment, become the successor Collateral Agent for all purposes
of the Credit Documents. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the resigning or
removed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a
successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be the
same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed by
the Borrower and such successor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event (a) no successor to a resigning Administrative Agent shall
have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment
within 30 days after the resigning Administrative Agent gives
notice of its intent to resign, the resigning Administrative Agent
may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the
Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower or (b) no successor to
a removed Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and
shall have accepted such appointment by the day that is 30 days
following of the issuance of a notice of removal, the removal shall
become effective on such 30th day, and on the date of effectiveness
of such resignation or removal, as the case may be, (i) the
resigning or removed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and
under the other Credit Documents,
provided
that, solely for
purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the
Collateral Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, the resigning or removed Collateral Agent
shall continue to be vested with such security interest as
collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, in the
case of any Collateral in the possession of the Collateral Agent,
shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such
time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed and accepts such
appointment in accordance with this paragraph (it being understood
and agreed that the resigning or removed Collateral Agent shall
have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any
Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the
perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Requisite
Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
provided
that (A) all payments
required to be made hereunder or under any other Credit Document to
the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than
the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and
(B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated
to be given or made to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender and each
Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative
Agent’s and Collateral Agent’s resignation from its
capacity as such, the provisions of this Section 9 and of Section
10.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such resigning or
removed Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties
in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of
them while it was acting as Administrative Agent or Collateral
Agent, as applicable, and in respect of the matters referred to in
the proviso under clause (a) above. If the Person serving as the
resigning or removed Administrative Agent shall also be an Issuing
Bank, then, unless otherwise agreed to by such Person, upon the
effectiveness of the resignation or removal thereof in its capacity
as the Administrative Agent, (A) such Person shall no longer be
obligated to issue, amend, extend or renew any Letter of Credit,
but shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under
this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior
to the effectiveness of such resignation, (B) the Borrower shall
pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of such Person in its
capacity as an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.10(b) and
(C) the Borrower may appoint a replacement Issuing Bank (which
appointment shall be made in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Section 2.3(i),
mutatis
mutandis
).
9.8.
Collateral
Documents and Obligations Guarantee
.
Agents under Collateral Documents and
the Obligations Guarantee
. Each Secured Party hereby further
authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to be
the agent for and representative of the Secured Parties with
respect to the Guarantees purported to be created under the Credit
Documents, the Collateral and the Credit Documents and authorizes
the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute and
deliver, on behalf of such Secured Party, any Collateral Documents
that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent determines in
its discretion to execute and deliver in connection with the
satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (and
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
any power of attorney that may be required under any applicable law
in connection with such execution and delivery on behalf of such
Secured Party).
(a)
Right to Realize on Collateral and
Enforce Obligations Guarantee
. Notwithstanding anything
contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary, the
Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and
each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) except with respect
to the exercise of set-off rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or
with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of
claim in any proceeding under the Debtor Relief Laws or as provided
in clause (ii) below, no Secured Party shall have any right
individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce
any Guarantees purported to be created under the Credit Documents,
it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies
under the Credit Documents may be exercised solely by the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, for
the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms
thereof and that all powers, rights and remedies under the
Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the
terms thereof, (ii) all powers, rights and remedies under the
Credit Documents exercised by the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent, as applicable, in respect of the Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral, including any enforcement action in
respect thereof, shall be exercised at the direction of the
Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders and (iii) in the
event of a foreclosure, exercise of a power of sale or similar
enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral
pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition
(including pursuant to Section 363(k), Section
1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other applicable section of the Bankruptcy
Code, any analogous Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the
granting or perfection of security interests), the Collateral Agent
(or any Lender, except with respect to a “credit bid”
pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any
other applicable section of the Bankruptcy Code any analogous
Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the granting or
perfection of security interests) 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 the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or
Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be
entitled, upon instructions from the Requisite Lenders (subject to
procedures reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), for
the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the
purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold or
licensed at any such sale or other 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. In connection with any such bid referred to in
clause (iii) above, (A) the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to
form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (B) the
Collateral Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing
for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles
(
provided
that any
actions by the Collateral 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 Requisite Lenders, irrespective of
the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the
limitations on actions by the Requisite Lenders contained in
Section 10.5(a), (C) the Collateral Agent shall be authorized
to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle
pro rata among 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.
(b)
Specified Hedge Obligations
. No
obligations under any Hedge Agreement that constitute Specified
Hedge Obligations or under any Specified Cash Management Services
Provider Agreement will create (or be deemed to create)
in favor of any Secured Party that
is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or
release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Guarantor
under the Credit Documents except as expressly provided in Section
10.5(c)(iii) of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, neither the Administrative Agent nor the
Collateral Agent shall owe any fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty,
duty of care, duty of disclosure or any other obligation whatsoever
to any holder of any Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations.
(c)
Release of Collateral and Obligations
Guarantees
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
or in any other Credit Document:
(i)
When all
Obligations (excluding contingent obligations as to which no claim
has been made and the Specified Hedge Obligations and Specified
Cash Management Services Obligations) have been paid in full, all
Commitments have terminated and no Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or
consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be
required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to
release all Guarantees provided for in any Credit Document, whether
or not on the date of such release there may be outstanding
Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations.
(ii)
(A)
If (x) any Guarantor Subsidiary shall have been designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof or (y)
all the Equity Interests in any Guarantor Subsidiary held by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be sold or otherwise disposed
of (including by merger or consolidation) in any transaction
permitted by this Agreement, and as a result of such sale or other
disposition such Guarantor Subsidiary shall cease to be a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, such Guarantor Subsidiary shall, upon
effectiveness of such designation, or the consummation of such sale
or other disposition, automatically be discharged and released from
its Obligations Guarantee and all security interests created by the
Collateral Documents in Collateral owned by such Guarantor
Subsidiary shall be automatically released, without any further
action by any Secured Party or any other Person;
provided
that no such discharge
or release shall occur unless substantially concurrently therewith,
such Subsidiary shall have been discharged and released from its
Guarantee of all Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, all Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, all Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness and all Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness, and all Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary
securing any such Indebtedness shall have been
released.
(B)
Upon any sale or
other transfer by any Credit Party (other than to the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary) of any Collateral in a transaction
permitted under this Agreement, or upon the effectiveness of any
written consent to the release of the security interest created
under any Collateral Document in any Collateral pursuant to
Section 10.5, the security interests in such Collateral
created by the Collateral Documents shall be automatically
released, without any further action by any Secured Party or any
other Person;
provided
that no such release
shall occur unless substantially concurrently therewith, such
Collateral shall cease to be subject to any security interests
securing any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness.
(C)
Upon receipt by the
Collateral Agent of a certificate from an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent, certifying that (x) the Escrow Cash Release
Conditions have been satisfied and the proceeds of the Escrow Cash
Collateral will be applied, substantially concurrently with the
release thereof, to pay Acquisition Consideration for the Specified
Acquisition and related customary fees and expenses and, to the
extent permitted by Section 2.5(c), will otherwise be used for
working capital and other general corporate purposes of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and/or (y) the proceeds
of the Escrow Cash Collateral (or the applicable portion thereof
specified in such certificate) will be applied, substantially
concurrently with the release thereof, to prepay the Tranche B
Term Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.13(d), in each case on the
requested date of release of the Escrow Cash Collateral, the
Collateral Agent shall release the Escrow Cash Collateral from the
Escrow Cash Collateral Account (I) if the Escrow Cash Collateral is
to be applied to pay such Acquisition Consideration and related
fees and expenses and, to the extent permitted by Section 2.5(c),
to be used for such working capital and other general corporate
purposes, to the Borrower or (II) if the Escrow Cash Collateral is
to be applied to prepay Tranche B Term Borrowings, to the
Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, and upon such
release by the Collateral Agent, the Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement shall be terminated and all security interests created by
the Escrow Cash Collateral Control Agreement or any other
Collateral Document in the Escrow Cash Collateral shall be
automatically released, without any further action by any Secured
Party or any other Person.
(D)
Upon receipt by the
Collateral Agent of a certificate from an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent (and including reasonably detailed calculations
demonstrating satisfaction of the requirement set forth in clause
(y) below), certifying that (x) no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio is less
than 2.50:1.00, determined as of the last day of the then most
recently ended Test Period, the Collateral Agent shall release to
the Borrower any Cash or Cash Equivalents constituting Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral then on deposit in the Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account and all security
interests created by the Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Control Agreement or any other Collateral Document in such Cash or
Cash Equivalents shall be automatically released, without any
further action by any Secured Party or any other
Person.
(iii)
Each
Secured Party authorizes the Collateral Agent to subordinate, at
the request of the Borrower, any Lien on any property granted to or
held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the
holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by
Section 6.2(d) or 6.2(o);
provided
that no such
subordination shall occur unless substantially concurrently
therewith, any Lien on such property securing any Permitted Second
Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness
shall also be so subordinated.
(iv)
In
connection with any termination, release or subordination pursuant
to this Section 9.8(d), the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent shall execute and deliver to any Credit Party, at such Credit
Party’s expense, all documents that such Credit Party shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination, release or
subordination. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to
this Section 9.8(d) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
(v)
Additional Exculpatory
Provisions
. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible
for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation
or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of any
Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral
Agent’s Lien on any Collateral or any certificate prepared by
any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Collateral
Agent be responsible or liable to the Secured Parties for any
failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the
Collateral.
(d)
Acceptance of Benefits
. Each
Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by
its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral or the Guarantees
purported to be created under the Credit Documents, to have agreed
to the provisions of this Section 9 (including the authorization
and the grant of the power of attorney pursuant to Section 9.8(a)),
Section 10.24 and all the other provisions of this Agreement
relating to Collateral, any such Guarantee or any Collateral
Document and to have agreed to be bound by the Credit Documents as
a Secured Party thereunder. It is understood and agreed that the
benefits of the Collateral and any such Guarantee to any Secured
Party are made available on an express condition that, and is
subject to, such Secured Party not asserting that it is not bound
by the appointments and other agreements expressed herein to be
made, or deemed herein to be made, by such Secured
Party.
9.9.
Withholding
Taxes
. To the extent required by any applicable law, the
Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender or
Issuing Bank an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding
Tax. If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim
that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from
amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender or Issuing Bank
because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly
executed or because such Lender or Issuing Bank failed to notify
the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance which rendered
the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective or
for any other reason, or if the Administrative Agent reasonably
determines that a payment was made to a Lender or Issuing Bank
pursuant to this Agreement without deduction of applicable
withholding Tax from such payment, such Lender or Issuing Bank
shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts
paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or
otherwise, including any penalties or interest and together with
all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs
and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred.
9.10.
Administrative
Agent May File Bankruptcy Disclosure and Proofs of Claim
. In
case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws
with respect to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent
(irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any
Obligation under a Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable
as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective
of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on
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
rule’s 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,
the Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent
and any other Secured Party (including any claim under Sections
2.7, 2.9, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 10.2 and 10.3) 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 proceeding is hereby authorized
by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party 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, the Issuing Banks or the other
Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due
to the Administrative Agent, in such capacity or in its capacity as
the Collateral Agent, or to its Related Parties under the Credit
Documents (including under Sections 10.2 and 10.3). To the extent
that the payment of any such amounts due to the Administrative
Agent, in such capacity or in its capacity as the Collateral Agent,
or to its Related Parties 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 property that
the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties 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 Issuing Bank, or to
vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any
such proceeding.
9.11.
Certain
ERISA Matters
.
(a)
Each Lender (x)
represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender
party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person
became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a
Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent
and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the
avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any
other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will
be true:
(i)
such Lender is not
using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR
§ 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or
more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of
Credit or the Commitments,
(ii)
the
transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE
84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by
independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a
class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance
company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain
transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts),
PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving
bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption
for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is
applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into,
participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans,
the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this
Agreement,
(iii)
(A)
such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified
Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of
PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the
investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into,
participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of
Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into,
participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans,
the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies
the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE
84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the
requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied
with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation
in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of
Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv)
such
other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in
writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion,
and such Lender.
(b)
In addition, unless
sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with
respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another
representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause
(iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further
(x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a
Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such
Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases
being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative
Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not,
for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower
or any other Credit Party, that:
(i)
none of the
Administrative Agent or the Arrangers or any of their respective
Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender
(including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any
rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, the Loans
or any documents related to hereto or thereto),
(ii)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the
Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning
of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an
investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or
has under management or control, total assets of at least $50
million, in each case as described in 29 CFR §
2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),
(iii)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the
Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment
risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular
transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the
Obligations),
(iv)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the
Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the
Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit,
the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for
exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions
hereunder, and
(v)
no fee or other
compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent or
the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates for investment advice
(as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the
Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.
(c)
The Administrative
Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates hereby
informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to
provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a
fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest
in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an
Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with
respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and
this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans,
the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than
the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of
Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees
or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring
fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront
fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative
agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage
fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate
transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out
premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early
termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
9.12.
Concerning
the Vector Facility Arrangements
. Each Lender, Issuing Bank
and Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that Goldman Sachs or one
or more of its Affiliates will be the Vector Senior Loan Facility
Lender party to the Vector Facility Arrangements, and that any
Vector Collateral provided as collateral to secure obligations of
the Vector Lenders thereunder (including any such assets in the
form of Tranche B Term Loans held by any Vector Lenders) is held by
Goldman Sachs or any such Affiliate solely in its individual
capacity, for its own benefit, and not in its capacity as an Agent
for the benefit of any Secured Party. Each Lender, Issuing Bank and
Credit Party further acknowledges and agrees that in exercising
rights and remedies with respect to any Vector Collateral or
otherwise in respect of the Vector Facility Arrangements, Goldman
Sachs or any of its Affiliates may enforce the provisions of the
Vector Facility Arrangements and exercise its rights thereunder,
including enforcing the subordination provisions under the Vector
Subordinated Note, directing the voting by any Vector Lender of its
Tranche B Term Loans hereunder and making determinations of the
current market value of the Tranche B Term Loans, and exercise
remedies thereunder and under applicable law, all in such order and
in such manner as it may determine in its sole discretion and as if
it were not an Agent (or an Affiliate of an Agent) hereunder (and
notwithstanding the fact that such exercise of rights and
enforcement of remedies could have an adverse effect on the value
of the loan made by the Borrower under the Vector Subordinated Note
or its ability to obtain the repayment thereof), and will be under
no obligation or duty as a result of its (or its Affiliate’s)
role as an Agent or Lender hereunder to take any action or refrain
from taking any action (including refraining from enforcing or
exercising any right or remedy that might be available to it) in
respect of the Vector Facility Arrangements (and that as a result
of exercising rights and remedies with respect to any Vector
Collateral, Goldman Sachs or any of its Affiliates may foreclose
upon (and become and be a Lender hereunder holding a significant
portion of the Tranche B Term Loans), and/or may assign or cause
the assignment to any Eligible Assignee of, all or any part of the
Tranche B Term Loans held by the Vector Lenders that constitute
Vector Collateral), and each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees not to
assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim
the benefit of any marshalling or other similar right that may be
available under applicable law with respect to the Vector
Collateral. Each Lender, Issuing Bank and Credit Party waives any
conflict of interest, now contemplated or arising hereafter, in
connection with the Vector Facility Arrangements and agrees not to
assert against Goldman Sachs or any of its Affiliates any claims,
causes of action, damages or liabilities of whatever kind or nature
relating to any such conflict of interest.
SECTION
10.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1.
Notices
.
Notices Generally
.
Any notice or other communication hereunder given to any Credit
Party, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender
or any Issuing Bank shall be given to such Person at its address,
fax number or e-mail address as set forth on
Schedule 10.1
or, in the case of any Lender or Issuing Bank, at such address, fax
number or e-mail address as shall have been provided by such Lender
or Issuing Bank to the Administrative Agent in writing;
provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice or other communication
hereunder may be provided to any Credit Party by means of a fax.
Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly
permitted to be given by telephone and as otherwise provided in
Section 10.1(b), each notice or other communication hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person or sent by
e-mail, courier service or certified or registered United States
mail or, except for notices or other communications to any Credit
Party, facsimile and shall be deemed to have been given when
delivered in person or by courier service and signed for against
receipt thereof, when sent by facsimile as shown on the
transmission report therefor (or, if not sent during normal
business hours for the recipient, at the opening of business on the
next Business Day for the recipient), as provided in Section
10.1(b) if sent by e-mail or upon receipt if sent by United States
mail;
provided
that
no notice or other communication given to the Administrative Agent
or the Collateral Agent shall be effective until received by it;
and
provided
further
that any
such notice or other communication shall, at the request of the
Administrative Agent, be provided to any sub-agent appointed
pursuant to Section 9.3(c) from time to time. Any party hereto
may change its address (including its e-mail address, fax or
telephone number) for notices and other communications hereunder by
notice to each of the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower.
(a)
Electronic
Communications
.
(i)
Notices and other
communications to any Lender and any Issuing Bank hereunder 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 Lender or any Issuing
Bank pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender or such Issuing Bank
has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of
receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and 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
or rescinded by such Person by notice to each other such Person;
provided
,
further
, that
notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent may be delivered to it at the e-mail address
specified in Section 10.1(a). Unless the Administrative Agent
otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address, if not sent during the normal business
hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been sent at the
opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient; and
(B) 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 (A) of notification that such notice or
communication is available and identifying the website address
therefor.
(ii)
Each
party hereto 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, as determined by a
final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(iii)
THE
PLATFORM AND ANY APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED
“AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. NONE OF THE
AGENTS OR ANY OF THEIR RELATED PARTIES WARRANTS AS TO THE ACCURACY,
ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
OR THE PLATFORM, AND EACH OF THE AGENTS AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE
PLATFORM AND THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. 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 OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE PLATFORM OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS.
(iv)
Each
Credit Party, each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that the
Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, store any
Approved Electronic Communications on the Platform in accordance
with the Administrative Agent’s customary document retention
procedures and policies.
(b)
Private Side Information
Contacts
. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one
individual at or acting on behalf of such Public Lender to at all
times have selected the “Private Side Information” or
similar designation on the content declaration screen of the
Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in
accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures
and applicable law, including United States federal and state
securities laws, to make reference to information that is not made
available through the “Public Side Information” portion
of the Platform and that may contain Private-Side Information. In
the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself not to
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) none of any Credit
Party or any Agent has any responsibility for such Public
Lender’s decision to limit the scope of the information it
has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit
Documents.
10.2.
Expenses
.
The Borrower agrees to pay promptly (a) all reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the
reasonable fees, expenses and other charges of counsel) incurred by
any Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates in
connection with the structuring, arrangement and syndication of the
credit facilities provided for herein and any credit or similar
facility refinancing, extending or replacing, in whole or in part,
the credit facilities provided herein, including the preparation,
execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the other
Credit Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the
provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions
contemplated thereby shall be consummated) or any other document or
matter requested by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, (b) all
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of
creating, perfecting, recording, maintaining and preserving Liens
in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes,
stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, title insurance premiums
and reasonable fees, expenses and other charges of counsel to the
Collateral Agent and of counsel providing any opinions that the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request
in respect of the Collateral or the Liens created pursuant to the
Collateral Documents, (c) all reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket costs, fees, expenses and other charges of any
auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers of any Agent or
Arranger, (d) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and
expenses (including the reasonable fees, expenses and other charges
of any appraisers, consultants, advisors and agents employed or
retained by the Collateral Agent and its counsel) in connection
with the custody or preservation of any of the Collateral or any
insurance process, and (e) after the occurrence and during the
continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, all out-of-pocket
costs and expenses, including reasonable fees, expenses and other
charges of counsel and costs of settlement, incurred by any Agent,
Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank in enforcing any Obligations of or
in collecting any payments due from any Credit Party hereunder or
under the other Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event
of Default (including in connection with the sale, lease or license
of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the
Collateral or the enforcement of any Obligations Guarantee) or in
connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit
arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a
“work-out” or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy
cases or proceedings;
provided
that, in the case of
clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, costs and expenses with
respect to counsel shall be limited to one firm of primary counsel,
one firm of regulatory counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one
firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for all
Persons entitled to reimbursement under this Section 10.2 (and, if
any such Person shall have advised the Borrower that there is an
actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional firm of
primary counsel, one additional firm of regulatory counsel and, if
reasonably necessary, one additional firm of local counsel in each
applicable jurisdiction for each group of affected Persons that are
similarly situated) (in each case, excluding allocated costs of
in-house counsel). All amounts due under this Section 10.2 shall be
payable promptly after written demand therefor.
10.3.
Indemnity
.
In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section 10.2,
each Credit Party agrees to defend (subject to the applicable
Indemnitee’s selection of counsel), indemnify, pay and hold
harmless each Agent (and each sub-agent thereof), Arranger, Lender
and Issuing Bank and each of their respective Related Parties
(each, an “
Indemnitee
”), from and against any
and all Indemnified Liabilities.
THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY
WHETHER OR NOT SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO
ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF
STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OR OUT OF
ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY INDEMNITEE
;
provided
that no
Credit Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnitee hereunder
with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such
Indemnified Liabilities have been found by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from
(i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee
or its Related Parties, (ii) a material breach in bad faith by such
Indemnitee or its Related Parties of its express obligations under
this Agreement or (iii) any action, investigation, claim,
litigation or proceeding not involving an act or omission by any
Credit Party or the equityholders or Affiliates of any Credit Party
(or the Related Parties of any Credit Party) that is brought by an
Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against any Agent
or any Arranger (or any holder of any other title or role) in its
capacity as such). This Section 10.3(a) shall not apply with
respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent Indemnified
Liabilities arising from any non-Tax claim.
(a)
To the extent
permitted by applicable law, no Credit Party shall assert, and each
Credit Party hereby waives, any claim against any Agent, any
Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of
any of the foregoing on any theory of liability, for indirect,
consequential, special or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or
actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on
contract, tort or any duty imposed by any applicable legal
requirement) arising out of, in connection with, as a result of, or
in any way related to this Agreement or any other Credit Document
or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or
referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby, the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or
omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and each
Credit Party hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any
such claim for indirect, consequential, special or punitive
damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or
suspected to exist in its favor.
(b)
Each Credit Party
agrees that no Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank or any
Related Party of any of the foregoing will have any liability to
any Credit Party or any Person asserting claims on behalf of or in
right of any Credit Party or any other Person in connection with or
as a result of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred
to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or
omission or event occurring in connection therewith except (but
subject to Section 10.3(b)), in the case of any Credit Party, to
the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses have been found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (i) the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent, Arranger, Lender or
Issuing Bank or its Related Parties in performing its obligations
under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or (ii) a
material breach in bad faith by such Agent, Arranger, Lender or
Issuing Bank or its Related Parties of its express obligations
under this Agreement.
10.4.
Set-Off
.
In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable
law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default each
Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized by each Credit
Party at any time or from time to time, without notice to any
Credit Party, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to
set-off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits
(general or special, including Indebtedness evidenced by
certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not
including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time
held or owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the
credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on account of
the obligations and liabilities of any Credit Party to such Lender
or such Issuing Bank hereunder and under the other Credit
Documents, including all claims of any nature or description
arising out of or connected hereto or thereto, irrespective of
whether or not (a) such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made
any demand hereunder or (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 and
although such obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be
contingent or unmatured;
provided
that in the event that
any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of set-off, all
amounts so set-off shall be paid over immediately to the
Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the
provisions of Section 2.21 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. Each Lender and Issuing Bank
agrees to notify 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.
10.5.
Amendments
and Waivers
.
Requisite Lenders’
Consent
. Except as provided in Section 2.23, 2.24 or
2.25 or in the definition of “Letter of Credit
Sublimit”, none of this Agreement, any other Credit Document
or any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or
modified, and no consent to any departure by any Credit Party
therefrom may be made, except, subject to the additional
requirements of Sections 10.5(b) and 10.5(c) and as otherwise
provided in Sections 10.5(d) and 10.5(e), in the case of this
Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Borrower and the Requisite Lenders and, in the
case of any other Credit Document, pursuant to an agreement or
agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent or
the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the Credit Party or Credit
Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the consent of
the Requisite Lenders.
(a)
Affected Lenders’
Consent
. In addition to any consent required pursuant to
Section 10.5(a), without the written consent of each Lender
that would be directly affected thereby, no waiver, amendment or
other modification of this Agreement or any other Credit Document,
or any consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom,
shall be effective if the effect thereof would be to:
(i)
increase any
Commitment or postpone the scheduled expiration date of any
Commitment (it being understood that no waiver, amendment or other
modification of any condition precedent, covenant, Default or Event
of Default shall constitute an increase in any Commitment of any
Lender);
(ii)
extend
the scheduled final maturity date of any Loan;
(iii)
except
as expressly permitted by Section 10.8, extend the scheduled
expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date or waive, amend or otherwise modify the
provisions of Section 10.8 that expressly provide for the
release of the Revolving Lenders from their participations in, and
other obligations with respect to, Letters of Credit;
(iv)
waive,
reduce or postpone any scheduled amortization payment (but not any
voluntary or mandatory prepayment) of any Loan or any reimbursement
obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit;
(v)
reduce the rate of
interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the
interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.9 or
Section 2.23(b)(iii)) or any fee or any premium payable hereunder
(other than under Section 2.23(b)(iii)), or waive or postpone the
time for payment of any such interest, fee or premium;
(vi)
reduce
the principal amount of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in
respect of any Letter of Credit;
(vii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify any provision of this Section 10.5(b),
Section 10.5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document that expressly provides that the consent of
all Lenders is required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any
rights thereunder or to make any determination or grant any consent
thereunder (including such provision set forth in Section
10.6(a));
(viii)
amend
the percentage specified in the definition of the term
“Requisite Lenders” or amend the term “Pro Rata
Share” or waive, amend or otherwise modify Section 2.16
hereof or Section 5.02 of the Pledge and Security Agreement (and
any comparable provision of any other Collateral Document) in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required
thereby;
provided
that additional extensions of credit made pursuant to Section 2.23,
2.24 or 2.25 shall be included, and with the consent of the
Requisite Lenders other additional extensions of credit pursuant
hereto may be included, in the determination of “Requisite
Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share” on substantially the
same basis as the Term Loan Commitments, the Term Loans, the
Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Exposures are included on
the Closing Date; or
(ix)
release
all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the
Collateral Documents, or all or substantially all the Guarantor
Subsidiaries from the Guarantees created under the Credit Documents
(or limit liability of all or substantially all the Guarantor
Subsidiaries in respect of any such Guarantee), in each case except
as expressly provided in the Credit Documents and except in
connection with a “credit bid” undertaken by the
Collateral Agent at the direction of the Requisite Lenders pursuant
to section 363(k), section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other
section of the Bankruptcy Code or any other sale or other
disposition of assets in connection with other Debtor Relief Laws
or an enforcement action with respect to the Collateral permitted
pursuant to the Credit Documents (in which case only the consent of
the Requisite Lenders will be required for such release) (it being
understood that (A) an amendment or other modification of the
type of obligations secured by the Collateral Documents or
Guaranteed hereunder or thereunder shall not be deemed to be a
release of the Collateral from the Liens of the Collateral
Documents or a release or limitation of any such Guarantee and
(B) an amendment or other modification of Section 6.8 shall
only require the consent of the Requisite Lenders);
provided
that, for the
avoidance of doubt, all Lenders shall be deemed directly affected
by any waiver, amendment or other modification, or any consent,
described in the preceding clauses (vii), (viii) and
(ix).
(b)
Other Consents
. No waiver,
amendment or other modification of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document, or any consent to any departure by any Credit
Party therefrom, shall:
(i)
(A) waive, amend or
otherwise modify Section 2.14 or any other provision of any Credit
Document in a manner that by its terms would disproportionately and
adversely affect the rights or duties of Lenders of any Class
differently than Lenders of any other Class, without the consent of
Lenders representing a Majority in Interest of each affected Class,
provided
that the
Requisite Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment of
Loans hereunder so long as the application, as between Classes, of
any portion of such prepayment that is still required to be made is
not altered, or (B) waive, amend or otherwise modify this Section
10.5(c)(i) or any other provision of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document that expressly provides that the consent of all
Lenders of any Class or a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any
Class is required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any rights
thereunder or to make any determination or grant any consent
thereunder, in each case without the consent of each Lender of such
Class or a Majority in Interest of the Lenders of such Class, as
the case may be;
provided
that nothing in this
Section 10.5(c)(i) shall be deemed to restrict the amendments
contemplated by Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25;
(ii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify the rights, duties, privileges,
protections, indemnities, immunities or obligations of, or any fees
or other amounts payable to, any Agent or any Issuing Bank
(including any waiver, amendment or other modification of the
obligation of Lenders to purchase participations in Letters of
Credit as provided in Section 2.3(e)) without the prior
written consent of such Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may
be;
(iii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify this Agreement or the Pledge and Security
Agreement so as to alter the ratable treatment of Obligations
arising under the Credit Documents, on the one hand, and the
Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations, on the other, or amend or otherwise modify the
definition of the term “Obligations”, “Specified
Hedge Obligations”, Specified Hedge Obligations,
“Specified Cash Management Services Obligations” or
“Secured Parties” (or any comparable term used in any
Collateral Document), in each case in a manner adverse to any
Secured Party holding Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations then outstanding without the
written consent of such Secured Party (it being understood that an
amendment or other modification of the type of obligations secured
by the Collateral Documents or Guaranteed hereunder or thereunder,
so long as such amendment or other modification by its express
terms does not alter the Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified
Cash Management Services Obligations being so secured or
Guaranteed, shall not be deemed to be adverse to any Secured Party
holding Specified Hedge Obligations or Specified Cash Management
Services Obligations, as applicable);
(iv)
amend
the percentage specified in the definition of the term
“Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders” without
the prior written consent of each Lender having or holding
Revolving Exposure, unused Revolving Commitments and/or Tranche A
Term Loan Exposure;
provided
that additional
extensions of credit made pursuant to Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25
may be included, and with the consent of the Requisite Tranche
A/Revolving Lenders other additional extensions of credit pursuant
hereto may be included, as applicable, in the determination of
“Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders” on
substantially the same basis the Revolving Exposures, the Revolving
Commitments and the Tranche A Term Loan Exposures are included on
the Closing Date;
(v)
waive, amend or
otherwise modify the provisions of Section 6.7(c) (or the
definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” or any
component definition thereof solely as any such definition is used
for purposes of Section 6.7(c)), in each case without the prior
written consent of the Requisite Tranche A/Revolving
Lenders;
(vi)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify the provisions of Section 5.16,
9.8(b)(ii) or 9.8(d)(ii)(D), clause (iv) of the last sentence of
Section 2.16 or the last paragraph of Section 5.02 of the Pledge
and Security Agreement, the definition of the term “Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account”, “Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account Control Agreement”
or “Vector Subordinated Note Collateral” or any other
provision in any Credit Document expressly relating to the Vector
Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account, the Vector Subordinated
Note Cash Collateral Account Control Agreement or the Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral or, except as expressly contemplated
by Section 9.8(d)(ii)(D), release any Vector Subordinated Note
Collateral from the Liens of the Collateral Documents, in each case
without the prior written consent of the Majority in Interest of
the Revolving Lenders; or
(vii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify the provisions of Section 9.12 without
the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs (and Goldman Sachs shall
be a third party beneficiary of such provisions and this Section
10.5(c)(vii) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a
third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action
to enforce such provisions and this Section 10.5(c)(vii) directly,
without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or
all of the Credit Parties and the Lenders).
(c)
Class Amendments
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.5(a),
any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, or any consent to any departure by any
Credit Party therefrom, that by its terms affects the rights or
duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of a particular Class or
Classes (but not Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an
agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and
the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected
Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under
this Section 10.5 if such Class of Lenders were the only Class
of Lenders hereunder at the time.
(d)
Certain Permitted Amendments
.
Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Credit Document to
the contrary:
(i)
any provision of
this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to cure any obvious error or any ambiguity,
omission, defect or inconsistency of a technical nature, so long as
the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’
prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not
have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice
to the Lenders, a written notice from the Requisite Lenders stating
that the Requisite Lenders object to such amendment;
(ii)
in
connection with any transaction permitted by Section 2.23, 2.24 or
2.25, this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended
or modified as contemplated by Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25,
including to add any covenant applicable to the Borrower and/or the
Restricted Subsidiaries or any other provisions for the benefit of
the Lenders;
(iii)
in
connection with the incurrence of any Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness,
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to add any covenant applicable to the Borrower
and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Previously Absent
Financial Maintenance Covenant) or any other provisions for the
benefit of the Lenders;
(iv)
the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may, without the
consent of any other Secured Party, (A) consent to a departure by
any Credit Party from any covenant of such Credit Party set forth
in this Agreement or any other Credit Document to the extent such
departure is consistent with the authority of the Collateral Agent
set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and
Guarantee Requirement” or (B) waive, amend or modify any
provision in any Credit Document (other than this Agreement), or
consent to a departure by any Credit Party therefrom, to the extent
the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent determines that
such waiver, amendment, modification or consent is necessary in
order to eliminate any conflict between such provision and the
terms of this Agreement;
(v)
any provision of
this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent (and, if their rights or obligations are
affected thereby or if their consent would be required under the
preceding provisions of this paragraph, the Issuing Banks) and the
Lenders that will remain parties hereto after giving effect to such
amendment if (A) by the terms of such agreement the Commitments of
each Lender not consenting to the amendment provided for therein
shall be reduced to zero upon the effectiveness of such amendment
and (B) at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender
not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of
and interest accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts
owing to it or accrued for its account under this
Agreement;
(vi)
this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended in the
manner provided in Section 10.24; and
(vii)
the
provisions of Section 6.7(c) (and the definition of “Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio” and any component definition thereof
solely as any such definition is used for purposes of Section
6.7(c)), in each case may be waived, amended or otherwise modified
by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Requisite Tranche A/Revolving Lenders (but without the
necessity of obtaining the consent of the Requisite Lenders or any
other Lender).
Each
Lender and Issuing Bank hereby expressly authorizes the
Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to enter into any
waiver, amendment or other modification of this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents contemplated by this Section
10.5(e).
(e)
Requisite Execution of Amendments,
Etc
. With the concurrence of any Lender, the Administrative
Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, execute waivers,
amendments, modifications or consents on behalf of such Lender. Any
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which it is given. No notice to or
demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit
Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances. Any amendment, modification, waiver or consent
effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding
upon each Person that is at the time thereof a Lender and each
Person that subsequently becomes a Lender.
10.6.
Successors
and Assigns; Participations
.
Generally
. This Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby. No Credit
Party’s rights or obligations under the Credit Documents, and
no interest therein, may be assigned or delegated by any Credit
Party (except, in the case of any Guarantor Subsidiary, any
assignment or delegation by operation of law as a result of any
merger or consolidation of such Guarantor Subsidiary permitted by
Section 6.8) without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, and any attempted assignment
or delegation without such consent 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, the
participants referred to in Section 10.6(g) (to the extent provided
in clause (iii) of such Section) and, to the extent expressly
contemplated hereby, Affiliates of any Agent or any Lender, the
other Indemnitees and other express third party beneficiaries
hereof) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by
reason of this Agreement.
(a)
Register
. The Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the
Issuing Banks shall deem and treat the Persons recorded as Lenders
in the Register as Lenders hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement and the holders and owners of the corresponding
Commitments and Loans recorded therein for all purposes hereof. No
assignment or transfer of any Commitment or Loan shall be effective
unless and until recorded in the Register, and following such
recording, unless otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent
(such determination to be made in the sole discretion of the
Administrative Agent, which determination may be conditioned on the
consent of the assigning Lender and the assignee), shall be
effective notwithstanding any defect in the Assignment Agreement
relating thereto. Each assignment and transfer shall be recorded in
the Register following receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
fully executed Assignment Agreement, together with the required
forms and certificates regarding tax matters and any fees payable
in connection therewith, in each case as provided in Section
10.6(d);
provided
that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to accept such
Assignment Agreement or so record the information contained therein
if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that such
Assignment Agreement lacks any written consent required by this
Section 10.6 or is otherwise not in proper form, it being
acknowledged that the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or
obligation (and shall incur no liability) with respect to obtaining
(or confirming the receipt) of any such written consent or with
respect to the form of (or any defect in) such Assignment
Agreement, any such duty and obligation being solely with the
assigning Lender and the assignee. Each assigning Lender and the
assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment Agreement,
shall be deemed to have represented to the Administrative Agent
that all written consents required by this Section 10.6 with
respect thereto (other than the consent of the Administrative
Agent, the Borrower and the Issuing Banks, if applicable) have been
obtained and that such Assignment Agreement is otherwise duly
completed and in proper form. The date of such recordation of an
assignment and transfer is referred to herein as the
“
Assignment Effective
Date
” with respect thereto. Any request, authority or
consent of any Person that, at the time of making such request or
giving such authority or consent, is recorded in the Register as a
Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder,
assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or
Loans.
(b)
Right to Assign
. Each Lender
shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or
a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement,
including all or a portion of its Commitment or Loans or other
Obligations owing to it to:
(i)
any Eligible
Assignee of the type referred to in clause (a) of the definition of
the term “Eligible Assignee” upon (A) the giving of
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent;
provided
that in the case of
any assignment of a Revolving Commitment or any Revolving Exposure,
such Eligible Assignee is a Revolving Lender or an Affiliate of a
Revolving Lender and (B) in the case of assignments of Revolving
Commitments or a Revolving Lender’s obligations in respect of
its participation in Letters of Credit, the receipt of prior
written consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) of each Issuing Bank; or
(ii)
any
Eligible Assignee of the type referred to in clause (b) of the
definition of the term “Eligible Assignee” (or, in the
case of any assignment of a Revolving Commitment or a Revolving
Exposure, any Eligible Assignee that does not meet the requirements
of clause (i) above), upon (A) the giving of notice to the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of assignments
of Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans, each Issuing Bank and
(B) except in the case of assignments made by or to any
Arranger or any Affiliate thereof during the primary syndication of
any credit facilities established hereunder, receipt of prior
written consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) of (1) the Borrower,
provided
that the consent of
the Borrower to any assignment (x) shall not be required if an
Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing pursuant to
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) and (y) shall be deemed to
have been granted unless the Borrower shall have objected thereto
by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business
Days after having received notice thereof, (2) the Administrative
Agent and (3) in the case of assignments of Revolving Commitments
or a Revolving Lender’s obligations in respect of its
participation in Letters of Credit, each Issuing Bank;
provided
that:
(A)
in the case of any
such assignment or transfer (other than to any Eligible Assignee
meeting the requirements of clause (i) above), the amount of the
Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject thereto shall
not be less than (A) $2,500,000 in the case of assignments of any
Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loan or (B) $1,000,000 in the
case of assignments of any Term Loan Commitment or Term Loan of any
Class (with concurrent assignments to Eligible Assignees that are
Affiliates or Related Funds thereof to be aggregated for purposes
of the foregoing minimum assignment amount requirements) or, in
each case, such lesser amount as shall be agreed to by the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent or as shall constitute the aggregate
amount of the Commitments or Loans of the applicable Class of the
assigning Lender,
provided
that the consent of
the Borrower to any lesser amount (x) shall not be required if an
Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing pursuant to
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) and (y) shall be deemed to have
been granted if notice shall be given to the Borrower requesting
its consent to a lesser amount and the Borrower shall not have
objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent
within 10 Business Days after having received such
request;
(B)
each partial
assignment or transfer shall be of a uniform, and not varying,
percentage of all rights and obligations of the assigning Lender
hereunder;
provided
that a Lender may assign or transfer all or a portion of its
Commitment or of the Loans owing to it of any Class without
assigning or transferring any portion of its Commitment or of the
Loans owing to it, as the case may be, of any other Class;
and
(C)
in connection with
any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender
hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until,
in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the
parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to
the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon
distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment,
purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations,
or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent
of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such Defaulting
Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of Revolving Loans
previously requested but not funded by such Defaulting Lender, to
each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby
irrevocably consent), to (1) pay and satisfy in full all payment
liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the
Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Revolving Lender
hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (2) acquire (and fund
as appropriate) its applicable Pro Rata Share of all Revolving
Loans and participations in Letters of Credit;
provided
that, 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 clause (C), then the assignee of such interest
shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this
Agreement until such compliance occurs.
(c)
Mechanics
. Assignments and
transfers of Loans and Commitments by Lenders shall be effected by
the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of an
Assignment Agreement. In connection with all assignments, there
shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent such forms,
certificates or other evidence, if any, with respect to United
States federal income tax withholding matters as the assignee
thereunder may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.19(g),
together with payment to the Administrative Agent by the assignor
or the assignee of a registration and processing fee of $3,500
(except that no such registration and processing fee shall be
payable (i) in connection with an assignment by or to any Arranger
or any Affiliate thereof during the primary syndication of any
credit facilities established hereunder, (ii) in the case of an
assignee that is an Affiliate or Related Fund of a Lender or a
Person under common management with a Lender, (iii) in
connection with an assignment by or to Goldman Sachs or any
Affiliate thereof or (iv) otherwise waived by the
Administrative Agent in its sole discretion).
(d)
Representations and Warranties of
Assignee
. Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof
(or of any Incremental Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility
Agreement) or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and
Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the
Closing Date (or, in the case of any Incremental Facility Agreement
or Refinancing Facility Agreement, as of the date of the
effectiveness thereof) or as of the applicable Assignment Effective
Date, as applicable, that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee, (ii) it
has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in
commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans,
as the case may be, (iii) it will make or invest in, as the
case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own account in the
ordinary course and without a view to distribution of such
Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act or other United States federal securities laws (it
being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section
10.6, the disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests
therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control) and
(iv) it will not provide any information obtained by it in its
capacity as a Lender to the Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any
Affiliate of the Borrower. In the case of any assignment by or to
any Vector Lender, the assignee or the assignor (in each case, if
not a Vector Lender), as the case may be, acknowledges and agrees
that in connection with such assignment, (A) such Vector Lender and
its Affiliates may have MNPI (as defined below), (B) such assignee
or assignor, as applicable, has independently, without reliance on
such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any
of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and
determination to participate in such assignment notwithstanding
such assignee’s or assignor’s lack of knowledge of any
such MNPI, (C) none of such Vector Lender, the Administrative
Agent, the Arrangers or any of their respective Affiliates shall
have any liability to such assignee or assignor, as the case may
be, and such assignee or assignor, as applicable, hereby waives and
releases, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any claims it
may have against such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the
Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, under applicable law or
otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of any such MNPI and
(D) such MNPI may not be available to the Administrative
Agent, the Arrangers or the other Lenders. “
MNPI
” means material non-public
information (for purposes of United States federal, state or other
applicable securities laws) with respect to the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries and their respective Securities, it being understood
that MNPI may include information that is not available to Lenders,
including Private Lenders. It is understood and agreed that the
Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely, and
shall incur no liability for relying, upon the representations and
warranties and the acknowledgments and agreements of an assignee or
assignor, as applicable, set forth in this Section 10.6(e) and in
the applicable Assignment Agreement.
(e)
Effect of Assignment
. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Section 10.6, as of the
Assignment Effective Date with respect to any assignment and
transfer of any Commitment or Loan, (i) the assignee thereunder
shall have the rights and obligations of a “Lender”
hereunder to the extent of its interest in such Commitment or Loan
as reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto
and a “Lender” for all purposes hereof, (ii) the
assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned and transferred to the
assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights that survive
the termination hereof under Section 10.8) and be released from its
obligations hereunder (and, in the case of an assignment covering
all the remaining rights and obligations of an assigning Lender
hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto as a
“Lender” (but not, if applicable, as an Issuing Bank or
in any other capacity hereunder) on such Assignment Effective Date,
provided
that such
assigning Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of
all rights that survive the termination hereof under Section 10.8),
and
provided
further
that except
to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties,
no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or
release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such
Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender, and (iii) the
assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness thereof or as
promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes
(if any) to the Administrative Agent for cancellation, and
thereupon the Borrower shall issue and deliver new Notes, if so
requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee
and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to
reflect the new Commitments and/or outstanding Loans of the
assignee and/or the assigning Lender.
(f)
Participations
.
(i)
Each Lender shall
have the right at any time to sell one or more participations to
any Eligible Assignee in all or any part of its Commitments or
Loans or in any other Obligation;
provided
that (A) such
Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain
unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to
the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations
and (C) the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection
with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement. Each Lender that sells a participation pursuant to this
Section 10.6(g) shall, acting solely for United States federal
income tax purposes as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower,
maintain a register on which it records the name and address of
each participant to which it has sold a participation and the
principal amounts (and stated interest) of each such
participant’s interest in the Commitments or Loans or other
rights and obligations of such Lender under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document (the “
Participant Register
”);
provided
that no
Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of
the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of
any participant or any information relating to a
participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or other
rights and obligations under any Credit Document), except to the
extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such
Commitment, Loan or other right or obligation is in registered form
under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury
Regulations. Unless otherwise required by the IRS, any disclosure
required by the foregoing sentence shall be made by the relevant
Lender directly and solely to the IRS. 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 under 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.
(ii)
The
holder of any such participation, other than an Affiliate of the
Lender granting such participation, shall not be entitled to
require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder,
except that any participation agreement may provide that the
participant’s consent must be obtained with respect to the
consent of such Lender to any waiver, amendment, modification or
consent that is described in Section 10.5(b) that affects such
participant or requires the approval of all the
Lenders.
(iii)
The
Credit Parties agree that each participant shall be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.17(c), 2.18 and 2.19 (subject to the
requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements
under Section 2.19(g) (it being understood that the documentation
required under Section 2.19(g) shall be delivered to the
participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender
and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section
10.6(c);
provided
that such participant (x) agrees to be subject to the provisions of
Sections 2.20 and 2.22 as if it were an assignee under Section
10.6(c) and (y) such participant shall not be entitled to receive
any greater payment under Section 2.18 or 2.19 with respect to any
participation than the applicable Lender would have been entitled
to receive with respect to such participation sold to such
participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a
greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the
participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent
permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the
benefits of Section 10.4 as though it were a Lender,
provided
that such participant
agrees to be subject to Section 2.16 as though it were a
Lender.
(g)
Certain Other Assignments and
Participations
. In addition to any other assignment or
participation permitted pursuant to this Section 10.6, any Lender
may assign, pledge and/or grant a security interest in all or any
portion of its Loans or the other Obligations owed to such Lender,
and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender,
including (i) to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security
pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any
operating circular issued by any Federal Reserve Bank or to any
other central bank and (ii) in the case of any Vector Lender,
pursuant to the Vector Facility Arrangements;
provided
that no Lender, as
between the Borrower and such Lender, shall be relieved of any of
its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment and
pledge; and
provided
further
that in no event shall
the applicable Federal Reserve Bank, other central bank, pledgee or
trustee be considered to be a “Lender”
hereunder.
(h)
Term Loan Repurchases
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
10.6 or any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower may
repurchase outstanding Term Loans, and each Term Lender shall have
the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or a portion
of its Term Loans to the Borrower, on the following
basis:
(i)
Term Loan Repurchase Auctions
.
The Borrower may conduct one or more modified Dutch auctions (each,
an “
Auction
”) to
repurchase all or any portion of the Term Loans of any Class,
provided
that (A)
the Borrower delivers a written notice of such Auction to the
Auction Manager and the Administrative Agent (for distribution to
the Term Lenders of such Class) no later than 12:00
p.m.
(New York City
time) at least five Business Days in advance of a proposed
commencement date of such Auction (or such shorter period as may be
acceptable to the Administrative Agent), which notice shall specify
(x) the dates on which such Auction will commence and
conclude, (y) the maximum principal amount of Term Loans and the
Class thereof that the Borrower desires to repurchase in such
Auction and (z) the range of discounts to par at which the Borrower
would be willing to repurchase such Term Loans, (B) the maximum
dollar amount of such Auction shall be no less than an aggregate
$10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof, (C) such Auction shall be open for at least two Business
Days after the date of the commencement thereof, (D) such Auction
shall be open for participation by all the Term Lenders of such
Class on a ratable basis, (E) a Term Lender of such Class that
elects to participate in such Auction will be permitted to tender
for repurchase all or a portion of such Lender’s Term Loans
of such Class, (F) each repurchase of Term Loans of any Class shall
be of a uniform, and not varying, percentage of all rights of the
assigning Term Lender hereunder with respect thereto (and shall be
allocated among the Term Loans of such Class of such Term Lender in
a manner that would result in such Term Lender’s remaining
Term Loans of such Class being included in each Term Borrowing in
accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share thereof), (G) at the
time of the commencement and conclusion of such Auction, no Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (H) the Borrower
shall not use the proceeds of Revolving Loans to make such
repurchase and (I) such Auction shall be conducted pursuant to such
procedures as the Auction Manager may establish, so long as such
procedures are consistent with this Section 10.6(i) and are
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
In connection with any Auction, the Auction Manager and the
Administrative Agent may request one or more certificates of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in clauses (G) and (H)
above.
(ii)
Open
Market Purchases
. The Borrower may repurchase all or any
portion of the Term Loans of any Class on a non pro rata basis
through open market purchases (each an “
Open Market Purchase
”),
provided
that (A)
the Borrower delivers a written notice of such Open Market Purchase
to the Administrative Agent promptly upon consummation thereof, (B)
each repurchase of Term Loans of any Class shall be of a uniform,
and not varying, percentage of all rights of the assigning Term
Lender hereunder with respect thereto (and shall be allocated among
the Term Loans of such Class of such Term Lender in a manner that
would result in such Term Lender’s remaining Term Loans of
such Class being included in each Term Borrowing in accordance with
its applicable Pro Rata Share thereof), (C) at the time of and
immediately following such Open Market Purchase, no Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (D) the Borrower
shall not use the proceeds of Revolving Loans to make such
repurchase. In connection with any Open Market Purchase, the
Administrative Agent may request one or more certificates of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in clauses (C) and (D)
above.
(iii)
Concerning
the Repurchased Term Loans
. Repurchases by the Borrower of
Term Loans pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) shall not constitute
voluntary prepayments for purposes of Section 2.11 or 2.13. The
aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans of any Class
repurchased by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) shall
be applied to reduce the subsequent Installments to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Term Loans of such
Class in an inverse order of maturity. Upon the repurchase by the
Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) of any Term Loans,
such Term Loans shall, without further action by any Person,
automatically be deemed cancelled and no longer outstanding (and
may not be resold by the Borrower) for all purposes of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including with respect to
(A) the making of, or the application of, any payments to the
Lenders under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (B) the
making of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver under this Agreement or any other Credit Document
or (C) the determination of Requisite Lenders, or for any
similar or related purpose, under this Agreement or any other
Credit Document. The Administrative Agent is authorized to make
appropriate entries in the Register to reflect any cancelation of
the Term Loans repurchased and cancelled pursuant to this
Section 10.6(i). Any payment made by the Borrower in
connection with a repurchase permitted by this Section 10.6(i)
shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.15, 2.16 or
2.17(c). Failure by the Borrower to make any payment to a Lender
required to be made in consideration of a repurchase of Term Loans
permitted by this Section 10.6(i) shall not constitute a Default or
an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a). Each Term Lender shall,
to the extent that its Term Loans shall have been repurchased and
assigned to the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i),
relinquish its rights in respect thereof.
10.7.
Independence
of Covenants
. All covenants hereunder shall be given
independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is
not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be
permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the
limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of
a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or
condition exists.
10.8.
Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
. All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the
Credit Parties in the Credit Documents and in the certificates or
other documents delivered in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be considered to have
been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the
execution and delivery of the Credit Documents and the making of
any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any
investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and
notwithstanding that any Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank
may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default
or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any Credit
Document is executed and delivered or any credit is extended
hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as
the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or
any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and
unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the
Commitments have not expired or terminated. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or anything else to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement or any other Credit Document, in the event that, in
connection with the refinancing or repayment in full of the credit
facilities provided for herein, any Issuing Bank at its option and
in its sole discretion shall have provided to the Administrative
Agent a written consent to the release of the Revolving Lenders
from their obligations hereunder with respect to any Letter of
Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (whether as a result of the
obligations of the Borrower (and any other account party) in
respect of such Letter of Credit having been collateralized in full
by a deposit of cash with such Issuing Bank, or being supported by
a letter of credit that names such Issuing Bank as the beneficiary
thereunder, or otherwise), then from and after such time such
Letter of Credit shall cease to be a “Letter of Credit”
outstanding hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents (other than Sections 2.18, 2.19, 10.2 and
10.3 (and the defined terms used in such Sections)), and the
Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have no participations in such
Letter of Credit, and no obligations with respect thereto, under
Section 2.3(e). The provisions of Sections 2.17(c), 2.18,
2.19, 9, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 shall survive and remain in full force
and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans or the termination
of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
10.9.
No
Waiver; Remedies Cumulative
. No failure or delay on the part
of any Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank in the exercise of
any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit
Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be
construed to be a waiver thereof or of any Default or Event of
Default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such power, right or privilege, or any abandonment
or discontinuance of steps to enforce such power, right or
privilege, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other power, right or privilege. The powers,
rights, privileges and remedies of the Agents, the Arrangers, the
Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder and under the other Credit
Documents are cumulative and shall be in addition to and
independent of all powers, rights, privileges and remedies they
would otherwise have. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
making of any Loan hereunder shall not be construed as a waiver of
any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any Agent,
Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge
of such Default or Event of Default at the time.
10.10.
Marshalling;
Payments Set Aside
. None of the Agents, the Arrangers, the
Lenders or the Issuing Banks shall be under any obligation to
marshal any assets in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person
or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the
extent that any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to any
Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank (or to the Administrative
Agent or the Collateral Agent, on behalf of any Agent, Arranger,
Lender or Issuing Bank), or any Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing
Bank enforces any security interests or exercises any right of
set-off, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such
enforcement or set-off or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent, preferential or at
undervalue, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Laws, any other
state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, 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 set-off had not
occurred.
10.11.
Severability
.
In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other
Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or
obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
10.12.
Independent
Nature of Lenders’ Rights
. Nothing contained herein or
in any other Credit 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
hereunder and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose.
10.13.
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.
10.14.
APPLICABLE
LAW
.
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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
.
10.15.
CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION
.
SUBJECT TO
CLAUSE (E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY
PARTY HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY
IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY
HERETO, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES,
IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS (SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E)
BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES
THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED
IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION
OVER THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN
EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS, THE
LENDERS AND THE ISSUING BANKS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
ANY CREDIT PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN
CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY CREDIT
DOCUMENT OR ANY EXERCISE OF REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR
THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH
COURT.
10.16.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
.
EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF
ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR
UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN
THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE
LENDER/BORROWER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER
IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP,
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 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 10.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER
CREDIT 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.
10.17.
Confidentiality
.
Each Agent and each Lender (which term shall for the purposes of
this Section 10.17 include each Issuing Bank) shall hold all
Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained by such Agent
or such Lender in accordance with such Agent’s and such
Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential
information of such nature, it being understood and agreed by the
Borrower that, in any event, the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent may disclose Confidential Information to the
Lenders and the other Agents and that each Agent and each Lender
may disclose Confidential Information (a) to Affiliates of such
Agent or Lender and to its and their respective Related Parties,
independent auditors and other advisors, experts or agents who need
to know such Confidential Information (and to other Persons
authorized by a Lender or Agent to organize, present or disseminate
such information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in
accordance with this Section 10.17) (it being understood that the
Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Confidential Information and instructed
to keep such Confidential Information confidential or shall
otherwise be subject to an obligation of confidentiality),
(b) to any potential or prospective assignee, transferee or
participant in connection with the contemplated assignment,
transfer or participation of any Loans or other Obligations or any
participations therein or to any direct or indirect contractual
counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap
or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of its
Affiliates and their obligations (
provided
that such assignees,
transferees, participants, counterparties and advisors are advised
of and agree to be bound by either the provisions of this Section
10.17 or other provisions at least as restrictive as this
Section 10.17 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the applicable
Lender, as the case may be, and the Borrower, including pursuant to
the confidentiality terms set forth in the Confidential Information
Memorandum or other marketing materials relating to the credit
facilities governed by this Agreement; and
provided
further
that without the
Borrower’s prior written consent, no such disclosure may be
made to any Disqualified Institution), (c) on a confidential basis,
to any rating agency, (d) on a confidential basis, to the CUSIP
Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the
issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans,
(e) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence”
defense or in connection with the exercise of any remedies
hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (f) as required by
law or pursuant to legal or judicial process (in which case, unless
specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, such
Agent or such Lender shall make reasonable efforts to notify the
Borrower promptly thereof), (g) as required or requested by any
Governmental Authority or by any regulatory or quasi-regulatory
authority (including any self-regulatory organization) having
jurisdiction or claiming to have jurisdiction over such Agent or
such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, (h) received by
it on a non-confidential basis from a source (other than the
Borrower or its Affiliates or Related Parties) not known by it to
be prohibited from disclosing such information to such persons by a
legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation, (i) to the extent that
such information was already in possession of such Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, or any of its Affiliates or is
independently developed by it or any of its Affiliates and (j) with
the consent of the Borrower. For purposes of the foregoing,
“
Confidential
Information
” means, with respect to any Agent or any
Lender, any non-public information regarding the business, assets,
liabilities and operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
obtained by such Agent or Lender under the terms of this Agreement
and identified as confidential by the Borrower. In addition, each
Agent and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement
and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors,
similar services providers to the lending industry, and service
providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the
administration and management of this Agreement and the other
Credit Documents. It is agreed that, notwithstanding the
restrictions of any prior confidentiality agreement binding on any
Arranger or any Agent, such parties
may disclose
Confidential Information as provided in this
Section 10.17.
10.18.
Usury
Savings Clause
. Notwithstanding any other provision herein,
the aggregate interest rate charged with respect to any of the
Obligations, including all charges or fees in connection therewith
deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined
without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at
any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of
the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful
Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the
amount of interest that 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 that 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 that
would have been paid if the Highest Lawful 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. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for,
charges, or receives any consideration that constitutes interest in
excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be
cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such
Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the
Loans made hereunder or be refunded to the Borrower.
10.19.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but
one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic
format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
10.20.
Effectiveness;
Entire Agreement
. Subject to Section 3, this Agreement shall
become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and there shall have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent counterparts hereof that, when taken together,
bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT
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 (BUT DO NOT SUPERSEDE ANY PROVISIONS OF ANY
ENGAGEMENT LETTER OR FEE LETTER BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY CREDIT PARTIES
AND ANY AGENT OR ARRANGER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING
THAT BY THE TERMS OF SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE STATED TO SURVIVE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT, ALL OF WHICH PROVISIONS SHALL
REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT)
.
10.21.
PATRIOT
Act
. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself
and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Credit Party
that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act it is required
to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each
Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of
each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender
or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Credit
Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.
10.22.
Electronic
Execution of Assignments
. The words “execution”,
“signed”, “signature” and words of like
import in any Assignment Agreement 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.
10.23.
No
Fiduciary Duty
. Each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender, each
Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates (collectively, solely
for purposes of this paragraph, the “
Lenders
”) may have economic
interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties, their
equityholders and/or their Affiliates. Each Credit Party agrees
that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to
create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary
or other implied duty between any Agent, Arranger or Lender, on the
one hand, and such Credit Party or its equityholders or its
Affiliates, on the other. The Credit Parties acknowledge and agree
that (a) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents
(including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and
thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between
the Agents, Arrangers and Lenders, on the one hand, and the Credit
Parties, on the other, and (b) in connection therewith and with the
process leading thereto, (i) no Agent, Arranger or Lender has
assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any
Credit Party, its equityholders or its Affiliates with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or
remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto
(irrespective of whether any Agent, Arranger or Lender has advised,
is currently advising or will advise any Credit Party, its
equityholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other
obligation to any Credit Party except the obligations expressly set
forth in the Credit Documents and (ii) each Agent, Arranger and
Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or
fiduciary of any Credit Party, its management, equityholders,
creditors or any other Person. Each Credit Party acknowledges and
agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors
to the extent it has deemed appropriate and that it is responsible
for making its own independent judgment with respect to such
transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Credit Party
agrees that it will not assert, and hereby waives to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, any claim that any Agent,
Arranger or Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or
respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to such Credit Party,
in connection with any such transaction or the process leading
thereto.
10.24.
Permitted
Intercreditor Agreements
. Each of the Lenders and the other
Secured Parties acknowledges that obligations of the Credit Parties
under the Second Lien Credit Agreement are, and under any other
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness may be, secured by Liens on assets of the Credit
Parties that constitute Collateral and that the relative Lien
priority and other creditor rights of the Secured Parties and the
secured parties under the Second Lien Credit Agreement will be set
forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, and the relative Lien
priority and other creditor rights of the Secured Parties and the
secured parties under any other Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness,
any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness will be set forth in
the applicable Permitted Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby acknowledges that it
has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorizes
and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to
execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party
and without any further consent, authorization or other action by
such Secured Party, (i) on the Closing Date, the Intercreditor
Agreement and any documents relating thereto and (ii) from
time to time upon the request of the Borrower, in connection with
the establishment, incurrence, amendment, refinancing or
replacement of any Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness, any
Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized
and directed to determine the terms and conditions of any such
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement as contemplated by the definition
of the terms “Intercreditor Agreement”, “Junior
Lien Intercreditor Agreement” and “Pari Passu
Intercreditor Agreement”) and any documents relating
thereto.
(a)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably (i) consents to
the treatment of Liens to be provided for under any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that, upon the execution and
delivery thereof, such Secured Party will be bound by the
provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a
signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the
provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) agrees
that no Secured Party shall have any right of action whatsoever
against the Administrative Agent or any Collateral Agent as a
result of any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 10.24 or in accordance
with the terms of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement,
(iv) authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent to carry out the provisions and intent of each
such document and (v) authorizes and directs the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such actions as shall be
required to release Liens on the Collateral in accordance with the
terms of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement.
(b)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes
and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to
execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party
and without any further consent, authorization or other action by
such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other
modifications of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement that the
Borrower may from time to time request and that are reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent (i) to give effect to any
establishment, incurrence, amendment, extension, renewal,
refinancing or replacement of any Obligations, any Permitted Second
Lien Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness,
(ii) to confirm for any party that such Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement is effective and binding upon the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties or (iii)
to effect any other amendment, supplement or modification so long
as the resulting agreement would constitute a Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement if executed at such time as a new
agreement.
(c)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes
and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to
execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party
and without any further consent, authorization or other action by
such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other
modifications of any Collateral Document to add or remove any
legend that may be required pursuant to any Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement.
(d)
Each of the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have the
benefit of the provisions of Sections 9, 10.2 and 10.3 with respect
to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section 10.24 or
in accordance with the terms of any Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement to the full extent thereof.
(e)
The provisions of
this Section 10.24 are intended as an inducement to the secured
parties under the Second Lien Credit Documents or under any other
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness Documents, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness to extend credit to the Borrower thereunder
and such secured parties are intended third party beneficiaries of
such provisions.
10.25.
Acknowledgement
and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or
in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among the
parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability
of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document,
to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the
Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and
agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound
by:
(a)
the application of
any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority
to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to
it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution;
and
(b)
the effects of any
Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if
applicable:
(i)
a reduction in full
or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii)
a
conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or
other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution,
its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued
to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other
instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any
rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or
any other Credit Document; or
(iii)
the
variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the
exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA
Resolution Authority.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first written above.
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, as Borrower
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
Name: Kevin
Dotts
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION
LLC
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND,
INC.
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
BIRCH
MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM, LLC
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLC
PRIMUS
HOLDINGS, INC.
FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION CORP.
, as
Guarantors
|
By:
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
Name: Kevin
Dotts
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
[Signature Page to
Fusion First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the
Administrative Agent
and the Collateral
Agent,
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
[Signature Page to
Fusion First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
as a
Lender,
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Ehudin
|
|
Authorized
Signatory
Robert
Ehudin
|
[Signature Page to
Fusion First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
, as a
Lender,
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Reagan Philipp
|
|
Name: Reagan
Philipp
|
|
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
[Signature Page to
Fusion First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
, as a Lender,
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Matthew Hillman
|
|
Name: Matthew
Hillman
|
|
Title: Vice
President
|
[Signature Page to
Fusion First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
EXHIBIT
A
TO FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMEN
T
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
This
Assignment and Assumption Agreement (this “
Assignment
”) is dated as of the
Assignment Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by
and between the Assignor identified below and the Assignee
identified below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the First Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement identified below (as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby
acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set
forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and
incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment
as if set forth herein in full.
For an
agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and
assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably
purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in
accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in
Annex 1 attached hereto and the Credit Agreement, as of the
Assignment Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as
contemplated below, (a) the interest in and to all of the
Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender
under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments
delivered pursuant thereto that represents the amount and
percentage interest identified below of all of the Assignor’s
outstanding rights and obligations under the facility identified
below (including any Letters of Credit and Guarantees included in
such facilities) and (b) to the extent permitted to be assigned
under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any
other right of the Assignor in its capacity as a Lender under the
Credit Agreement against any Person, whether known or unknown,
arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other
documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the
Transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to
any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract
claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all
other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and
obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (a) above (the
rights and obligations sold and assigned by the Assignor to the
Assignee pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above being referred to
herein collectively as the “
Assigned Interest
”). Such sale and
assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as
expressly provided in this Assignment and the
Credit Agreement, without representation or warranty by the
Assignor.
1.
|
Assignor:
__________________________
|
|
|
2.
|
Assignee:
__________________________
|
|
|
3.
|
Is the
Assignee a Lender/an Affiliate of a Lender/a Related Fund? Yes:
No:
Specify
if “Yes”.
|
4.
|
Borrower:
Fusion Connect, Inc.
|
|
|
5.
|
Administrative
Agent: Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the
Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement.
|
|
|
6.
|
Credit
Agreement: First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018, among Fusion Connect, Inc., certain Subsidiaries
of Fusion Connect, Inc. party thereto, the Lenders party thereto
and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent.
|
|
|
7.
|
Assigned
Interest:
|
Facility
Assigned
|
Aggregate
Amount of Commitments/Loans of the Applicable Class of all
Lenders
|
Amount
of Commitment/Loans of the Applicable Class Assigned
1
|
Percentage
Assigned of Commitments/Loans of the Applicable Class of all
Lenders
2
|
Tranche
A Term Loans
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
Tranche
B Term Loans
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
Revolving
Commitment/Loans
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
[
]
3
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
1
In
the case of any assignment (other than to an Eligible Assignee
meeting the requirements of Section 10.6(c)(i) of the Credit
Agreement), the amount of Commitment or Loans assigned shall not be
less than (a) $2,500,000 in the case of assignments of any
Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loan or (b) $1,000,000 in the
case of assignments of any Term Loan Commitment or Term Loan of any
Class, or, in each case, a lesser amount permitted under Section
10.6(c) of the Credit Agreement. Any partial assignment shall be of
a uniform, and not varying, percentage of all rights and
obligations of the Assignor unless otherwise permitted under
Section 10.6(c)(ii)(B) of the Credit Agreement.
8.
Assignment
Effective Date: ______________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH DATE SHALL BE THE ASSIGNMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER
THEREFOR.]
9.
Notice and Wire
Instructions:
|
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
Notices:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
with a
copy to:
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
Wire
Instructions:
|
|
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
Notices:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
with a
copy to:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
Wire
Instructions:
|
The
terms set forth in this Assignment are hereby agreed
to:
ASSIGNOR:
[NAME
OF ASSIGNOR]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
ASSIGNEE:
[NAME
OF ASSIGNEE]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
[Consented
to by:
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:]
4
[Consented
to and]
5
Accepted by:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
, as
Administrative
Agent
By:_______________________
Authorized
Person
[Consented
to by:
[●],
as
Issuing
Bank
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:]
6
STANDARD
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
AGREEMENT
1.
Representations and
Warranties
.
1.1.
Assignor
. The Assignor (a)
represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free
and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii)
it has full power and authority, and has taken all action
necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no
responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or any other Credit Document, other than this Assignment, (ii) the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of any Credit Document, or any collateral
thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, the
Subsidiaries or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other
Person obligated in respect of any Credit Document or (iv) the
performance or observance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any
other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person of any of their
respective obligations under any Credit Document.
1.2.
Assignee
. The Assignee (a)
represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority,
and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this
Assignment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it is an
Eligible Assignee, (iii) it has experience and expertise in
the making of or investing in commitments or loans such as the
Assigned Interest, (iv) it will acquire the Assigned Interest for
its own account in the ordinary course and without a view to
distribution of the Assigned Interest within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other United States federal
securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the
provisions of Section 10.6 of the Credit Agreement, the disposition
of the Assigned Interest or any interests therein shall at all
times remain within its exclusive control), (v) it will not provide
any information or materials obtained by it in its capacity as
Lender to the Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of
the Borrower, (vi) from and after the Assignment Effective
Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement
(including as to each Permitted Intercreditor Agreement) and, to
the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of
a Lender thereunder, (vii) it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Assignment and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the
basis of which it has made such analysis and decision,
(viii) attached to this Assignment is any tax documentation
required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee, and (ix) it
has reviewed the Memorandum for Lenders dated April 30, 2018 (the
“
Lender Memo
”)
posted by Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC (“
Goldman Sachs
”) on the Platform
and (A) acknowledges the information contained therein, including
the respective rights and obligations of the various parties
described therein, and (B) confirms and agrees that none of the
collateral (including any cash collateral) or other credit support
provided by the SPV TLB Lender (as such term is defined in the
Lender Memo) or the TLB Lender (as such term is defined in the
Lender Memo) to Goldman Sachs will secure the Obligations and that
the Assignee shall have no rights thereto or interests therein, and
(b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without
reliance on any Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Arranger, the Assignor
or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem appropriate at that time, continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit
Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit
Documents are required to be performed by it as a
Lender.
1.3.
MNPI
. In the case of any
assignment by or to any Vector Lender, the Assignee or the Assignor
(in each case, if not a Vector Lender), as the case may be,
acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such assignment,
(a) such Vector Lender and its Affiliates may have MNPI (as defined
below), (b) such Assignee or Assignor, as applicable, has
independently, without reliance on such Vector Lender, the
Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any of their respective
Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to participate
in such assignment notwithstanding such Assignee’s or
Assignor’s lack of knowledge of any such MNPI, (c) none of
such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any
of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such
Assignee or Assignor, as the case may be, and such Assignee or
Assignor, as applicable, hereby waives and releases, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any claims it may have against such
Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their
respective Affiliates, under applicable law or otherwise, with
respect to the nondisclosure of any such MNPI and (d) such MNPI may
not be available to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the
other Lenders. “
MNPI
” means material non-public
information (for purposes of United States federal, state or other
applicable securities laws) with respect to the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries and their respective Securities, it being understood
that MNPI may include information that is not available to Lenders,
including Private Lenders.
1.
Payments
. From and after the
Assignment Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all
payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of
principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for
amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Assignment Effective
Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and
after the Assignment Effective Date.
2.
General Provisions
. This
Assignment shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted in accordance with the
Credit Agreement and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature
page of this Assignment by facsimile or other electronic format
(i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment.
THIS ASSIGNMENT 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE
APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
EXHIBIT
B
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
CLOSING DATE CERTIFICATE
May 4,
2018
The
undersigned hereby certifies as follows:
1.
I am an Authorized
Officer of Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”).
2.
I have reviewed the
terms of the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (the “
Credit
Agreement
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent, and in my opinion I have made, or have caused to
be made under my supervision, such examination or investigation as
is reasonably necessary to enable me to certify as to the matters
referred to herein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
3.
Based upon my
review and examination described in paragraph 2 above, I certify,
on behalf of the Borrower, in my capacity as an Authorized Officer
of the Borrower and not in my individual or personal capacity and
without personal liability, that:
(a)
the representations
and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Credit
Documents are true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified or modified as to
materiality in the text thereof, in all respects, and
(ii) otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and
as of the date hereof, except in the case of any such
representation and warranty that expressly relates to an earlier
date, in which case such representation and warranty is so true and
correct on and as of such earlier date;
(b)
no Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any
Credit Extension made by a Lender on the date hereof;
and
(c)
subject to the
final paragraph of Section 3.1 of the Credit Agreement, the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement has been
satisfied.
The
foregoing certifications are made and delivered as of the date
first stated above.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name: [●]
|
|
Title: [●]
|
[Signature
Page to Closing Date Certificate]
EXHIBIT
C
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
[The form of this Compliance Certificate has been prepared for
convenience only, and is not to affect, or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting, the terms of the Credit Agreement
referred to below. The obligations of the Borrower and the other
Credit Parties under the Credit Agreement are as set forth in the
Credit Agreement, and nothing in this Compliance Certificate, or
the form hereof, shall modify such obligations or constitute a
waiver of compliance therewith in accordance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of
this Compliance Certificate and the terms of the Credit Agreement,
the terms of the Credit Agreement shall govern and control, and the
terms of this Compliance Certificate are to be modified
accordingly.]
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby certifies, in [his][her] capacity as the chief
financial officer of the Borrower and not in [his][her] individual
capacity, as follows:
1.
I am the chief
financial officer of the Borrower.
2.
[Attached as
Schedule I hereto, pursuant to Section 5.1(a) of the Credit
Agreement, are the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Year ended December
31, 20[ ], and the related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal
Year, together with a report thereon of [EisnerAmper
LLP].]
[or]
[Attached as
Schedule I hereto, pursuant to Section 5.1(b) of the Credit
Agreement, are the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter ended
[ ], 20[ ],
and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter (in the case of such
statements of operations) and for the period from the beginning of
the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding periods of (or, in the case of the
balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year. Such
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results
of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated
in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as
otherwise disclosed in such financial statements), subject to
changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and the
absence of footnotes.]
3.
[Appended to
Schedule I hereto is the Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation
Statement required by Section 5.1(c) of the Credit
Agreement.]
7
[Appended to
Schedule I hereto [is][are] the statement(s) of reconciliation
required by Section 5.1(d) of the Credit Agreement.]
8
[Attached as
Schedule II hereto is the consolidated plan and financial forecast
for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 20[ ] required by Section
5.1(i) of the Credit Agreement, including (a) a forecasted
consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements
of comprehensive income and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, and an explanation of the
assumptions on which such forecasts are based, and (b) forecasted
consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter of such
Fiscal Year. Such forecasted consolidated financial statements have
been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are
believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of this
Compliance Certificate.]
9
Set
forth on Annex A hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter ended
[ ], 20[ ].
Set
forth on Annex B hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter
ended [ ], 20[ ].
[Set
forth on Annex C hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter
period ended [ ], 20[ ].]
10
[Set
forth on Annex D hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
aggregate Consolidated Capital Expenditures made during the Fiscal
Year ended December 31, 20[ ].]
11
[Set
forth on Annex E hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for the Fiscal Year ended December
31, 20[ ], together with a true and accurate calculation of the
aggregate principal amount of prepayment of the Term Borrowings
required under Section 2.13(e) of the Credit
Agreement.]
12
4.
[Enclosed with this
Compliance Certificate is a completed Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire required by Section 5.1(k) of the Credit
Agreement.]
13
I have
reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and I have made, or have
caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable
detail of the transactions and condition of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached
financial statements. The foregoing examination did not disclose,
and I have no knowledge of, the existence of any event or condition
that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default during or at the
end of the accounting period covered by the attached financial
statements or as of the date of this Compliance Certificate, except
as set forth in a separate attachment, if any, to this Compliance
Certificate, describing in detail the nature of the condition or
event, the period during which it has existed and the action that
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has taken, is taking or
proposes to take with respect to each such event or
condition.
The
foregoing certifications are made and delivered on [ ], 20[ ]
pursuant to Section 5.1(c) of the Credit
Agreement.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name: [
]
|
|
Title: [
]
|
ANNEX
A
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
AS OF
THE END OF OR FOR THE PERIOD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE FISCAL QUARTERS
ENDED ON [mm/dd/yy]
14
1.
|
Consolidated Net
Income:
(i) − (ii)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the net income
(or loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with
GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
to the extent
included in (i):
(a) + (b)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principles during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
the net income
(or loss) of any Person (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary or
any Person accounted for under the equity method of accounting)
that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary except, in the
case of net income, to the extent of the amount of Cash dividends
or similar Cash distribution actually paid by such Person to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
2.
|
Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA:
15
(i) + (ii) − (iii) =
16
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
Consolidated Net
Income (see row 1 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
to the extent
deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to (h) and (q) below,
to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income), the
sum for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
following amounts for such period:
17
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) + (j) + (k) + (l) + (m) + (n)
+ (o) + (p) + (q) + (r)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
total interest
expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest
expense, any losses on Hedge Agreements entered into for the
purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and
gains on such Hedge Agreements, and bank and letter of credit fees
and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing
activities:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
16
Subject to the immediately preceding note, Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA for (A) the Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2017, shall be
deemed to be equal to $37,350,000, (B) the Fiscal Quarter ended
June 30, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to $40,745,000, (C)
the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2017, shall be deemed
to be equal to $39,783,000 and (D) the Fiscal Quarter ended
December 31, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to
$43,778,000.
|
(b)
provision for
Federal, state and foreign taxes based on income, profits or
capital gains, including in respect of repatriated
funds:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
depreciation and
amortization, including amortization of intangible assets
established through purchase accounting and amortization of
deferred financing fees or costs, but excluding amortization of any
other prepaid cash expense that was paid and not expensed in a
prior period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
non-cash
charges, including impairment charges and any other write-down or
write-off of assets, noncash fair value adjustments of Investments
and noncash stock-based and similar incentive-based
compensation (including with respect to any profits interest
relating to membership interests in any partnership or limited
liability company), but excluding any such noncash charge or loss
to the extent that it represents an amortization of a prepaid cash
expense that was paid and not expensed in a prior period or
write-down or write-off with respect to accounts receivable
(including any addition to bad debt reserves or bad debt expense)
or inventory:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
extraordinary
losses, determined in conformity with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
unusual or
non-recurring charges, including, in each case, to the extent
unusual or non-recurring, operating expenses directly attributable
to the implementation of cost savings initiatives, merger costs,
severance costs, relocation costs, integration and
facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or
completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to
closure/consolidation of facilities, costs associated with tax
projects/audits and costs consisting of professional, consulting or
other fees relating to any of the foregoing;provided that the
aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (f) and
pursuant to clauses (g), (m) and, other than with respect to the
Approved Cost Savings
18
, (h) for any Test
Period shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or
prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for
such Test Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15%
of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case
of each of clauses (A) and (B) above, calculated prior to giving
effect to any addback pursuant to this clause (f) or pursuant to
clause (g), (h) or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
restructuring
charges, accruals and reserves (including restructuring charges
related to the Merger or to Acquisitions consummated after the
Closing Date);provided that the aggregate amount added back
pursuant to this clause (g) and pursuant to clauses (f), (m) and,
other than with respect to the Approved Cost Savings, (h) for any
Test Period shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or
prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for
such Test Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15%
of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case
of each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect
to any addback pursuant to this clause (g) or pursuant to clause
(f), (h) or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
the amount of
“run rate” net cost savings, operating expense
reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
reasonably projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized
in connection with the Transactions or any other Pro Forma Event or
the implementation of any operational initiative, including the
termination, abandonment or discontinuance of operations and
product lines (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost
savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements
and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable
Test Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during
such period from such actions;provided that (A) such cost
savings, operating expense reductions and other operating
improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable, factually
supportable and reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months
after the Closing Date or within 12 months after the consummation
of such other Pro Forma Event or the adoption of such initiative,
as applicable, (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions
and other operating improvements and synergies shall be added
pursuant to this clause (h) to the extent duplicative of any items
otherwise added in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
whether pursuant to the requirement of Section 1.2(b) of the Credit
Agreement or otherwise, for such period and (C) other than with
respect to the Approved Cost Savings, the aggregate amount added
back pursuant to this clause (h) and pursuant to clauses (f), (g)
and (m) for any Test Period shall not exceed (x) for any Test
Period ending on or prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period and (y) for any Test Period
ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
Test Period, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y) above,
calculated prior to giving effect to any addback pursuant to this
clause (h) or pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the amount of
any noncontrolling interest consisting of income of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower attributable to
noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in such Restricted
Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(j)
after-tax losses
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(k)
the amount of
any net losses from discontinued operations, determined in
conformity with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(l)
(A) transaction
fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
Transactions prior to the Closing Date, (B) transaction fees, costs
and expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000
incurred in connection with the Transactions after the Closing Date
but prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date and
(C) transaction fees, costs and expenses in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $1,000,000 incurred on or prior to December
31, 2018 in connection with the Specified Acquisition (whether or
not the Specified Acquisition is consummated):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(m)
transaction
fees, costs and expenses incurred during such period, or any
amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any
Acquisition, any Investment (other than intercompany Investments in
the ordinary course of business), any Disposition (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), any incurrence,
repayment or refinancing of Indebtedness (or any amendment or other
modification of any Indebtedness) or any issuance of Equity
Interests, including any such transaction consummated prior to the
Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not
completed;provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to
this clause (m) and pursuant to clauses (f), (g) and, other than
with respect to the Approved Cost Savings, (h) for any Test Period
shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to
December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test
Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of
each of clauses (A) and (B) above, calculated prior to giving
effect to any addback pursuant to this clause (m) or pursuant to
clause (f), (g) or (h):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(n)
any loss
attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(o)
any unrealized
loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation
of obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB
Accounting Standards Codification 815, as amended:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(p)
any unrealized
loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation
of amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the
application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(q)
any expenses,
charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other
reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment,
Acquisition or Disposition (other than in the ordinary course of
business) permitted under the Credit Documents or in connection
with any Insurance/Condemnation Event (disregarding the exception
in the definition of such term), including lost profits covered by
business interruption insurance, in each case, to the extent (A)
actually reimbursed by the applicable third party insurer or other
third party during such period or (B) (1) the Borrower has received
notification from the applicable third party insurer or other third
party that it intends to reimburse such expenses, charges or losses
or such lost profits and (2) there exists reasonable evidence that
such expenses, charges or losses or lost profits will in fact be
reimbursed by such insurer or other third party within 270 days
after the related amount is first added to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA pursuant to this clause (q), provided that no amount may be
added pursuant to this clause (q) to the extent that (x) such
insurer or other third party shall have denied in writing
reimbursement for such amount and (y) such amount has not actually
been reimbursed within 270 days after it is first added to
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (q) (with a
deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so
reimbursed within such 270 days):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(r)
any contingent
or deferred payments (including earnout payments, noncompete
payments and consulting payments) actually made to sellers during
such period in connection with any Acquisition, and any losses for
such period arising from the remeasurement of the fair value of any
liability recorded with respect to any earnout or other contingent
or deferred consideration arising from any
Acquisition:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to the extent
included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (or, in the
case of amounts pursuant to clause (i) below, to the extent not
already deducted from Consolidated Net Income), the sum for the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the following amounts
for such period:
19
(a) + (b) +(c) + (d) + (e)
+ (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
non-cash gains or
items of income (other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary
course), excluding any non-cash items of income in respect of which
Cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
extraordinary gains
or items of income, determined in conformity with
GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
unusual or
non-recurring gains or items of income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
gains attributable
to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions in the
ordinary course of business):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the amount of any
net income from discontinued operations, determined in conformity
with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
any gain
attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
any unrealized gain
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB Accounting
Standards Codification 815, as amended:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
any unrealized gain
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the
application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the amount of any
noncontrolling interest consisting of losses of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower attributable to
noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in such Restricted
Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
3.
|
Consolidated
Total Net Debt:
20
(i) + (ii) + (iii) + (iv) + (v) + (vi) − (vii) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a) of the
Credit Agreement), consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed
money, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments and purchase money indebtedness:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected
on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis
in conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a) of the
Credit Agreement), the aggregate amount of purchase price
adjustments, earnouts, deferred compensation or other similar
arrangements incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iv)
the aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(v) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vi)
Guarantees outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in
clauses (i) through (v) above of any Person other than the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vii)
the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date):
21
|
$[___,___,___]
|
4.
|
Total
Net Leverage Ratio:
(i) / (ii)
=
|
[
]:1.00
|
|
Consolidated
Total Net Debt (see row 3 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA (see row 2 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
ANNEX
B
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
AS OF
THE END OF OR FOR THE PERIOD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE FISCAL QUARTERS
ENDED ON [mm/dd/yy]
22
|
|
|
1.
|
Consolidated First
Lien Net Debt:
23
(i) + (ii) + (iii) + (iv) + (v) + (vi) − (vii) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date that is secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually
subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant
to the Credit Documents), in the amount that would be required to
be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP (but subject to
Section 1.2(a) of the Credit Agreement), consisting solely of
Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments and purchase money
indebtedness:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected
on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis
in conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a) of the
Credit Agreement), the aggregate amount of purchase price
adjustments, earnouts, deferred compensation or other similar
arrangements incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition, in each case, that
are secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually
subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant
to the Credit Documents):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iv)
the aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party, in each case that are
secured by any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than Liens that are contractually subordinated to
the Liens of the Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Credit
Documents):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(v) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date that are secured by any Lien on any
asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
Liens that are contractually subordinated to the Liens of the
Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Credit
Documents):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vi)
Guarantees outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in
clauses (i) through (v) above of any Person other than the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not such Indebtedness is
secured) if such Guarantees (including letters of credit providing
for such Guarantees) are secured by any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens that are
contractually subordinated to the Liens of the Collateral Agent
created pursuant to the Credit Documents):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vii)
the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
2.
|
First
Lien Net Leverage Ratio:
(i) / (ii)
=
|
[
]:1.00
|
|
(i)
Consolidated First Lien Net Debt (see row 1 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (see row 2 of Annex A):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
ANNEX
C
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
FOR THE
PERIOD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS ENDED
ON [mm/dd/yy]
1.
|
Consolidated
Interest Expense:
24
(i) − (ii) – (iii)
=
25
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the sum, without
duplication, of:
(a) + (b)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the total
interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of
Capital Lease Obligations) for the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP, including all commissions, discounts and
other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and
bankers’ acceptance financing and net payments, if any, made
(less net payments, if any, received) pursuant to obligations under
Hedge Agreements in respect of any Indebtedness:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
any interest or
other financing costs becoming payable during such period in
respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary to the extent such interest or other financing costs
shall have been capitalized rather than included in total interest
expense for such period in accordance with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
cash interest
income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to the extent
included in clause (i) above, the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f)
+ (g) + (h) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
amortization or
write-down of capitalized interest, deferred financing costs or
debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, pay-in-kind
interest expense, the amortization of original issue discount
resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness below par and any other
amounts of non-cash interest (including as a result of the effects
of purchase accounting):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
25
Subject to the immediately preceding note, Consolidated Interest
Expense shall be deemed to be (A) for the four Fiscal Quarter
period ended on the last day of the first Fiscal Quarter ending
after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense for such
Fiscal Quarter multiplied by four, (B) for the four Fiscal Quarter
period ended on the last day of the second Fiscal Quarter ending
after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense for the two
Fiscal Quarters then most recently ended multiplied by two, and (C)
for the four Fiscal Quarter period ended on the last day of the
third Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated
Interest Expense for the three Fiscal Quarters then most recently
ended multiplied by 4/3;provided that, in the event the Closing
Date shall have occurred after the first day of the first Fiscal
Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for such Fiscal Quarter shall be deemed, for purposes of
clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, to be Consolidated Interest Expense
for the period from and including the Closing Date to and including
the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, multiplied by a fraction equal
to (x) 90 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from
and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of
such Fiscal Quarter.
|
(b)
the accretion or
accrual of discounted liabilities during such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
non-cash interest
expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market
valuation of obligations under Hedge Agreements or other derivative
instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification
815:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
any one-time cash
costs associated with breakage in respect of Hedge Agreements for
interest rates:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
all additional
interest or liquidated damages then owing pursuant to any
registration rights agreement and any comparable “additional
interest” or liquidated damages with respect to any
securities designed to compensate the holders thereof for a failure
to publicly register such securities:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
any expense
resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection
with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if
applicable, purchase accounting:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
fees and expenses
associated with the consummation of the Transactions:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
commitment and
other financing fees (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the
commitment fees in respect of the Revolving
Commitments):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
2.
|
Consolidated
Fixed Charges:
(i) + (ii) + (iii) +
(iv) + (v) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period (see row 1 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the
aggregate amount of scheduled principal payments made during such
period in respect of Long-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
the
aggregate amount of principal payments (other than scheduled
principal payments) made during such period in respect of Long-Term
Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other
than payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to
the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), to the extent that such
payments reduced any scheduled principal payments that would have
become due within one year after the date of the applicable
payment:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iv)
the
aggregate amount of principal payments on Capital Lease
Obligations, determined in conformity with GAAP, made by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period:
|
|
|
(v)
Consolidated
Capital Expenditures
26
for such period
(except to the extent financed by incurring Long-Term
Indebtedness):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
3.
|
Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio:
(i) / (ii)
=
|
[
]:1.00
|
|
(i)
Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA (see row 2 of Annex A):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
Consolidated
Fixed Charges (see row 2 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
26
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;provided that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not
include any expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net
Proceeds reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) of
the Credit Agreement or (b) that constitute an Acquisition
permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement;provided
further that, except for purposes of calculating Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any period, in the event the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated
Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures made
by any Person, business unit, division, product line or line of
business acquired pursuant to such Acquisition, in each case, prior
to the date of the consummation of such
Acquisition.
ANNEX
D
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED [mm/dd/yy]
2.
|
Capital
Expenditures
|
|
|
(i)
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
27
:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
Maximum permitted Consolidated Capital Expenditures:
(a)
+
(b)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the greater of
(1)
and
(2)
(1)
Base CapEx Amount:
|
$[___,___,___]
$55,000,000
|
|
(2) if
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have consummated
any Material Acquisition (excluding the Merger) after the Closing
Date, the Material Acquisition CapEx Amount
28
for such Fiscal
Year (determined as of the date of consummation of the Material
Acquisition most recently consummated after the Closing Date and on
or prior to the last day of such Fiscal Year):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
permitted carryover
of unused Base CapEx Amount from prior Fiscal Year, if
any
29
:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
27
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;provided that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not
include any expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net
Proceeds reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) of
the Credit Agreement or (b) that constitute an Acquisition
permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement;provided
further that, except for purposes of calculating Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any period, in the event the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated
Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures made
by any Person, business unit, division, product line or line of
business acquired pursuant to such Acquisition, in each case, prior
to the date of the consummation of such
Acquisition.
ANNEX
E
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED [mm/dd/yy]
3.
|
Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow:
(i) − (ii)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
Consolidated Net
Income for such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation expense,
amortization expense and deferred tax expense), to the extent
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
the sum of (A)
the amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital decreased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (B) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries increased during such
period, in each case, other than any such decreases or increases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
the aggregate
amount of net non-cash loss on any Disposition of assets by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business), to the extent deducted in
arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the aggregate
amount of cash payments received in respect of Hedge Agreements
during such period, to the extent not included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
the aggregate
amount of any non-cash loss for such period attributable to the
early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements, to the
extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
income tax
expense, to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated
Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) + (j) + (k)
+ (l) + (m) + (n) + (o) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at Consolidated
Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
without
duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (k) below in any
prior period, the Consolidated Capital Expenditures
30
made by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such
period, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
30
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;provided that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not
include any expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net
Proceeds reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) of
the Credit Agreement or (b) that constitute an Acquisition
permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement;provided
further that, except for purposes of calculating Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any period, in the event the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated
Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures made
by any Person, business unit, division, product line or line of
business acquired pursuant to such Acquisition, in each case, prior
to the date of the consummation of such
Acquisition.
|
(c)
the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries repaid or prepaid (including, to the extent of Cash
spent, through repurchases and redemptions) by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period (including
(A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capital
Lease Obligations, (B) scheduled Installments of Term Loans made
pursuant to Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement, (C) the
amount of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans or any Permitted
Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness actually made with the Net Proceeds
of an Asset Sale or an Insurance/Condemnation Event, in each case,
to the extent such Net Proceeds resulted in an increase to
Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such
increase, and (D) to the extent of Cash spent, repurchases by the
Borrower of Term Loans pursuant to Section 10.6(i)(ii) of the
Credit Agreement, but excluding (1) all other repayments or
prepayments (including repurchases and redemptions) of Term Loans
and Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, (2) all
repayments or prepayments (including repurchases and redemptions)
of any revolving credit loans (other than in respect of any
revolving credit facility to the extent there is an equivalent
permanent reduction in commitments thereunder, other than in
connection with a refinancing thereof) and (3) repayments or
prepayments (including repurchases and redemptions) of Permitted
Second Lien Indebtedness or any other Junior Indebtedness (it being
understood and agreed that any amount excluded pursuant to clauses
(1) through (3) above may not be deducted under any other clause of
this definition)), except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
the aggregate
amount of net non-cash gain on any Disposition of assets by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business), to the extent included in
arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the sum of (i) the
amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital increased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (ii) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries decreased during such
period, in each case, other than any such increases or decreases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
the aggregate
amount of any non-cash gain for such period attributable to the
early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or other
derivative instruments, to the extent included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
the aggregate
amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities
of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than
Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
without duplication
of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (k) below in any prior
period, the aggregate amount of Cash paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries during such period to consummate any
Acquisition or Investment (other than intercompany Investments)
permitted under Section 6.6(l), 6.6(m) or 6.6(o) of the Credit
Agreement, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the aggregate
amount of Restricted Junior Payments permitted by Section 6.4(e),
6.4(g)(i) or 6.4(i) of the Credit Agreement paid by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period, except
to the extent financed with Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(j)
the aggregate
amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid
in Cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period that are required to be made in connection with any
prepayment of Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with
Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(k)
without duplication
of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in any prior period, the
aggregate Contract Consideration entered into prior to or during
such period relating to Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital
Expenditures, in each case, to be consummated or made during the
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower
following the end of such period;provided that to the extent that
the aggregate amount of Cash actually utilized to finance such
Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures during such
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters is less than the
Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added
to the calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow at the end of
such period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(l)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, directors’
fees (including salary and bonus) and board consulting fees and
related reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(m)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, transaction fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions or
any Acquisition paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash in such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(n)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, income taxes,
including penalties and interest, paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(o)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate
amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of Hedge Agreements during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
EXHIBIT
D
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
420
Lexington Avenue
Suite
1718
New
York, New York 10170
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Attention:
Josh James
Telephone:
(612) 217-5637
Fax:
(612) 217-5651
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
Pursuant to
Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby
notifies the Administrative Agent of the following information with
respect to the conversion or continuation requested
hereby:
1.
Class (e.g.,
Revolving, Tranche A Term or Tranche B Term) and Type (e.g., Base
Rate or Eurodollar Rate) of existing Borrowing to which this
request applies
31
:
_______________________________________________
4.
Principal amount of
existing Borrowing to be converted/continued
32
:
______________________________________________
3.
Type (e.g., Base
Rate or Eurodollar Rate) and principal amount of each new Borrowing
resulting from the requested conversion/continuation
33
:
______________________________________________
5.
Interest Period of
each new Borrowing resulting from the requested
conversion/continuation (if applicable)
34
:
______________________________________________
5.
Effective date of
election
35
:
__________________________________________
Date: [
], 20[ ]
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
__________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
E
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FIRST LIEN COUNTERPART AGREEMENT
This
FIRST LIEN
COUNTERPART AGREEMENT
, dated [ ], 20[ ]
(this “
Counterpart
Agreement
”), is delivered pursuant to the First Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (as it
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
SECTION
1. In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement,
the undersigned by its signature below becomes a Guarantor
Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement with the same force and
effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor Subsidiary,
and the undersigned hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and
provisions of the Credit Agreement applicable to it as a Guarantor
Subsidiary (and, accordingly, as a Credit Party) thereunder and (b)
in furtherance of the foregoing, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally with the other
Guarantors, the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations
when and as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity,
by required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise
(including amounts that would become due but for the operation of
the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code
or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law), all in
accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, Section 7 of the
Credit Agreement.
SECTION
2. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants, as to itself,
that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.1,
4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of the Credit Agreement are true and correct
on and as of the date hereof.
SECTION
3. The undersigned agrees to execute any and all further documents,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, that
the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to effectuate the
transactions contemplated by, and to carry out the intent of, this
Counterpart Agreement.
SECTION
4. Neither this Counterpart Agreement nor any provision hereof may
be waived, amended or modified, and no consent to any departure by
the undersigned therefrom may be made, except in accordance with
the Credit Agreement. Any notice or other communication herein
required or permitted to be given shall be given pursuant to
Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. In case any provision in
or obligation under this Counterpart Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
5. THIS COUNTERPART 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) SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF
ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has
caused this First Lien Counterpart Agreement to be duly executed
and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date above
first written.
[NAME
OF DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY]
By:
_______
Name:
Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND ACCEPTED,
as of
the date above first written:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
,
as
Administrative Agent
By:_____________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
F
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
420
Lexington Avenue
Suite
1718
New
York, New York 10170
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Attention:
Josh James
Telephone:
(612) 217-5637
Fax:
(612) 217-5651
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
FUNDING NOTICE
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
Pursuant to
Section [2.1][2.2] of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower
desires that Lenders make the following Loans to the Borrower in
accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the Credit
Agreement on [ ], 20[ ] (the “
Credit Date
”):
Tranche
A Term Loans
36
:
□
Base
Rate Loans:
□
Eurodollar Rate Loans, with
an initial Interest Period of ________ month(s)
37
:
|
$[___,___,___]
$[___,___,___]
|
Tranche
B Term Loans
38
:
□
Base
Rate Loans:
□
Eurodollar Rate Loans, with
an initial Interest Period of ________ month(s)
39
:
|
$[___,___,___]
$[___,___,___]
|
|
|
Revolving
Loans
40
:
□
Base
Rate Loans:
□
Eurodollar Rate Loans, with
an initial Interest Period of ________ month(s)
41
:
|
$[___,___,___]
$[___,___,___]
|
Wiring
instructions for account to which
proceeds of Loans
are to be
remitted:
[ ]
The
Borrower hereby certifies that:
42
(a) The
representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in
the Credit Documents are true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified as to materiality in the
text thereof, in all respects, and (ii) otherwise, in all material
respects, in each case on and as of the Credit Date set forth
above, except in the case of any such representation and warranty
that expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty is so true and correct on and as of
such earlier date.
(b) At
the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Credit
Extension, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom.
Date: [ ], 20[
]
FUSION CONNECT,
INC.
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT G
TO FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FIRST
LIEN INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (this “
Agreement
”), among FUSION CONNECT,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), the other Intercompany
Lenders and Intercompany Debtors (each as defined below) from time
to time party hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
Administrative Agent.
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the
Lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
The
Credit Agreement provides that Indebtedness owing by a Credit Party
to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party shall be
subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations. For purposes
of this Agreement, (a) “
Intercompany Indebtedness
” means
any Indebtedness owed by any Credit Party to any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, together with all interest
(including interest accruing during
the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other
similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in
such proceeding) on the principal of such Indebtedness and all
other monetary obligations of any Credit Party arising from or in
respect of such Indebtedness, including obligations to pay fees,
expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations,
whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b)
each of the Credit Parties, in its capacity as an obligor in
respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness, is referred to herein as
an
“
Intercompany
Debtor
”,
(c) each of
the Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Credit Party, in its
capacity as an obligee in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness,
is referred to herein as an
“
Intercompany Lender
” and
(d) the Lenders, the Agents (including former Agents, as
applicable) and the other Secured Parties are sometimes
collectively referred to as “
Senior Lenders
”.
The
Senior Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower, and to
permit the Credit Parties to incur Intercompany Indebtedness,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit
Agreement. The Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries are
required to execute and deliver this Agreement pursuant to the
terms of the Credit Agreement. In accordance with the Credit
Agreement, each of the Restricted Subsidiaries party hereto that is
not a Credit Party desires to enter into this Agreement in order to
subordinate, on the terms set forth herein, its rights, as an
Intercompany Lender, to payment under any Intercompany Indebtedness
to the prior payment in full in cash or immediately available funds
of the Obligations (other than contingent obligations as to which
no claim has been made). The Intercompany Lenders are Affiliates of
the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension
of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are
willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce
the Senior Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
and Construction
. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement or
the Pledge and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable, are used herein (including the preliminary statements
hereto) as defined therein. The rules of construction specified in
Section 1.3 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this
Agreement,
mutatis
mutandis
.
2.
Subordination
.
(a) Each Intercompany Lender
hereby agrees that all its
right, title and interest in, to and under any Intercompany
Indebtedness owed to it by any Intercompany Debtor shall be
subordinate, and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in
the manner hereinafter set forth, to all Obligations of such
Intercompany Debtor until the payment in full in cash or
immediately available funds of all Obligations of such Intercompany
Debtor (such Obligations, including interest thereon (including
interest accruing at the default rate specified in the Credit
Agreement) accruing after the commencement of any proceedings
referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section, whether or not such
interest is an allowed or allowable claim in such proceeding, being
hereinafter collectively referred to as “
Senior
Indebtedness
”).
(a)
In
the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceedings in connection therewith, relating to any Intercompany
Debtor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for
voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any
Intercompany Debtor, whether or not involving insolvency or
bankruptcy, then (i) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be
paid in full in cash or immediately available funds in respect of
all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness before any
Intercompany Lender shall be entitled to receive (whether directly
or indirectly), or make any demand for, any payment or distribution
of any kind or character, whether in cash securities or other
property (other than Restructured Debt Securities (as defined
below)), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of
any right of setoff or otherwise, from such Intercompany Debtor on
account of any Intercompany Indebtedness owed by such Intercompany
Debtor to such Intercompany Lender (
provided
that the foregoing
shall not impair the right of any such Intercompany Lender to file
a proof of claim in any such proceeding in accordance with the
terms hereof) and (ii) until the holders of Senior Indebtedness are
paid in full in cash or immediately available funds in respect of
all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness, any payment or
distribution to which such Intercompany Lender would otherwise be
entitled, whether in cash, property or securities (other than a
payment of debt securities of such Intercompany Debtor that are
subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior
Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the Intercompany
Indebtedness described in this Agreement is subordinated and junior
in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding
(such securities being hereinafter referred to as
“
Restructured Debt
Securities
”)) shall instead be made to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness.
(b)
If
any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent has provided prior written notice to the
Borrower requesting that no such payment or distribution, or no
such forgiveness or reduction, be made, then (i) no payment or
distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash securities
or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), and
whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of
setoff or otherwise, shall be made by or on behalf of any
Intercompany Debtor with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness
owed to any Intercompany Lender and (ii) no Intercompany
Indebtedness owing by any Intercompany Debtor to any Intercompany
Lender shall be forgiven or otherwise reduced in any way, other
than as a result of payment of such amount in full in cash or
immediately available funds.
(c)
If
any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt
Securities), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption,
exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, with respect to any
Intercompany Indebtedness shall (despite these subordination
provisions) be received by any Intercompany Lender from any
Intercompany Debtor in violation of paragraph (b) or (c) of this
Section prior to all Senior Indebtedness having been paid in full
in cash or immediately available funds (other than contingent
obligations as to which no claim has been made), such payment or
distribution shall be held by such Intercompany Lender (segregated
from other property of such Intercompany Lender) for the benefit of
the Administrative Agent, and shall be paid over or delivered to
the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt to the extent
necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in cash or
immediately available funds.
(d)
Each
Intercompany Lender and each Intercompany Debtor hereby agrees that
the subordination provisions set forth in this Agreement are for
the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of
Senior Indebtedness. The Administrative Agent may, on behalf of
itself and such other holders of Senior Indebtedness, proceed to
enforce these subordination provisions set forth
herein.
3.
Waivers
and Consents
.
(a)
Each
Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, the right to compel that any property or asset of any
Intercompany Debtor or any property or asset of any other Credit
Party be applied in any particular order to discharge the
Obligations. Each Intercompany Lender expressly waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, the right to require the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender to proceed against
any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligation or any
other Person, or to pursue any other remedy in its or their power
that such Intercompany Lender cannot pursue and that would lighten
such Intercompany Lender’s burden, notwithstanding that the
failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender to
do so may thereby prejudice such Intercompany Lender. Each
Intercompany Lender agrees that it shall not be discharged,
exonerated or have its obligations hereunder reduced (i) by the
Administrative Agent’s or any other Senior Lender’s
delay in proceeding against or enforcing any remedy against any
Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligation or any other
Person; (ii) by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender
releasing any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligation
or any other Person from all or any part of the Obligations; or
(iii) by the discharge of any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of
any Obligation or any other Person by an operation of law or
otherwise, with or without the intervention or omission of the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender.
(a)
Each
Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies
by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender, even though
that election of remedies, including any nonjudicial foreclosure
with respect to any property or asset securing any Obligation, has
impaired the value of such Intercompany Lender’s rights of
subrogation, reimbursement, or contribution against any
Intercompany Debtor or any other Credit Party. Each Intercompany
Lender expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any rights
or defenses (other than the defense of payment or performance) it
may have by reason of protection afforded to any Intercompany
Debtor or any other Credit Party with respect to the Obligations
pursuant to any anti-deficiency laws or other laws of similar
import that limit or discharge the principal debtor’s
indebtedness upon judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure of property
or assets securing any Obligation.
(b)
Each
Intercompany Lender agrees that, without the necessity of any
reservation of rights against it, and without notice to or further
assent by it, any demand for payment of any Obligation made by the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may be rescinded in
whole or in part by such Person, and any Obligation may be
continued, and the Obligations or the liability of any Intercompany
Debtor or any other Credit Party obligated thereunder, or any right
of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or
in part, be renewed, extended, modified, accelerated, compromised,
waived, surrendered or released by the Administrative Agent or any
other Senior Lender, in each case without notice to or further
assent by such Intercompany Lender, which will remain bound
hereunder, and without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting
the subordination provided for herein.
(c)
Each
Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or
accrual of any of the Obligations, and any and all notice of or
proof of reliance by the Senior Lenders upon this Agreement. The
Obligations, and any of them, shall be deemed conclusively to have
been created, contracted or incurred, and the consent to create the
obligations of any Intercompany Debtor in respect of the
Intercompany Indebtedness of such Intercompany Debtor shall be
deemed conclusively to have been given, in reliance upon this
Agreement. Each Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, any protest, demand for payment and notice of
default in respect of the Obligations.
4.
Obligations
Unconditional
. All rights and interests of the
Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders hereunder, and
all agreements and obligations of each Intercompany Lender and each
Intercompany Debtor hereunder, shall remain in full force and
effect irrespective of:
(a)
any
lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any
other Credit Document;
(b)
any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other
term of, all or any of the Obligations or any amendment or waiver
or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise,
of, or consent to departure from, the Credit Agreement or any other
Credit Document;
(c)
any
exchange, release or nonperfection of any Lien in any Collateral,
or any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in
writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of or consent to
departure from, any guarantee of any Obligation; or
(d)
any
other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, any Intercompany Debtor in respect
of the Obligations or of such Intercompany Lender or such
Intercompany Debtor in respect of the subordination provisions set
forth herein (other than the payment in full in cash or immediately
available funds of the Obligations).
5.
Waiver
of Claims
.
(a)
To the
maximum extent permitted by law, each Intercompany Lender waives
any claim it might have against the Administrative Agent or any
other Senior Lender with respect to, or arising out of, any action
or failure to act or any error of judgment, negligence, or mistake
or oversight whatsoever on the part of the Administrative Agent or
any other Senior Lender or any Related Party of any of the
foregoing with respect to any exercise of rights or remedies under
the Credit Documents in the absence of the gross negligence or
wilful misconduct of such Person or its Related Parties (such
absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a final,
non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). None
of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender or any
Related Party of any of the foregoing shall be liable to any
Intercompany Lender for failure to demand, collect or realize upon
any of the Collateral or any guarantee of any Obligation, or for
any delay in doing so, or shall be under any obligation to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any such
Intercompany Lender or any other Person or to take any other action
whatsoever with regard to the Collateral, or any part thereof,
except to the extent such liability has been found by a final,
non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to
have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
such Person or its Related Parties.
(a)
Each
Intercompany Lender, for itself and on behalf of its successors and
assigns, hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
any and all now existing or hereafter arising rights it may have to
require the Senior Lenders to marshal assets for the benefit of
such Intercompany Lender, or to otherwise direct the timing, order
or manner of any sale, collection or other enforcement of the
Collateral or enforcement of any rights or remedies under the
Credit Documents. The Senior Lenders are under no duty or
obligation, and each Intercompany Lender hereby waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to compel
any Senior Lender, to pursue any Intercompany Debtor or any other
Credit Party that may be liable for the Obligations, or to enforce
any Lien in any Collateral.
(b)
Each
Intercompany Lender hereby waives, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, and releases all rights which a guarantor or surety
with respect to the Senior Indebtedness could
exercise.
6.
Notices
.
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and
given in the manner provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit
Agreement. All communications and notices to any Intercompany
Lender or Intercompany Debtor shall be given to it in care of the
Borrower in the manner provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit
Agreement.
7.
Waivers;
Amendment
.
(a)
No
failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior
Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as
a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps
to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The
rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the other
Senior Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of
any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Intercompany Lender or any Intercompany Debtor therefrom shall in
any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Section 7, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the specific purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any
Intercompany Lender or any Intercompany Debtor in any case shall
entitle any Intercompany Lender or any Intercompany Debtor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.
(a)
Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the
Intercompany Lenders or Intercompany Debtors with respect to which
such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any
consent required in accordance with Section 10.5 of the Credit
Agreement.
8.
Successors
and Assigns
.
(a)
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns permitted hereby.
(a)
The
Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall have a
full and unfettered right to assign or otherwise transfer the whole
or any part of the benefit of this Agreement to any Person to whom
all or a corresponding part of the Obligations are assigned or
transferred in accordance with the Credit Agreement or pursuant to
applicable law, all without impairing, abridging, releasing or
affecting the subordination provided for herein.
9.
Survival
of Agreement
. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Intercompany Lenders and the Intercompany
Debtors in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied
upon by the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders and
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender and notwithstanding
that the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may have
had notice or knowledge of any default hereunder or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time this Agreement is executed
and delivered and shall continue in full force and effect until
terminated in accordance with Section 17. The provisions of
Section 5 shall survive and remain in full force and effect
regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any provision
hereof. This Agreement shall apply in respect of the Obligations
notwithstanding any intermediate payment in whole or in part of the
Obligations and shall apply to the ultimate balance of the
Obligations.
10.
Counterparts;
Effectiveness; Several Agreement
. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective as to any Intercompany Lender or
Intercompany Debtor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of
such Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor shall have been
delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof
shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent and
delivered to the Borrower. This Agreement shall be construed as a
separate agreement with respect to each Intercompany Lender and
each Intercompany Debtor and may be amended, modified,
supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Intercompany
Lender or Intercompany Debtor without the approval of any other
Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor and without affecting
the obligations of any other Intercompany Lender or Intercompany
Debtor hereunder.
11.
Severability
.
In case any provision in or obligation hereunder shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
12.
Further
Assurances
. The Borrower, each other Intercompany Lender and
each other Intercompany Debtor agrees that it will execute any and
all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all
such further actions that may be required under any applicable law,
or that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the
purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of the
subordination provisions set forth herein and of the rights and
powers herein granted, all at the expense of the Borrower or such
Intercompany Lenders or such Intercompany Debtors.
13.
GOVERNING
LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS; APPOINTMENT OF
SERVICE OF PROCESS AGENT
.
(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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL
BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(a)
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR
ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, ANY
STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND ANY
APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE BORROWER, EACH OTHER
INTERCOMPANY LENDER AND EACH OTHER INTERCOMPANY DEBTOR HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT
OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY IT OR ANY OF ITS
AFFILIATES SHALL BE BROUGHT, AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED,
EXCLUSIVELY IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT
A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE
CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON
THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
OR ANY OTHER SENIOR LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION
OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER, ANY
OTHER INTERCOMPANY LENDER, ANY OTHER INTERCOMPANY DEBTOR OR ANY OF
ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(b)
Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any
court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 13. Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any defense of forum non conveniens to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.
(c)
Each
party hereto irrevocably consents to the service of process by
mailing of copies of such process in the manner provided for
notices in Section 6. Nothing in this Agreement will affect
the right of any party to this Agreement or any Secured Party to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
14.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS
TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR
ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO
ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, 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 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 14 AND
EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL
APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. IN
THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN
CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
15.
Headings
.
Article and Section headings used herein are for convenience of
reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect
the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in
interpreting, this Agreement.
16.
Provisions
Define Relative Rights
. The subordination provisions set
forth herein are intended solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the Intercompany Lenders and the Intercompany
Debtors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the
other Secured Parties, on the other, and no other Person shall have
any right, benefit or other interest under these subordination
provisions.
17.
Termination
.
This Agreement and the subordination provisions set forth herein
shall automatically terminate when all the Obligations (other than
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made and the
Specified Hedge Obligations and Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations) have been paid in full in cash or immediately
available funds, all Commitments have terminated and no Letter of
Credit shall be outstanding. If (a) any Restricted Subsidiary shall
have been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance
with the terms of the Credit Agreement or (b) all the Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary held by the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by
merger or consolidation) in any transaction permitted by the Credit
Agreement, and as a result of such sale or other disposition such
Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary of the
Borrower, then such Restricted Subsidiary shall, upon effectiveness
of such designation, or the consummation of such sale or other
disposition, automatically be discharged and released from its
obligations hereunder;
provided
that that no such
discharge and release shall occur unless substantially concurrently
therewith, such Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be subject to
any obligations under any subordination agreement with respect to
intercompany Indebtedness in favor of any Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness, any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness and
any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness.
18.
Additional
Subsidiaries
. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, certain
Restricted Subsidiaries not a party hereto on the Closing Date are
required to enter into this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery
to the Administrative Agent after the date hereof by any Restricted
Subsidiary of a counterpart signature page hereto, such Restricted
Subsidiary shall become a party hereto with the same force and
effect as if originally named as such herein. The execution and
delivery of such a counterpart signature page shall not require the
consent of any party hereto. The rights and obligations under this
Agreement of each other party hereto shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Restricted
Subsidiary as a party to this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
EXHIBIT
H
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
GLOBAL
INTERCOMPANY NOTE
May 4,
2018
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, each of the undersigned, to the extent a borrower
from time to time from any other Person listed on the signature
pages hereto (each, in such capacity, a “
Payor
”), hereby promises to pay on
demand to such other Person listed below (each, in such capacity, a
“
Payee
”), in
lawful money of the United States of America, or in such other
currency as agreed to by such Payor and such Payee, in immediately
available funds, at such location as such Payee shall from time to
time designate, the unpaid principal amount of all Indebtedness
owed by such Payor to such Payee. Each Payor promises also to pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of all such Indebtedness in
like money at said location from the date that such Indebtedness
was incurred until it is paid in full at such rate per annum as
shall be agreed upon from time to time by such Payor and such
Payee.
Reference is made
to (a) that certain First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated
as of May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “
First Lien Credit Agreement
”),
among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”),
certain subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders
party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
administrative agent and collateral agent (in its capacity as
collateral agent, the “
First
Lien Collateral Agent
”), and (b) that certain
Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the “
Second
Lien Credit Agreement
” and, together with the First
Lien Credit Agreement, the “
Credit Agreements
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
Second Lien Collateral
Agent
” and, together with the First Lien Collateral
Agent, the “
Collateral
Agents
”).
Capitalized terms
used in this Global Intercompany Note (this “
Note
”) but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, or in the Pledge and Security Agreement referred
to therein, or (b) the Second Lien Credit Agreement, or in the
Pledge and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable.
This
Note is subject to the terms of each Credit Agreement, and shall be
pledged by each Payee that is a Credit Party to each Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the related Secured Parties, pursuant to
the related Credit Documents as security for the payment and
performance in full of the Obligations under each Credit Agreement
and the related other Credit Documents, to the extent required
pursuant to the terms thereof. Each Payee hereby acknowledges and
agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default under a Credit Agreement, (a) the applicable
Collateral Agent may exercise any and all rights of any Credit
Party with respect to this Note and (b) upon demand of the
applicable Collateral Agent, all amounts evidenced by this Note
that are owed by any Payor to any Credit Party shall become
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest
or notice of any kind (it being understood that the applicable
Collateral Agent may make any such demand for all or any subset of
the amounts owing to such Credit Party and upon any or all Payors
obligated to such Credit Party, all without the consent or
permission of any Payor or Payee). Each Payor also hereby
acknowledges and agrees that this Note constitutes notice of
assignment for security, pursuant to the relevant Credit Documents,
of the Indebtedness and all other amounts evidenced by this Note
and further acknowledges the receipt of such notice of assignment
for security.
Upon
the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding, or any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceeding in connection therewith, in respect of any Payor owing
any amounts evidenced by this Note to any Credit Party, or in
respect of all or a substantial part of any such Payor’s
property, or upon the commencement of any proceeding for voluntary
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any such Payor, all
amounts evidenced by this Note owing by such Payor to any and all
Credit Parties shall become immediately due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind.
Each
Payee is hereby authorized to record all loans and advances made by
it to any Payor (all of which shall be evidenced by this Note), and
all repayments or prepayments thereof, in its books and records,
such books and records constituting prima facie evidence of the
accuracy of the information contained therein;
provided
,
however
, that the failure of
any such Payee to so record any such information in accordance with
this clause shall not affect any such Payor’s obligations
hereunder.
Each
Payor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest or
notice of any kind whatsoever in connection with this Note. All
payments under this Note shall be made without set-off,
counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
This
Note shall be binding upon each Payor and its successors and
assigns, and the terms and provisions of this Note shall inure to
the benefit of each Payee and its successors and assigns, including
subsequent holders hereof.
From
time to time after the date hereof, additional Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Borrower may become parties hereto (as Payor
and/or Payee, as the case may be) by executing a counterpart
signature page to this Note (each additional Restricted Subsidiary,
an “
Additional
Party
”). Upon delivery of such counterpart signature
page to the Payees, notice of which is hereby waived by the other
Payors, each Additional Party shall be a Payor and/or a Payee, as
the case may be, and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such
Additional Party were an original signatory hereof. Each Payor
expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not
be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other
Payor or Payee hereunder. This Note shall be fully effective as to
any Payor or Payee that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of
whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be
a Payor or Payee hereunder.
No
amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent with respect to,
any provisions of this Note shall be effective unless the same
shall be in writing and signed and delivered by each Payor and
Payee whose rights or obligations shall be affected
thereby;
provided
that, until such time as (a) all the Obligations (other than
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made and the
Specified Hedge Obligations and Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations) under each Credit Agreement and the related other
Credit Documents have been paid in full in cash or immediately
available funds, (b) all Commitments have terminated and (c) no
Letter of Credit shall be outstanding, as applicable, each
Administrative Agent shall have provided its prior written consent
to such amendment, modification, waiver or consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
THIS
NOTE AND ALL INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS OF (a) THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (AS AMENDED,
RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE
“
FIRST LIEN INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
”), AMONG THE
BORROWER, SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER PARTY THERETO AND WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THE
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT, AND (b) THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (AS AMENDED,
RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE
“
SECOND LIEN INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
” AND, TOGETHER
WITH THE FIRST LIEN INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION
AGREEMENT, THE “
INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS
”), AMONG THE
BORROWER, SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER PARTY THERETO AND WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THE
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED
HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, NEITHER THE PRINCIPAL OF NOR THE INTEREST
ON, NOR ANY OTHER AMOUNTS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF, ANY INDEBTEDNESS
CREATED OR EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE SHALL BE PAID OR PAYABLE, EXCEPT
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS, WHICH ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE WITH THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF FULLY SET FORTH
HEREIN.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
PAYORS:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION,
LLC
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION, LLC
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND,
INC.
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLCBIRCH MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLCPRIMUS HOLDINGS, INC.FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION
CORP.,
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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PRIMUS
MANAGEMENT ULCBIRCAN MANAGEMENT ULC,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature
Page to Global Intercompany Note]
PAYEES:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
|
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION,
LLC
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION, LLC
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND,
INC.
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLCBIRCH MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLCPRIMUS HOLDINGS, INC.FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION
CORP.,
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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PRIMUS
MANAGEMENT ULCBIRCAN MANAGEMENT ULC,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature
Page to Global Intercompany Note]
EXHIBIT
I
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
[See
attached]
EXHIBIT
J
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
420
Lexington Avenue
Suite
1718
New
York, New York 10170
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Attention:
Josh James
Telephone:
(612) 217-5637
Fax:
(612) 217-5651
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
[Issuing
Bank and address]
ISSUANCE NOTICE
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
Pursuant to
Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower desires that
a Letter of Credit be [issued][amended][extended]
43
(the
“
Credit
Extension
”) in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Credit Agreement on [ ], 20[ ] (the
“
Credit
Date
”).
44
Attached hereto for
each such [issuance][amendment][extension] are the
following:
45
1.
the stated amount
of the requested Letter of Credit;
2.
the name and
address of the beneficiary;
3.
the expiration
date; and
4.
either (i) the
verbatim text of such requested Letter of Credit or (ii) a
description of the proposed terms and conditions of such Letter of
Credit, including a precise description of any documents to be
presented by the beneficiary that, if presented by the beneficiary
prior to the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, would
require the Issuing Bank to make payment under such Letter of
Credit.
The
Borrower hereby certifies that:
5.
as of the
applicable Credit Date and after giving effect to such Credit
Extension (i) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments does
not exceed the Total Revolving Commitments, (ii) the Letter of
Credit Usage does not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and
(iii) the Letter of Credit Usage attributable to Letters of
Credit issued by the Issuing Bank does not exceed the Letter of
Credit Issuing Commitment of the Issuing Bank;
6.
the representations
and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Credit
Documents are true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified or modified as to
materiality in the text thereof, in all respects, and (ii)
otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and as of the
applicable Credit Date, except in the case of any such
representation and warranty that expressly relates to an earlier
date, in which case such representation and warranty is so true and
correct on and as of such earlier date; and
7.
at the time of and
immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension, no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
Date: [ ], 20[
]
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
K
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[See
attached]
EXHIBIT
L
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE
Date:
May 4, 2018
To the
Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders
party
to the Credit Agreement referred to below:
Pursuant Section
3.1(h) of the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent, the undersigned, solely in the
undersigned’s capacity as the chief financial officer of the
Borrower, hereby certifies, on behalf of the Borrower and not in
the undersigned’s individual or personal capacity and without
personal liability, that, as of the Closing Date, after giving
effect to the Transactions contemplated thereby (including the
making of the Loans on the Closing Date and the application of the
proceeds thereof):
(a) the
sum of the debt and other liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value
of the present assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis;
(b) the
capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as
conducted or proposed to be conducted, on a consolidated
basis;
(c) the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not
incurred and do not intend to incur, or believe (nor should they
reasonably believe) that they will incur, debts and liabilities
(including contingent liabilities), on a consolidated basis, beyond
the ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due
(whether at maturity or otherwise); and
(d) the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are
“solvent” within the meaning given to that term and
similar terms under any applicable Debtor Relief Laws and other
applicable laws relating to preferences, fraudulent transfers and
conveyances or transfers undervalue.
For
purposes of this Solvency Certificate, the amount of any contingent
liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in
light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time,
represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an
actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such
contingent liability meets the criteria for accrual under
GAAP).
Capitalized terms
used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned is familiar with the business and financial position of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries. In reaching the conclusions set
forth in this Solvency Certificate, the undersigned has made such
investigations and inquiries as the undersigned has deemed
appropriate, having taken into account the nature of the business
proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries after
consummation of the Transactions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has
executed this Solvency Certificate, solely in the
undersigned’s capacity as the chief financial officer of the
Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower and not in the
undersigned’s individual or personal capacity and without
personal liability, as of the date first stated above.
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
|
by
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Name:
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Title:
|
EXHIBIT
M
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL QUESTIONNAIRE
Reference is made
to (a) the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (the “
First
Lien Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
as collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
First Lien Collateral
Agent
”), and (b) the Second Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (the
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” and, together with the First Lien Credit
Agreement, the “
Credit
Agreements
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
as collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
Second Lien Collateral
Agent
” and, together with the First Lien Collateral
Agent, the “
Collateral
Agents
”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings specified in (i) the First
Lien Credit Agreement or the Pledge and Security Agreement referred
to therein or (ii) the Second Lien Credit Agreement or the Pledge
and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable.
This
Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire dated as of
[ ], 20[
] is delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(k) of each Credit Agreement,
and supplements the information set forth in the Collateral
Questionnaire delivered on the Closing Date (as supplemented from
time to time by each Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire
delivered after the Closing Date and prior to the date hereof, the
“
Prior Collateral
Questionnaire
”) with respect to each Credit Party
(which term, for purposes of this Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire, shall be deemed to include each New Subsidiary as
defined in each Pledge and Security Agreement).
The
undersigned, an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, solely in
his/her capacity as an Authorized Officer, and not individually and
without personal liability, hereby certifies to each Collateral
Agent and the related other Secured Parties as
follows:
SECTION1.
Legal
Names
. Schedule 1 hereto sets forth the exact legal name of
each Credit Party, as such name appears in its certificate of
organization, and indicates changes, if any, in the foregoing
information compared to the information set forth on Schedule 1 of
the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION2.
Jurisdictions
and Locations
. Schedule 2A hereto sets forth (a) the
jurisdiction of organization and the form of organization of each
Credit Party, (b) the organizational identification number, if
any, assigned to each Credit Party by such jurisdiction and the
federal taxpayer identification number, if any, of such Credit
Party and (c) the address (including the county) of the chief
executive office of each Credit Party, and indicates changes, if
any, in the foregoing information compared to the information set
forth on Schedule 2A of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION3.
Status
of Filings
. All UCC financing statements (including fixtures
filings and transmitting utility filings, as applicable) and all
Intellectual Property Security Agreements or supplements thereto
have been filed of record in each applicable governmental office in
order that, to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing UCC
financing statements and recordation of a security agreement with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, the security interests created under the
Collateral Documents (as defined in each Credit Agreement) shall be
perfected for a period of not less than 18 months after the date of
this Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire (except as noted in
Schedule 3 hereto with respect to any continuation statements to be
filed within such period).
SECTION4.
Equity
Interests
. Schedule 4 hereto sets forth a true and complete
list, for each Credit Party, of all the stock, partnership
interests, limited liability company membership interests or other
Equity Interests owned by such Credit Party, specifying the issuer
and certificate number of (if certificated), and the number and
percentage of ownership represented by, such Equity Interests, and
indicates changes, if any, in such list compared to the list set
forth on Schedule 4 of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION5.
Debt
Instruments
. Schedule 5 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list, for each Credit Party, of all debt securities,
promissory notes and other evidence of Indebtedness held by such
Credit Party, including (a) all intercompany notes between or among
the Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) all
promissory notes in the principal amount of $1,000,000 or more owed
to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, in each case specifying
the creditor and debtor thereunder and the type and outstanding
principal amount thereof, and indicates changes, if any, in such
list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 5 of the Prior
Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION6.
Material
Real Estate Assets
. Schedule 6 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list, with respect to each Material Real Estate Asset, of
(a) the exact name of the Person that owns such property, as such
name appears in its certificate of organization or formation, (b)
if different from the name identified pursuant to clause (a) above,
the name of the current record owner of such property, as such name
appears in the records of the county recorder’s office for
such property identified pursuant to clause (c) below, and (c)
the county recorder’s office in which a Mortgage with respect
to such property must be filed or recorded in order for each
Collateral Agent to provide constructive notice to third parties of
its mortgage lien.
SECTION7.
Intellectual
Property
. Schedule 7 hereto sets forth, in proper form for
filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the
United States Copyright Office, as applicable, a true and complete
list of each Credit Party’s (a) Copyrights, Copyright
Applications and exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party
is a licensee), (b) Patents and Patent Applications and
(c) Trademarks and Trademark Applications, in each case
specifying the name of the registered owner, title, type or mark,
registration or application number, expiration date (if already
registered) (except with respect to Copyrights and exclusive
Copyright Licenses) or filing date, a brief description thereof
and, if applicable, the licensee and licensor, and indicates
changes, if any, in such list compared to the list set forth on
Schedule 7 of the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION8.
Commercial
Tort Claims
. Schedule 8 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of commercial tort claims in excess of $2,000,000
held by any Credit Party, including a brief description thereof,
and indicates changes, if any, in such list compared to the list
set forth on Schedule 8 of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION9.
Insurance
.
Schedule 9 hereto sets forth a true and complete list of all
insurance policies (including life and disability insurance
policies) maintained by the Credit Parties, and indicates changes,
if any, in such list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 9
of the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION10.
Other
Collateral
. Schedule 10 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of all of the following types of collateral, if any,
owned or held by each Credit Party, and indicates changes, if any,
in such list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 10 of the
Prior Collateral Questionnaire: (a) all agreements and contracts
with any Governmental Authority, (b) all FCC Licenses and (c) all
state telecommunications licenses.
SECTION11.
Unusual
Transactions
. All Accounts of the Credit Parties have been
originated by the Credit Parties in the ordinary course of
business.
SECTION12.
Transmitting
Utility Companies
. Schedule 12 hereto sets forth (a) the
exact legal name of any Credit Party that may be a transmitting
utility (as defined in the UCC) and (b) the address(es) where such
Credit Party owns any fixtures.
[Signature
page follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this
Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire on this [ ] day of [ ], 20[
].
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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Schedule 1
Legal Names
Exact Legal Name
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French Form of Name (if applicable)
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Schedule 2A
Jurisdictions and Locations
Credit Party
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Jurisdiction of Organization
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Form of Organization
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Organizational Identification Number(if any)
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Federal Taxpayer Identification Number
(if any)
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Chief Executive Office Address
(including county)
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Schedule 3
Continuation Statement Filings
Credit Party
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Jurisdiction of Organization
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UCC Financing Statement
to be Continued
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Schedule 4
Equity Interests
Credit Party
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Issuer
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Type of Organization
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Number of Shares Owned
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Total Shares Outstanding
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Percentage of Interest Pledged
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Certificate No
. (if uncertificated,
please indicate so)
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Schedule 5
Debt Instruments
Credit Party
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Debtor
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Type of Instrument
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Outstanding Principal Amount
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Schedule 6
Material Real Estate Assets
Credit Party/Name of Owner
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Name/Address/City/State/Zip Code
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County/ Parish
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UCC Filing Office/Local Filing Office
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Schedule 7
Intellectual Property
Registered Owner
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Title
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Registration Number
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Expiration Date
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II.
Copyright Applications
Registered Owner
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Title
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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III.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party is a
licensee)
Licensee
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Licensor
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Title
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Registration Number
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Expiration Date
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Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Country
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Type
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Registration Number
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Issue Date
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Expiration
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Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Country
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Type
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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Registered
Owner
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Mark
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Country
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Application
No.
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Registration
No.
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Registration
Date
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Expiration
Date
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VII.
Trademark Applications
Registered Owner
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Mark
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Country
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Application No.
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Filing Date
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Schedule 8
Commercial Tort Claims
Schedule 9
Insurance
Insurance Policy Coverage
|
Scope of Coverage
|
Lead Insurance Carrier
|
Limit of Liability
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Term
|
Deductibles or Self-Insured Retention
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Schedule 10
Other Collateral
Schedule 12
Transmitting Utility
Credit Party
|
Jurisdiction where Transmitting Utility Equipment is
Held
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EXHIBIT N
TO FUSION CONNECT,
INC.
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF [REVOLVING][TERM] NOTE
[$_________]
46
|
[ ],
20__
|
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, FUSION CONNECT, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), hereby unconditionally
promises to pay to ________________________ (the
“
Lender
”) or its
registered assigns, in lawful money of the United States of America
and in same day funds, [(a) the principal amount of ____________
DOLLARS ($___________) or (b) if less,]
47
the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of all [Revolving][Tranche A Term][Tranche
B Term] Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the
First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4,
2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “
Credit
Agreement
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
collateral agent, on such dates and in such amounts as are set
forth in the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this Note
but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Credit Agreement.
The
Borrower also promises to pay interest in like money on the unpaid
principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding from and
including the date hereof until maturity (whether by acceleration
or otherwise) and, after maturity, until paid, at the rates per
annum and on the dates specified in the Credit
Agreement.
The
holder of this Note (this “
Note
”) is authorized to endorse on
Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof or on a
continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part
hereof the date, Type and amount of each [Revolving][Tranche A
Term][Tranche B Term] Loan made pursuant to the Credit Agreement
and the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal
thereof, each continuation thereof, each conversion of all or a
portion thereof to another Type and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the length of each Interest Period with respect thereto.
The failure to make any such endorsement shall not affect the
obligations of the Borrower in respect of any such
[Revolving][Tranche A Term][Tranche B Term] Loan.
This
Note (a) is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement,
(b) is subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement and (c) is
subject to optional prepayment in whole or in part as provided in
the Credit Agreement. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for
provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof. This Note
may not be transferred except in compliance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement. Transfers of this Note must be recorded in the
Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the
terms of the Credit Agreement.
THIS
NOTE 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL
BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
________________________________
Name:
Title:
LOANS,
CONTINUATIONS, CONVERSIONS AND
REPAYMENTS
OF EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS
Date
|
Amount
of Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Amount
Continued or Converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Interest
Period and Eurodollar Rate with Respect Thereto
|
Amount
of Principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans Repaid
|
Amount
of Eurodollar Rate Loans Converted to Base Rate Loans
|
Unpaid
Principal Balance of Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Notation
Made By
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LOANS,
CONVERSIONS AND
REPAYMENTS
OF BASE RATE LOANS
Date
|
Amount
of Base Rate Loans
|
Amount
Convertedto Base Rate Loans
|
Amount
of Principal of Base Rate Loans Repaid
|
Amount
of Base Rate Loans Converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Unpaid
Principal Balance of Base Rate Loans
|
Notation
Made By
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EXHIBIT
O-1
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the First Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(3) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s)
evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this
certificate, (b) it is not a bank within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (c) it is
not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code and (d) it
is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as
described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
The
undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
with a certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN
or W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the
undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (b) the undersigned
shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
EXHIBIT
O-2
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the First Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of
which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a bank within
the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code,
(c) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the
meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and
(d) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a
certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or
W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the
undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such
Lender in writing, and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times
furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]
EXHIBIT
O-3
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the First Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record owner of the participation in respect of which it is
providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect
partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such
participation, (c) with respect to such participation, neither the
undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a
bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in
the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (d) none of its
direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of
the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect
partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form
W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its
partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption:
(a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (b) an IRS
Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as
applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s
beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest
exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees
that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes,
the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the
undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a
properly completed and currently effective certificate in either
the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the
undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such
payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]
EXHIBIT
O-4
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
FIRST
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For US Federal Income
Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the First Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such
Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b)
its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial
owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such
Loan(s)), (c) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant
to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, neither the
undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a
bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in
the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (d) none of its
direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of
the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect
partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from
each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio
interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as
applicable, or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form
W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such
partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming
the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate,
the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (ii) the undersigned
shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date:
________ __, 20[ ]
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
dated as of May 4, 2018,
among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.,
as Borrower,
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF FUSION CONNECT, INC.,
as Guarantor Subsidiaries,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
________________________________________________________
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
and
MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
as Syndication Agent
________________________________________________________
$85,000,000 Senior Secured Second Lien Credit Facility
________________________________________________________
THE
TRANCHE B TERM LOANS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT WERE ISSUED
WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ.
OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED FROM
TIME TO TIME. BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING
DATE, A LENDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE TRANCHE B TERM
LOANS BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE
BORROWER AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SCHEDULE 10.01.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1.
|
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
1.1.
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2.
|
Accounting Terms; Pro Forma Calculations
|
62
|
1.3.
|
Interpretation, Etc
|
63
|
1.4.
|
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
|
64
|
1.5.
|
Conditionality Testing Date
|
64
|
1.6.
|
Effectuation of Transactions
|
64
|
SECTION 2.
|
LOANS
|
65
|
2.1.
|
Loans
|
65
|
2.2.
|
[Reserved]
|
65
|
2.3.
|
[Reserved]
|
66
|
2.4.
|
Pro Rata Shares; Obligations Several; Availability of
Funds
|
66
|
2.5.
|
Use of Proceeds
|
66
|
2.6.
|
Evidence of Debt; Register; Notes
|
67
|
2.7.
|
Interest on Loans
|
67
|
2.8.
|
Conversion/Continuation
|
68
|
2.9.
|
Default Interest
|
69
|
2.10.
|
Fees
|
69
|
2.11.
|
Scheduled Installments; Repayment on Maturity Date
|
70
|
2.12.
|
Voluntary Prepayments; Call Protection
|
70
|
2.13.
|
Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions
|
71
|
2.14.
|
Application of Prepayments; Waivable Mandatory
Prepayments
|
75
|
2.15.
|
General Provisions Regarding Payments
|
76
|
2.16.
|
Ratable Sharing
|
77
|
2.17.
|
Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
77
|
2.18.
|
Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy and Liquidity
|
80
|
2.19.
|
Taxes; Withholding, Etc
|
81
|
2.20.
|
Obligation to Mitigate
|
85
|
2.21.
|
Defaulting Lenders
|
85
|
2.22.
|
Replacement of Lenders
|
85
|
2.23.
|
Incremental Facilities
|
86
|
2.24.
|
Extension/Modification Offers
|
88
|
2.25.
|
Refinancing Facilities
|
89
|
SECTION 3.
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
90
|
3.1.
|
Closing Date
|
90
|
3.2.
|
Each Credit Extension
|
94
|
SECTION 4.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
94
|
4.1.
|
Organization; Requisite Power and Authority;
Qualification
|
94
|
4.2.
|
Equity Interests and Ownership
|
95
|
4.3.
|
Due Authorization
|
95
|
4.4.
|
No Conflict
|
95
|
4.5.
|
Governmental Approvals
|
95
|
4.6.
|
Binding Obligation
|
95
|
4.7.
|
Historical Financial Statements; Projections; Pro Forma Financial
Statements
|
96
|
4.8.
|
No Material Adverse Effect
|
96
|
4.9.
|
Adverse Proceedings
|
96
|
4.10.
|
Payment of Taxes
|
96
|
4.11.
|
Properties
|
97
|
4.12.
|
Environmental Matters
|
97
|
4.13.
|
No Defaults
|
97
|
4.14.
|
Investment Company Act
|
97
|
4.15.
|
Federal Reserve Regulations
|
97
|
4.16.
|
Employee Benefit Plans
|
98
|
4.17.
|
Solvency
|
98
|
4.18.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
98
|
4.19.
|
Disclosure
|
99
|
4.20.
|
Collateral Matters
|
99
|
4.21.
|
Sanctioned Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; PATRIOT Act
|
100
|
4.22.
|
Communications Regulatory Matters
|
100
|
SECTION 5.
|
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
101
|
5.1.
|
Financial Statements and Other Reports
|
101
|
5.2.
|
Existence, Licenses, Etc
|
104
|
5.3.
|
Payment of Taxes
|
104
|
5.4.
|
Maintenance of Properties
|
104
|
5.5.
|
Insurance
|
105
|
5.6.
|
Books and Records; Inspections
|
106
|
5.7.
|
Lenders Meetings
|
106
|
5.8.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
106
|
5.9.
|
Environmental Matters
|
106
|
5.10.
|
Subsidiaries
|
107
|
5.11.
|
Additional Collateral
|
107
|
5.12.
|
Further Assurances
|
107
|
5.13.
|
Maintenance of Ratings
|
107
|
5.14.
|
Use of Proceeds
|
107
|
5.15.
|
Post-Closing Matters
|
108
|
SECTION 6.
|
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
108
|
6.1.
|
Indebtedness
|
108
|
6.2.
|
Liens
|
113
|
6.3.
|
No Further Negative Pledges
|
116
|
6.4.
|
Restricted Junior Payments
|
117
|
6.5.
|
Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
|
119
|
6.6.
|
Investments
|
120
|
6.7.
|
Financial Covenants
|
123
|
6.8.
|
Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets; Equity Interests of
Subsidiaries
|
124
|
6.9.
|
Sales and Leasebacks
|
126
|
6.10.
|
Transactions with Affiliates
|
126
|
6.11.
|
Conduct of Business
|
127
|
6.12.
|
Hedge Agreements
|
127
|
6.13.
|
Amendments or Waivers of Organizational Documents and Certain
Agreements
|
127
|
6.14.
|
Fiscal Year
|
127
|
SECTION 7.
|
GUARANTEE
|
127
|
7.1.
|
Guarantee of the Obligations
|
127
|
7.2.
|
Indemnity by the Borrower; Contribution by the
Guarantors
|
128
|
7.3.
|
Liability of Guarantors Absolute
|
129
|
7.4.
|
Waivers by the Guarantors
|
130
|
7.5.
|
Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution,
Etc
|
131
|
7.6.
|
Continuing Guarantee
|
131
|
7.7.
|
Authority of the Guarantors or the Borrower
|
131
|
7.8.
|
Financial Condition of the Credit Parties
|
131
|
7.9.
|
Bankruptcy, Etc
|
132
|
SECTION 8.
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
132
|
8.1.
|
Events of Default
|
132
|
SECTION 9.
|
AGENTS
|
135
|
9.1.
|
Appointment of Agents
|
135
|
9.2.
|
Powers and Duties
|
136
|
9.3.
|
General Immunity
|
136
|
9.4.
|
Acts in Individual Capacity
|
138
|
9.5.
|
Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and
Acknowledgments
|
138
|
9.6.
|
Right to Indemnity
|
139
|
9.7.
|
Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
|
140
|
9.8.
|
Collateral Documents and Obligations Guarantee
|
141
|
9.9.
|
Withholding Taxes
|
143
|
9.10.
|
Administrative Agent May File Bankruptcy Disclosure and Proofs of
Claim
|
144
|
9.11.
|
Certain ERISA Matters
|
144
|
9.12.
|
Concerning the Vector Facility Arrangements
|
146
|
SECTION 10.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
147
|
10.1.
|
Notices
|
147
|
10.2.
|
Expenses
|
149
|
10.3.
|
Indemnity
|
149
|
10.4.
|
Set-Off
|
150
|
10.5.
|
Amendments and Waivers
|
150
|
10.6.
|
Successors and Assigns; Participations
|
154
|
10.7.
|
Independence of Covenants
|
159
|
10.8.
|
Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
|
159
|
10.9.
|
No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative
|
160
|
10.10.
|
Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
|
160
|
10.11.
|
Severability
|
160
|
10.12.
|
Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights
|
160
|
10.13.
|
Headings
|
160
|
10.14.
|
APPLICABLE LAW
|
161
|
10.15.
|
CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
|
161
|
10.16.
|
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
161
|
10.17.
|
Confidentiality
|
162
|
10.18.
|
Usury Savings Clause
|
163
|
10.19.
|
Counterparts
|
163
|
10.20.
|
Effectiveness; Entire Agreement
|
163
|
10.21.
|
PATRIOT Act
|
163
|
10.22.
|
Electronic Execution of Assignments
|
163
|
10.23.
|
No Fiduciary Duty
|
164
|
10.24.
|
Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
|
164
|
10.25.
|
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial
Institutions
|
165
|
SCHEDULES:
2.1
Commitments
4.2
Equity
Interests and Ownership
6.5
Restrictions on
Subsidiary Distributions
6.10
Affiliate
Transactions
EXHIBITS:
A
Assignment
Agreement
B
Closing
Date Certificate
D
Conversion/Continuation
Notice
G
Intercompany
Indebtedness Subordination Agreement
I
Intercreditor
Agreement
J
Pledge
and Security Agreement
L
Supplemental
Collateral Questionnaire
N-1
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
N-2
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For
US Federal Income Tax Purposes
N-3
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
N-4
Form of US Tax
Certificate For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For US
Federal Income Tax Purposes
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT
dated as of May 4, 2018, among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, a Delaware
corporation (the
“
Borrower
”),
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER
party hereto, as Guarantor Subsidiaries, the
LENDERS
party hereto and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington
Trust
”), as Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent.
The
Lenders have agreed to extend a credit facility to the Borrower
consisting of Tranche B Term Loans in an aggregate principal
amount of $85,000,000.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the
premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION
1.
DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATION
1.1.
Definitions
.
As
used in this Agreement (including the recitals hereto), the
following terms have the meanings specified below:
“
Acquired Company
” means Birch
Communications Holdings, Inc., a Georgia corporation.
“
Acquired Company Indemnity Letter
Agreement
” means the letter agreement dated August 26,
2017, pursuant to which BCHI Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company, agreed to indemnify the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries with respect to certain Adverse Proceedings, as such
letter agreement is in effect on the Closing Date.
“
Acquisition
” means the purchase or
other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions,
including pursuant to any merger or consolidation) of all or
substantially all the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in,
or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially
all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line
or line of business of), any Person.
“
Acquisition Consideration
” means,
with respect to any Acquisition, the purchase consideration for
such Acquisition, whether paid in Cash or other property (valued at
the fair value thereof, as determined reasonably and in good faith
by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower), but excluding any
component thereof consisting of Equity Interests in the Borrower
(other than any Disqualified Equity Interests) and whether payable
at or prior to the consummation of such Acquisition or deferred for
payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment
is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and including (a)
any earnouts and other agreements to make any payment the amount of
which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect
subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flows or
profits (or the like) of the Person or assets being acquired,
provided
that any
such future payment that is subject to a contingency shall be
considered Acquisition Consideration only to the extent of the
reserve, if any, required under GAAP to be established by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect thereof at the
time of the consummation of such Acquisition, and (b) the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with such Acquisition.
“
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate
” means,
for any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per
annum obtained by dividing (a) (i) the rate per annum
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate that appears
on the page of the Reuters Screen that displays the London
interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark
Administration (or any other Person that takes over the
administration of such rate) (such page currently being LIBOR01
page) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars,
determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the
Interest Rate Determination Date for such Interest Period, or
(ii) in the event the rate referred to in the preceding
clause (i) does not appear on such page or if the Reuters
Screen shall cease to be available, the rate per annum determined
by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other
page or other service that displays the London interbank offered
rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other
Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for
deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period)
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars,
determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Interest Rate Determination Date, by (b) an amount equal to
one minus the Applicable Reserve Requirement;
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, (A) if the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, determined
as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be deemed to be zero and (B) in
the case of Tranche B Term Loans, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate
shall at no time be less than 1.00% per annum.
“
Administrative Agent
” means
Wilmington Trust, in its capacity as administrative agent for the
Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and its
successors in such capacity as provided in Section 9.
“
Administrative Agent Fee Letter
”
means the Fee Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, between
Wilmington Trust and the Borrower.
“
Adverse Proceeding
” means any
action, suit, proceeding, hearing or investigation, in each case
whether administrative, judicial or otherwise, by or before any
Governmental Authority or any arbitrator, that is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, threatened in
writing against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any
property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“
Affected Lender
” as defined in
Section 2.17(b).
“
Affected Loans
” as defined in
Section 2.17(b).
“
Affiliate
” means, with respect to
any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling,
Controlled by or under common Control with the Person specified;
provided
that for
purposes of Section 6.10, the term “Affiliate”
also means any Person that directly or indirectly beneficially owns
Equity Interests in the Person specified representing 10% or more
of the aggregate ordinary voting power or the aggregate equity
value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in
the Person specified and any Person that would be an Affiliate of
any such beneficial owner pursuant to this definition (but without
giving effect to this proviso).
“
Agent
” means each of (a) the
Administrative Agent, (b) the Collateral Agent, (c) the Syndication
Agent, (d) the Arrangers and (e) any other Person appointed under
the Credit Documents to serve in an agent or similar capacity,
including any Auction Manager.
“
Aggregate Amounts Due
” as defined
in Section 2.16.
“
Aggregate Payments
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
Agreement
” means this Second Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4,
2018.
“
Anti-Corruption Laws
”
as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
Applicable ECF Percentage
” means,
with respect to any Fiscal Year, (a) 50% if the Total Net Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is greater than
2.90:1.00, (b) 25% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the
last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than 2.90:1.00 but
greater than 2.40:1.00 and (c) 0% if the Total Net Leverage Ratio
as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is equal to or less than
2.40:1.00.
“
Applicable Rate
” means, on any
day, (a) with respect to any Tranche B Term Loan, (i) 9.50%
per annum, in the case of a Base Rate Loan, and (ii) 10.50% per
annum, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (b) with respect
to Loans of any other Class, the rate per annum specified in the
Incremental Facility Agreement, the Extension/Modification
Agreement or the Refinancing Facility Agreement, as the case may
be, establishing Loans of such Class.
“
Applicable Reserve Requirement
”
means, at any time, for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the maximum rate,
expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including any basic,
marginal, special, supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are
required to be maintained by member banks of the United States
Federal Reserve System against “Eurocurrency
liabilities” (as such term is defined in Regulation D) under
regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors or
other applicable banking regulator. Without limiting the effect of
the foregoing, the Applicable Reserve Requirement shall reflect any
other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks with
respect to (a) any category of liabilities that includes deposits
by reference to which the applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
any other interest rate for a Loan is to be determined or (b) any
category of extensions of credit or other assets that includes
Eurodollar Rate Loans. A Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be deemed to
constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed
subject to reserve requirements without the benefit of credits for
proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to
time to the applicable Lender. The rate of interest on Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Applicable Reserve
Requirement.
“
Approved Cost Savings
” means
“run rate” net cost savings, operating expense
reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
attributable to (a) the Transactions and reflected in the model
delivered to the Arrangers prior to the Closing Date or (b) the
Specified Acquisition and reflected in the quality of earnings
report delivered to the Arrangers in respect of the Specified
Acquisition prior to the Closing Date;
provided
that, in the case of
this clause (b), (i) such Acquisition is consummated on or prior to
December 31, 2018 and (ii) the Approved Cost Savings permitted by
this clause (b) shall not exceed $16,700,000 in the
aggregate.
“
Approved Electronic
Communications
” means any notice, demand,
communication, information, document or other material that any
Credit Party, or its counsel or advisors, provides to any Agent
that is distributed to any Agent or any Lender by means of
electronic communications pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
“
Arrangers
” means Goldman Sachs,
MSSF and MUFG, each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and
joint bookrunner for the credit facility established under this
Agreement.
“
Asset Sale
” means any Disposition
of assets (other than Dispositions made in reliance on Section
6.8(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii)), other than
any such Disposition (or series of related Dispositions) resulting
in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding $5,000,000 during any
Fiscal Year.
“
Assignment Agreement
” means an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A, with such amendments or modifications thereto as
may be approved by the Administrative Agent.
“
Assignment Effective
Date
”
as
defined in Section 10.6(b).
“
Auction
” as defined in Section
10.6(i)(i).
“
Auction Manager
” means (a) the
Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution agreed
to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (whether or not an
Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an auction manager
in connection with any Auction;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Manager
without the prior 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 Manager).
“
Authorized Officer
” means, with
respect to any Person, any individual holding the position of chief
executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer,
secretary, assistant secretary, executive vice president or senior
vice president of such Person;
provided
that, when such term
is used in reference to any document executed by, or a
certification of, an Authorized Officer, the secretary or assistant
secretary of such Person shall have delivered an incumbency
certificate to the Administrative Agent as to the authority of such
individual.
“
Available Basket Amount
” means, as
of any date:
(a) the
Available Excess Cash Flow Amount as of such date;
plus
(b) the
Declined Mandatory Prepayment Retained Amount as of such date;
plus
(c) [reserved];
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount of Returns and, without duplication, dividends,
distributions and other returns on capital received in Cash or Cash
Equivalents as of such date in respect of any Acquisition or other
Investments made (or deemed made pursuant to the definition of the
term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”) using the Available
Basket Amount,
provided
that the aggregate
amount by which the Available Basket Amount is increased pursuant
to this clause (d) in respect of any Acquisition or other
Investment shall not exceed the amount by which the Available
Basket Amount shall have been reduced on account of the Acquisition
Consideration with respect to such Acquisition or the original
amount of any such other Investment;
plus
(e) without
duplication of amounts otherwise increasing the Available Basket
Amount pursuant to clause (d) above, in the event any Unrestricted
Subsidiary has been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or has
been merged or consolidated with the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary (where the surviving entity in such merger or
consolidation is the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), or
transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or
is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, on or
prior to such date, the lesser of (i) the amount of all Investments
made using the Available Basket Amount in such Unrestricted
Subsidiary (including any such Investment deemed made pursuant to
the definition of the term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”),
net of the aggregate amount, if any, by which the Available Basket
Amount shall have been increased prior to such time in respect of
such Investments pursuant to clause (d) above, and (ii) the fair
value of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (as determined reasonably and
in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower) at the time
it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or the time of such
merger, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or liquidation, as
applicable;
minus
(f) the
portion of the Available Basket Amount utilized after the Closing
Date and on or prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.4(j)
or 6.6(n), with the utilization pursuant to Section 6.6(n) for
any Acquisition being the Acquisition Consideration in respect
thereof and the utilization pursuant to Section 6.6(n) for any
other Investment (or any deemed Investment in respect of any
designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) being the amount thereof
as of the date the applicable Investment is made, determined in
accordance with the definition of “Investment” (or the
definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”).
“
Available Excess Cash Flow Amount
”
means, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum, for the Fiscal
Years of the Borrower in respect of which financial statements and
the related Compliance Certificate have been delivered in
accordance with Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(c), and for which
prepayments required by Section 2.13(e) (if any) have been made, in
each case on or prior to such date (commencing with the Fiscal Year
ending December 31, 2019), of the products of (a) the amount of
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow (to the extent such amount exceeds
zero) for each such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(b) the
Retained ECF Percentage for such Fiscal Year (it being understood
that the Retained ECF Percentage of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
for any such Fiscal Year shall be included in the Available Excess
Cash Flow Amount regardless of whether a prepayment is required for
such Fiscal Year under Section 2.13(e)).
“
Bail-In Action
” means the exercise
of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA
Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA
Financial Institution.
“
Bail-In Legislation
” means, with
respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of
Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member
Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In
Legislation Schedule.
“
Bankruptcy Code
” means
Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
“Bankruptcy”.
“
Base Rate
” means, for any day, the
rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in
effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect
on such day plus ½ of 1% per annum and (c) the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate that would be applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan
with an Interest Period of one month commencing on such day plus
1%;
provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Base Rate,
determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than 1.00%
per annum, then the Base Rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum
and (ii) in the case of Tranche B Term Loans, the Base Rate
shall at no time be less than 2.00% per annum. Any change in the
Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds
Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be effective
on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal
Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, as the case
may be.
“
Base Rate Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Base Rate Loans.
“
Base Rate Loan
” means a Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base
Rate.
“
Board of Governors
” means the
Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve
System.
“
Borrower
” as defined in the
preamble hereto.
“
Borrowing
”
means Loans of the same Class and
Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case
of Eurodollar Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is
in effect.
“
Business Day
” means any day other
than a Saturday or Sunday, a day that is a legal holiday under the
laws of the State of New York or a day on which banking
institutions located in such State are authorized or required by
law to remain closed;
provided
that, with respect to
all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection
with the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such
day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar
deposits in the London interbank market.
“
Capital Lease Obligations
” of any
Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other
amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the
right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof,
which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for
as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person in conformity
with GAAP, subject to Section 1.2(a). The amount of such
obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in
conformity with GAAP, subject to Section 1.2(a), and the final
maturity of such obligations shall be the date of the last payment
due under such lease (or other arrangement) before such lease (or
other arrangement) may be terminated by the lessee without payment
of a premium or penalty. For purposes of Section 6.2, a Capital
Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the
property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned
by the lessee.
“
Cash
” means money, currency or a
credit balance in any demand or deposit account.
“
Cash Equivalents
” means, as at any
date of determination, any of the following: (a) marketable
securities (i) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as
to interest and principal by the United States of America or (ii)
issued by any agency of the United States of America and backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in each
case maturing within one year after such date; (b) marketable
direct obligations issued by any State of the United States of
America or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision of
any such State or District or any public instrumentality thereof,
in each case maturing within one year after such date and having,
at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1
from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (c) commercial
paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of creation
thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a
rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from
Moody’s; (d) time deposits, certificates of deposit or
bankers’ acceptances maturing within 270 days after such date
and issued or accepted by any commercial bank organized or licensed
to conduct a banking business under the laws of the United States
of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that
(i) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as
defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking
regulator) and (ii) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such
regulations) of not less than $500,000,000; (e) fully
collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than
30 days from such date for securities described in clause (a) or
clause (b) above and entered into with a financial institution
satisfying the criteria described in clause (d) above; (f) shares
of any money market mutual fund that (i) has substantially all
its assets invested continuously in the types of investments
referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above, (ii) has net
assets of not less than $5,000,000,000 and (iii) has ratings of at
least AA+ from S&P or at least Aa1 from Moody’s; and (g)
in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, other short-term investments
that are analogous to the foregoing, are of comparable credit
quality and are customarily used by companies in the jurisdiction
of such Foreign Subsidiary for cash management
purposes.
“
CFC
” means (a) any Person that is
a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning
of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code), but only if a Credit
Party or a “United States person” (within the meaning
of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) that is an
Affiliate of a Credit Party is, with respect to such Person, a
“United States shareholder” (within the meaning of
Section 951(b) of the Internal Revenue Code) described in Section
951(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and (b) each Subsidiary of
any Person described in clause (a).
“
CFC Holding Company
” means each
Subsidiary that is treated as a partnership or a disregarded entity
for United States federal income tax purposes and that has no
material assets other than assets that consist (directly or
indirectly through disregarded entities or partnerships) of Equity
Interests or indebtedness (as determined for United States tax
purposes) in one or more CFCs or CFC Holding
Companies.
“
Change in Law
” means the
occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a)
the adoption or taking effect of any rule, regulation, treaty or
other law, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or
other law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation
or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the
making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental
Authority;
provided
that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all
requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in
connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or
directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements,
the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or
similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory
authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case
be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the
date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.
“
Change of Control
” means
(a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or
indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group
(within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC
thereunder), other than Permitted Holders, of Equity Interests in
the Borrower representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary
voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity
Interests in the Borrower, or (b) the occurrence of any
“change of control” (or similar event, however
denominated) with respect to the Borrower under and as defined in
any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document, any
Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness or in any indenture or other agreement or instrument
evidencing, governing the rights of the holders of or otherwise
relating to any other Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
“
Claiming Guarantor
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
Class
”, when used in reference to
(a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Tranche B Term Loans or
Loans of another “Class” established pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 as contemplated below, (b) any
Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Tranche B
Term Loan Commitment or a Commitment of another “Class”
established pursuant to Section 2.23 or 2.25 as contemplated below
and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or
Commitment of a particular Class. Additional Classes of Loans,
Borrowings, Commitments and Lenders may be created pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 and, as provided in Section 2.23, 2.24
or 2.25, any Incremental Loans, any Extended/Modified Loans or any
Refinancing Loans may be treated as a single Class with any other
Class of Loans having the same terms as such Incremental Loans,
Extended/Modified Loans or Refinancing Loans, as
applicable.
“
Closing Date
” means the date on
which the conditions specified in Section 3.1 have been
satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.5).
“
Closing Date Certificate
” means a
Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit B.
“
Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance
” means the issuance and sale, on the Closing
Date, by the Borrower of shares of its common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, for gross cash proceeds of
$4,999,998.50.
“
Closing Date Preferred Stock
”
means a new series of preferred stock of the Borrower, designated
as Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
issued and sold on the Closing Date by the Borrower to Holcombe T.
Green, Jr. (or an entity majority-owned and Controlled by Holcombe
T. Green, Jr.), for gross cash proceeds of
$14,700,000.
“
Closing Date Prepayment
” means the
prepayment on or prior to the Closing Date of a portion of the
Existing Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount of
$3,000,000, plus a further reduction on the Closing Date in the
aggregate principal amount of the Existing Subordinated Notes
resulting from the set-off against the aggregate principal amount
thereof on the Closing Date of a $920,000 receivable owed by one or
more of the holders of the Existing Subordinated
Notes.
“
Closing Date
Refinancing
” means (a) the payment
and discharge of the principal of and interest accrued on all
outstanding Indebtedness and all other amounts outstanding or
accrued, including all prepayment premium, under the Existing Debt
Documents, the termination of the commitments thereunder and the
cancellation or termination, or the cash collateralizing or
backstopping with letters of credit issued under the First Lien
Credit Agreement in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, of all letters of credit outstanding
thereunder, (b) the termination and release of all Guarantees
and Liens supporting or securing any of the Indebtedness or other
obligations referred to in the foregoing clause (a) or created
under the documentation governing any such Indebtedness and (c) the
making of the Closing Date Prepayment.
“
Collateral
” means, collectively,
all of the property (including Equity Interests) on which Liens are
purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as
security for the Obligations.
“
Collateral Agent
”
means Wilmington Trust, in its
capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties under the
Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity as provided
in Section 9.
“
Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement
” means, at any time, the requirement
that:
(a) the
Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement
duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (ii) in
the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after
the Closing Date, a Counterpart Agreement duly executed and
delivered on behalf of such Person;
(b) the
Collateral Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary (i) either (A) a counterpart of the Pledge
and Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of
such Person, or (B) in the case of any Person that becomes a
Designated Subsidiary after the Closing Date, a supplement to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly
executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, and (ii) an
acknowledgment of the Intercreditor Agreement and, if then in
effect, each other Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, in each case,
in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on
behalf of such Person;
(c) in
the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after
the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received, to
the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, documents,
opinions and certificates of the type referred to in
Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(d), 3.1(e), 3.1(f) and 3.1(k) with
respect to such Designated Subsidiary;
(d) all
Equity Interests owned by or on behalf of any Credit Party shall
have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement
(
provided
that the
Credit Parties shall not be required to pledge (i) more than 65% of
the outstanding voting Equity Interests in any CFC or CFC Holding
Company or (ii) Equity Interests that constitute Excluded
Property), and the Collateral Agent shall, to the extent required
by the Pledge and Security Agreement and subject to the
requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement and any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, have received certificates
or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests,
together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer
with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(e) (i)
the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary shall have duly
executed and delivered a counterpart of each of the Intercompany
Note and the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(ii) all Indebtedness of any other Person in a principal amount of
$1,000,000 or more that is owing to any Credit Party shall be
evidenced by a promissory note, and the Intercompany Note, each
other promissory note (if any) evidencing Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Credit Party and each
promissory note referred to in clause (ii) above shall, in each
case, have been pledged pursuant to the Pledge and Security
Agreement and the Collateral Agent shall, subject to the
requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement and any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, have received the
Intercompany Note and all such other promissory notes, together
with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed
in blank;
(f) all
instruments and documents, including UCC financing statements
(including transmitting utility financing statements), required by
applicable law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to
be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be
created by the Collateral Documents and to perfect such Liens to
the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the
Collateral Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded;
and
(g) the
Collateral Agent shall have received (i) a Mortgage with respect to
each Material Real Estate Asset, if any, duly executed and
delivered by the record owner of such Material Real Estate Asset,
(ii) a fully paid policy or policies of title insurance issued by a
nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of
each Mortgage as a valid and enforceable Lien on the Material Real
Estate Asset described therein, free of any other Liens other than
Permitted Liens, which policies shall be in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, together with such
endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably request, (iii) a completed Flood Certificate with
respect to each Material Real Estate Asset, which Flood Certificate
shall be addressed to the Collateral Agent and shall otherwise
comply with the Flood Program and if the Flood Certificate with
respect to any Material Real Estate Asset states that any
“Building” (as defined in 12 CFR Chapter III, Section
339.2) included as part of such Material Real Estate Asset is
located in a Flood Zone, (A) a written notification from the
applicable Credit Party to the Collateral Agent as to the existence
of such Material Real Estate Asset and as to whether the community
in which such Material Real Estate Asset is located is
participating in the Flood Program and (B) if such Material Real
Estate Asset is located in a community that participates in the
Flood Program, evidence that the applicable Credit Party has
obtained a policy of flood insurance that is in compliance with all
applicable requirements of the Flood Program and other applicable
law (including as to the amount of insurance coverage required
thereunder),
provided
that the foregoing
requirements of this clause (iii) shall be completed (and copies of
such Flood Certificate and, if applicable, such acknowledgement and
evidence of flood insurance shall have been made available to the
Lenders) at least 20 Business Days (or such shorter period as shall
be acceptable to the Collateral Agent) prior to the execution and
delivery of a Mortgage with respect to such Material Real Estate
Asset, (iv) with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset
encumbered by a Lien that is to be subordinated to the Lien created
in accordance with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents,
an amendment or agreement of subordination duly executed and
delivered with respect to any Lien or encumbrance that, but for
such subordination, would have priority over the Mortgage delivered
to the Collateral Agent and (v) such surveys, abstracts,
appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgage or
Material Real Estate Asset.
The
foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection
of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title
insurance, legal opinions, consents, approvals or other
deliverables with respect to, any particular assets of the Credit
Parties if and for so long as the Collateral Agent, in consultation
with the Borrower, determines that the cost of creating or
perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or
obtaining such deliverables shall be excessive in relation to the
benefit that would be afforded to the Lenders therefrom. The
Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and
perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title
insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to
particular assets or the provision of any Obligations Guarantee by
any Restricted Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Closing
Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Restricted
Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Closing Date) where it
determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue
effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise
be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the Collateral
Documents.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this
Agreement or any other Credit Document to the
contrary:
(aa)
the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to any of
the following assets (collectively, the “
Excluded Property
”; each
capitalized term used in this clause (aa) but not defined in this
Agreement having the meaning given to it in the Pledge and Security
Agreement): (i) any Leasehold Property and any Real Estate Asset
that is not a Material Real Estate Asset, (ii) any motor vehicles
and other assets subject to certificates of title, except to the
extent perfection of a security interest therein may be
accomplished by the filing of UCC financing statements or an
equivalent thereof in appropriate form in the applicable
jurisdiction, (iii) any Commercial Tort Claim as to which the claim
thereunder is less than $2,000,000, (iv) (A) any assets if,
for so long as and to the extent a security interest may not be
granted in such assets as a matter of applicable law, (B) any
lease, license (including any License), contract or other agreement
or any rights or interests thereunder if, for so long as and to the
extent the grant of a security interest therein would (x)
constitute or result in (1) the unenforceability of any right,
title or interest of the applicable Credit Party in or (2) a breach
or termination pursuant to the terms of, or a default under, such
lease, license, contract or other agreement or (y) require a
consent, approval, license or authorization not obtained from a
Governmental Authority or third party, except, in each case under
this clause (B), to the extent that such breach or default is
ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law or principles of
equity, and (C) any property subject to a Lien securing any
purchase money obligation or Capital Lease Obligation (or any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) if, for so long as and
to the extent the grant of a security interest therein would
constitute or result in a breach or a default under the related
agreements,
provided
that this
clause (C) shall apply only if such Lien and such purchase
money obligation or Capital Lease Obligation are permitted
hereunder, except, in each case under this clause (iv) to the
extent that such law or the terms in such lease, license, contract
or other agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, right of
termination or default or requiring such consent, approval, license
or authorization is ineffective under the UCC or other applicable
law or principles of equity,
provided
further
that this clause (iv)
shall not exclude Proceeds thereof and Accounts and Payment
Intangibles arising therefrom the assignment of which is deemed
effective under the UCC, (v) any governmental licenses or
state or local franchises, charters and authorizations of a
Governmental Authority if, for so long as and to the extent the
grant of a security interest therein is prohibited or restricted by
applicable law (including the CPCN issued in Colorado to Cbeyond
Communications LLC and to Fusion LLC (formerly known as Network
Billing Systems, LLC)), except, in each case under this clause (v),
to the extent that such prohibition or restriction is ineffective
under the UCC or other applicable law or principles of equity,
provided
that this
clause (v) shall not exclude Proceeds thereof and Accounts and
Payment Intangibles arising therefrom the assignment of which is
deemed effective under the UCC, (vi) Equity Interests in any Person
that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary if, for so long as
and to the extent (A) the Organizational Documents of such
Person or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or similar
agreement prohibits or restricts such pledge without the consent of
any Person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (it
being understood that none of the Credit Parties shall be required
to seek the consent of third parties thereunder), or (B) in
the case of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), such Equity Interests have
been pledged in connection with any Indebtedness of such Person
(but only to the extent that such Equity Interests remain pledged
in connection with such Indebtedness), (vii) any “intent to
use” trademark application for which a statement of use has
not been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
but only to the extent that the grant of a security interest
therein would invalidate such trademark application, (viii) any
Letter-of-Credit Rights (except to the extent constituting a
Supporting Obligation of other Collateral as to which perfection of
a security interest therein may be accomplished solely by the
filing of a UCC financing statement in the applicable jurisdiction
(it being understood that no actions shall be required to perfect a
security interest in a Letter-of-Credit Rights, other than the
filing of a UCC financing statement)), and (ix) the deposit
account, and all Cash on deposit therein, pledged or assigned as
collateral to East West Bank to secure the Existing EWB Letter of
Credit, and in each case of this clause (aa) other than any
Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of the foregoing (unless
such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements themselves would
constitute assets described in clauses (i) through (ix)
above);
provided
,
in each case, that such assets shall constitute Excluded Property
only if they are not subject to any Lien securing any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness; and
(bb) (i)
no delivery of certificates or other instruments representing
Equity Interests in any Subsidiaries that are not Material
Subsidiaries shall be required, (ii) there shall be no requirement
to obtain any control agreements with respect to any deposit
accounts or securities accounts, (iii) there shall be no
requirement to obtain any landlord waivers, estoppels, collateral
access letters or similar third party agreements and (iv) no
security or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-US
jurisdiction shall be required, and no actions in any non-US
jurisdiction shall be required in order to create or perfect any
security interest in assets located or titled outside the United
States.
“
Collateral Documents
” means the
Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if any, the
Intellectual Property Security Agreements, and all other
instruments, documents and agreements delivered by or on behalf of
any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents in order to grant to, or perfect in favor of, the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a Lien on
any property of such Credit Party as security for the
Obligations.
“
Collateral Questionnaire
” means
the Collateral Questionnaire delivered by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 3.1(d).
“
Commitment
” means a Tranche B Term
Loan Commitment, an Incremental Commitment of any Class or a
Refinancing Commitment of any Class.
“
Communications Laws
” means (a) the
Communications Act of 1934, (b) the rules and regulations of the
FCC promulgated under Title 47 of the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to
time and decisions, policies, reports and orders issued pursuant to
the adoption of such rules and regulations, (c) the Communications
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, codified at 47 U.S.C.
§1001, et. seq., (d) such other laws of the United States
codified or otherwise included in Title 47 of the U.S. Code as may
be applicable to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries, (e) any other law of any Governmental
Authority with jurisdiction over telecommunications related
matters, including all laws administered by any State PUC, and (f)
the terms and conditions of any License granted or issued to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries.
“
Compliance Certificate
” means a
Compliance 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, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period,
plus
(a)
without duplication
and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to
clause (viii) or (xvii) below, to the extent not already included
in Consolidated Net Income), the sum for the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries of the following amounts for such
period:
(i)
total interest
expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest
expense, any losses on Hedge Agreements entered into for the
purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and
gains on such Hedge Agreements, and bank and letter of credit fees
and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing
activities,
(ii)
provision
for Federal, state and foreign taxes based on income, profits or
capital gains, including in respect of repatriated
funds,
(iii)
depreciation
and amortization, including amortization of intangible assets
established through purchase accounting and amortization of
deferred financing fees or costs, but excluding amortization of any
other prepaid cash expense that was paid and not expensed in a
prior period,
(iv)
non-cash
charges, including impairment charges and any other write-down or
write-off of assets, noncash fair value adjustments of Investments
and noncash stock-based and similar incentive-based compensation
(including with respect to any profits interest relating to
membership interests in any partnership or limited liability
company), but excluding any such noncash charge or loss to the
extent that it represents an amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid and not expensed in a prior period or write-down or
write-off with respect to accounts receivable (including any
addition to bad debt reserves or bad debt expense) or
inventory,
(v)
extraordinary
losses, determined in conformity with GAAP,
(vi)
unusual
or non-recurring charges, including, in each case, to the extent
unusual or non-recurring, operating expenses directly attributable
to the implementation of cost savings initiatives, merger costs,
severance costs, relocation costs, integration and
facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or
completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to
closure/consolidation of facilities, costs associated with tax
projects/audits and costs consisting of professional, consulting or
other fees relating to any of the foregoing;
provided
that the aggregate
amount added back pursuant to this clause (vi) and pursuant to
clauses (vii), (xiii) and, other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test Period shall
not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to December
31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test
Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of
each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to
any addback pursuant to this clause (vi) or pursuant to clause
(vii), (viii) or (xiii) of this definition,
(vii)
restructuring
charges, accruals and reserves (including restructuring charges
related to the Merger or to Acquisitions consummated after the
Closing Date);
provided
that the aggregate
amount added back pursuant to this clause (vii) and pursuant to
clauses (vi), (xiii) and, other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test Period shall
not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to December
31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period
and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of each of
clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to any
addback pursuant to this clause (vii) or pursuant to clause (vi),
(viii) or (xiii) of this definition,
(viii)
the
amount of “run rate” net cost savings, operating
expense reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
reasonably projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized
in connection with the Transactions or any other Pro Forma Event or
the implementation of any operational initiative, including the
termination, abandonment or discontinuance of operations and
product lines (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost
savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements
and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable
Test Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during
such period from such actions;
provided
that (A) such
cost savings, operating expense reductions and other operating
improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable, factually
supportable and reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months
after the Closing Date or within 12 months after the consummation
of such other Pro Forma Event or the adoption of such initiative,
as applicable, (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions
and other operating improvements and synergies shall be added
pursuant to this clause (viii) to the extent duplicative of any
items otherwise added in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
whether pursuant to the requirement of Section 1.2(b) or otherwise,
for such period and (C) other than with respect to the Approved
Cost Savings, the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this
clause (viii) and pursuant to clauses (vi), (vii) and (xiii) of
this definition for any Test Period shall not exceed (x) for any
Test Period ending on or prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period and (y) for any
Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
for such Test Period, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y),
calculated prior to giving effect to any addback pursuant to this
clause (viii) or pursuant to clause (vi), (vii) or (xiii) of this
definition,
(ix)
the
amount of any noncontrolling interest consisting of income of any
Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower
attributable to noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in
such Restricted Subsidiary,
(x)
after-tax losses
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business),
(xi)
the
amount of any net losses from discontinued operations, determined
in conformity with GAAP,
(xii)
(A)
transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the Transactions prior to the Closing Date, (B) transaction fees,
costs and expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000
incurred in connection with the Transactions after the Closing Date
but prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date and
(C) transaction fees, costs and expenses in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $1,000,000 incurred on or prior to December
31, 2018 in connection with the Specified Acquisition (whether or
not the Specified Acquisition is consummated),
(xiii)
transaction
fees, costs and expenses incurred during such period, or any
amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any
Acquisition, any Investment (other than intercompany Investments in
the ordinary course of business), any Disposition (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), any incurrence,
repayment or refinancing of Indebtedness (or any amendment or other
modification of any Indebtedness) or any issuance of Equity
Interests, including any such transaction consummated prior to the
Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed;
provided
that the
aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (xiii) and
pursuant to clauses (vi), (vii) and, other than with respect to the
Approved Cost Savings, (viii) of this definition for any Test
Period shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior
to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
Test Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of
each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect to
any addback pursuant to this clause (xiii) or pursuant to clause
(vi), (vii) or (viii) of this definition,
(xiv)
any
loss attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement,
(xv)
any
unrealized loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB
Accounting Standards Codification 815, as amended,
(xvi)
any
unrealized loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting
from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830,
(xvii)
any
expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or
other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment,
Acquisition or Disposition (other than in the ordinary course of
business) permitted under the Credit Documents or in connection
with any Insurance/Condemnation Event (disregarding the exception
in the definition of such term), including lost profits covered by
business interruption insurance, in each case, to the extent (A)
actually reimbursed by the applicable third party insurer or other
third party during such period or (B) (1) the Borrower has received
notification from the applicable third party insurer or other third
party that it intends to reimburse such expenses, charges or losses
or such lost profits and (2) there exists reasonable evidence that
such expenses, charges or losses or lost profits will in fact be
reimbursed by such insurer or other third party within 270 days
after the related amount is first added to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xvii),
provided
that no amount may be
added pursuant to this clause (xvii) to the extent that (x) such
insurer or other third party shall have denied in writing
reimbursement for such amount and (y) such amount has not actually
been reimbursed within 270 days after it is first added to
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xvii) (with a
deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so
reimbursed within such 270 days),
(xviii)
any
contingent or deferred payments (including earnout payments,
noncompete payments and consulting payments) actually made to
sellers during such period in connection with any Acquisition, and
any losses for such period arising from the remeasurement of the
fair value of any liability recorded with respect to any earnout or
other contingent or deferred consideration arising from any
Acquisition,
less
(b)
without duplication
and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to clause (ix) below,
to the extent not already deducted from Consolidated Net Income),
the sum for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
following amounts for such period:
(i)
non-cash gains or
items of income (other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary
course), excluding any non-cash items of income in respect of which
Cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future
period,
(ii)
extraordinary
gains or items of income, determined in conformity with
GAAP,
(iii)
unusual
or non-recurring gains or items of income,
(iv)
gains
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business),
(v)
the amount of any
net income from discontinued operations, determined in conformity
with GAAP,
(vi)
any
gain attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement,
(vii)
any
unrealized gain attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB
Accounting Standards Codification 815, as amended,
(viii)
any
unrealized gain attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the
valuation of amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting
from the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 830,
and
(ix)
the
amount of any noncontrolling interest consisting of losses of any
Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower
attributable to noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in
such Restricted Subsidiary.
For
purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any
period, if during such period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition or a
Material Disposition, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period
shall be calculated after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto in
accordance with Section 1.2(b).
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, but subject to the immediately preceding paragraph,
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for (A) the Fiscal Quarter ended March
31, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to $37,350,000, (B) the
Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2017, shall be deemed to be
equal to $40,745,000, (C) the Fiscal Quarter ended
September 30, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to $39,783,000
and (D) the Fiscal Quarter ended December 31, 2017, shall be deemed
to be equal to $43,778,000.
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;
provided
that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include any
expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net Proceeds
reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) or (b) that
constitute an Acquisition permitted under Section 6.6;
provided
further
that, except for
purposes of calculating Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any
period, in the event the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall
not include any such expenditures made by any Person, business
unit, division, product line or line of business acquired pursuant
to such Acquisition, in each case, prior to the date of the
consummation of such Acquisition.
“
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
”
means, for any period, an amount equal to:
(a)
the sum, without
duplication, of:
(i)
Consolidated Net
Income for such period;
(ii)
the
aggregate amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation
expense, amortization expense and deferred tax expense), to the
extent deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net
Income;
(iii)
the
sum of (A) the amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working
Capital decreased during such period (except as a result of the
reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice
versa) and (B) the net amount, if any, by which the consolidated
deferred revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
increased during such period, in each case, other than any such
decreases or increases, as applicable, arising from an Acquisition
or from a Disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course
of business) by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries
completed during such period;
(iv)
the
aggregate amount of net non-cash loss on any Disposition of assets
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), to the extent
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income;
(v)
the aggregate
amount of cash payments received in respect of Hedge Agreements
during such period, to the extent not included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income;
(vi)
the
aggregate amount of any non-cash loss for such period attributable
to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements, to
the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income;
(vii)
income
tax expense, to the extent deducted in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income;
minus
(b)
the sum, without
duplication, of:
(i)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at Consolidated
Net Income;
(ii)
without
duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in
any prior period, the Consolidated Capital Expenditures made by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such
period, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources;
(iii)
the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries repaid or prepaid (including, to the extent
of Cash spent, through repurchases and redemptions) by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period
(including (A) the principal component of payments in respect
of Capital Lease Obligations, (B) scheduled Installments of Loans
made pursuant to Section 2.11 and scheduled installments of
term loans made pursuant to Section 2.11 of the First Lien Credit
Agreement (or any comparable provision in any other Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document), (C) the amount of any
mandatory prepayment of Loans, any Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness or any Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness
actually made with the Net Proceeds of an Asset Sale or an
Insurance/Condemnation Event, in each case, to the extent such Net
Proceeds resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net Income and not
in excess of the amount of such increase, and (D) to the extent of
Cash spent, repurchases by the Borrower of Loans pursuant to
Section 10.6(i)(ii), but excluding (1) all other repayments or
prepayments (including repurchases and redemptions) of Loans,
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness and Permitted Senior Lien
Secured Indebtedness, (2) all repayments or prepayments
(including repurchases and redemptions) of any revolving credit
loans (other than in respect of any revolving credit facility to
the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in
commitments thereunder, other than in connection with a refinancing
thereof) and (3) repayments or prepayments (including
repurchases and redemptions) of Junior Indebtedness (it being
understood and agreed that any amount excluded pursuant to clauses
(1) through (3) above may not be deducted under any other clause of
this definition)), except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources;
(iv)
the
aggregate amount of net non-cash gain on any Disposition of assets
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
Dispositions in the ordinary course of business), to the extent
included in arriving at Consolidated Net Income;
(v)
the sum of (i) the
amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital increased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (ii) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries decreased during such
period, in each case, other than any such increases or decreases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period;
(vi)
the
aggregate amount of any non-cash gain for such period attributable
to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or
other derivative instruments, to the extent included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income;
(vii)
the
aggregate amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term
liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other
than Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources;
(viii)
without
duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in
any prior period, the aggregate amount of Cash paid by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period to consummate
any Acquisition or Investment (other than intercompany Investments)
permitted under Section 6.6(l), 6.6(m) or 6.6(o), except to the
extent financed with Excluded Sources;
(ix)
the
aggregate amount of Restricted Junior Payments permitted by Section
6.4(e), 6.4(g)(i) or 6.4(i) paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash during such period, except to the extent
financed with Excluded Sources;
(x)
the aggregate
amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid
in Cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period that are required to be made in connection with any
prepayment of Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with
Excluded Sources;
(xi)
without
duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in any prior
period, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in Cash by
the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to
binding contracts (the “
Contract Consideration
”)
entered into prior to or during such period relating to
Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures, in each case, to
be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period;
provided
that to
the extent that the aggregate amount of Cash actually utilized to
finance such Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures
during such period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters is less than
the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be
added to the calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow at the
end of such period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters;
(xii)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
directors’ fees (including salary and bonus) and board
consulting fees and related reimbursement of reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
(xiii)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the Transactions or any Acquisition paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
(xiv)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income,
income taxes, including penalties and interest, paid by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period;
and
(xv)
to
the extent not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, the
aggregate amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Hedge Agreements during such
period.
“
Consolidated Fixed Charges
” means,
for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period, (b) the aggregate amount of
scheduled principal payments made during such period in respect of
Long-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary),
(c) the aggregate amount of principal payments (other than
scheduled principal payments) made during such period in respect of
Long-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than payments made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary),
to the extent that such payments reduced any scheduled principal
payments that would have become due within one year after the date
of the applicable payment, (d) the aggregate amount of principal
payments on Capital Lease Obligations, determined in conformity
with GAAP, made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
during such period and (e) Consolidated Capital Expenditures
for such period (except to the extent financed by incurring
Long-Term Indebtedness).
“
Consolidated Interest Expense
”
means, for any period:
(a)
the sum, without
duplication, of (i) the total interest expense (including imputed
interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations) for the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,
determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP,
including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’
acceptance financing and net payments, if any, made (less net
payments, if any, received) pursuant to obligations under Hedge
Agreements in respect of any Indebtedness, and (ii) any interest or
other financing costs becoming payable during such period in
respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary to the extent such interest or other financing costs
shall have been capitalized rather than included in total interest
expense for such period in accordance with GAAP,
minus
(b)
cash interest
income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP,
minus
(c)
to the extent
included in clause (a) for such period, the sum, without
duplication, of (i) amortization or write-down of capitalized
interest, deferred financing costs or debt issuance costs,
commissions, fees and expenses, pay-in-kind interest expense, the
amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance
of Indebtedness below par and any other amounts of non-cash
interest (including as a result of the effects of purchase
accounting), (ii) the accretion or accrual of discounted
liabilities during such period, (iii) non-cash interest expense
attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of
obligations under Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments
pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815, (iv) any
one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of Hedge
Agreements for interest rates, (v) all additional interest or
liquidated damages then owing pursuant to any registration rights
agreement and any comparable “additional interest” or
liquidated damages with respect to any securities designed to
compensate the holders thereof for a failure to publicly register
such securities, (vi) any expense resulting from the discounting of
any Indebtedness in connection with the application of
recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting,
(vii) fees and expenses associated with the consummation of the
Transactions and (viii) commitment and other financing fees
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the commitment fees in
respect of revolving commitments under any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness).
For
purposes of calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for any
period, if during such period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition (other
than the Transactions) or a Material Disposition, Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving
Pro Forma Effect thereto in accordance with Section
1.2(b).
Notwithstanding the
foregoing (but subject to the immediately preceding paragraph),
Consolidated Interest Expense shall be deemed to be (A) for the
four Fiscal Quarter period ended on the last day of the first
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for such Fiscal Quarter multiplied by four, (B) for the
four Fiscal Quarter period ended on the last day of the second
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for the two Fiscal Quarters then most recently ended
multiplied by two, and (C) for the four Fiscal Quarter period ended
on the last day of the third Fiscal Quarter ending after the
Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense for the three Fiscal
Quarters then most recently ended multiplied by 4/3;
provided
that, in the event the
Closing Date shall have occurred after the first day of the first
Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest
Expense for such Fiscal Quarter shall be deemed, for purposes of
clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, to be Consolidated Interest Expense
for the period from and including the Closing Date to and including
the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, multiplied by a fraction equal
to (x) 90 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from
and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of
such Fiscal Quarter.
“
Consolidated Net Income
” means,
for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP;
provided
that there shall be
excluded, without duplication, (a) the cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principles during such period and (b) the net
income (or loss) of any Person (including any Unrestricted
Subsidiary or any Person accounted for under the equity method of
accounting) that is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
except, in the case of net income, to the extent of the amount of
Cash dividends or similar Cash distributions actually paid by such
Person to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such
period.
“
Consolidated Total Assets
” means,
as of any date, the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently
ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior
to the first such delivery, for which financial statements are
included in the Historical Financial Statements), determined on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP, but excluding therefrom
any Escrow Cash Collateral. Consolidated Total Assets as of any
date prior to the Closing Date shall be determined on a Pro Forma
basis to give effect to the Merger and the other Transactions to
occur on the Closing Date.
“
Consolidated Total Debt
” means, as
of any date, without duplication:
(a) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)),
consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and
purchase money indebtedness,
plus
(b) the
aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date,
plus
(c) to
the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)), the
aggregate amount of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition,
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party,
plus
(e) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date,
plus
(f) Guarantees
outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a)
through (e) above of any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
“
Consolidated Total Net Debt
”
means, as of any date, without duplication:
(a) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)),
consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and
purchase money indebtedness,
plus
(b) the
aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date,
plus
(c) to
the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a)), the aggregate
amount of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition,
plus
(d) the
aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party,
plus
(e) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date,
plus
(f) Guarantees
outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (a)
through (e) above of any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary,
minus
(g) the
aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date);
provided
that, with respect to the calculation of Consolidated Total Net
Debt for purposes of testing the covenant set forth in Section
6.7(a) (including any such testing to determine compliance
therewith on a Pro Forma Basis as required by any other provision
hereof), the aggregate amount of such Unrestricted Cash deducted
pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed
$30,000,000.
“
Consolidated Working Capital
”
means, as of any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all
amounts (other than Cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in
conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption
“total current assets” (or any like caption) on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding all amounts attributable to
Unrestricted Subsidiaries), but excluding, without duplication, (i)
assets relating to current and deferred income taxes and (ii) the
effects from applying purchase accounting,
less
(b) the sum of all
amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite
the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like
caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding all amounts
attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries), excluding, without
duplication, (i) the current portion of any Long-Term
Indebtedness, (ii) all Indebtedness (including letter of
credit obligations) under any revolving credit facility, to the
extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion
of interest, (iv) the current portion of current and deferred
income Taxes, (v) non-cash compensation liabilities and
(vi) the effects from applying purchase
accounting.
“
Consumer/SMB Business
” means the
“Consumer/SMB Business” as defined in the Merger
Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.
“
Contractual Obligation
” means,
with respect to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by
such Person or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract,
undertaking or other agreement or instrument to which such Person
is a party or by which such Person or any of its properties is
bound or to which such Person or any of its properties is
subject.
“
Control
” means, with respect to
any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies, or
the dismissal or appointment of the management, of such Person,
whether through the ability to exercise voting power, the ownership
of Securities, by contract, or otherwise. The words
“Controlling”, “Controlled by” and
“under common Control with” have correlative
meanings.
“
Conversion/Continuation Date
”
means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the
case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation
Notice.
“
Conversion/Continuation Notice
”
means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit D.
“
Counterpart Agreement
” means a
Second Lien Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit E.
“
Credit Date
” means the date of any
Credit Extension.
“
Credit Document
” means each of
this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement, the Counterpart Agreements, the Extension/Modification
Agreements, the Incremental Facility Agreements, the Refinancing
Facility Agreements, the Permitted Intercreditor Agreements and,
except for purposes of Section 10.5, the Notes, if any, the
Collateral Questionnaire and all other documents, certificates,
instruments or agreements executed and delivered by or on behalf of
any Credit Party for the benefit of any Agent or any Lender in
connection herewith on or after the date hereof and which are
designated as “Credit Documents” pursuant to an
agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
“
Credit Extension
” means the making
of a Loan.
“
Credit Parties
” means the Borrower
and the Guarantor Subsidiaries.
“
Debtor Relief Laws
” means the
Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship,
bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
arrangement (including under corporate statutes), rearrangement,
receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief
laws of the United States of America or other applicable
jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
“
Declined Mandatory Prepayment Retained
Amount
” means any portion of the amount of any
mandatory prepayment of Loans required pursuant to Section 2.13(a),
2.13(b) or 2.13(e) that has been declined by the Lenders in
accordance with Section 2.14(c), but only to the extent retained by
the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.14(c).
“
Default
” means a condition or
event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
an Event of Default.
“
Defaulting Lender
” means any
Lender that (a) has failed (i) to 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 good faith in writing that
such failure is the result of such Lender’s 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) to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or
any 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 or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not
intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has
made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or
public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund
a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such
Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding
(which condition precedent, together with 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) is, or a direct or indirect parent
company of such Lender is, (i) the subject of a Bail-In
Action, (ii) 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 or (iii) the subject of a proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Laws, or a receiver, trustee, conservator,
intervenor or sequestrator or the like (including the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal
regulatory authority acting in a like capacity with respect to such
Lender) has been appointed for such Lender or its direct or
indirect parent company, or such Lender or its direct or indirect
parent company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating
its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or
appointment;
provided
that a Lender shall
not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or
acquisition of any Equity Interest in such Lender or any direct or
indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long
as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such
Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the
United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of
attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such
Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm
any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any
determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a
Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d)
above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and
such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender upon delivery
of written notice of such determination to the Borrower and each
Lender.
“
Designated Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, including the Acquired
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (a) any
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, (c) any
Subsidiary of a CFC or CFC Holding Company, (d) any Subsidiary
that is not a Material Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary that is
prohibited by applicable law or, in the case of any Subsidiary
acquired after the Closing Date, any Contractual Obligation in
effect at the time such Subsidiary is acquired (and not entered
into in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition)
from providing an Obligations Guarantee (including any such
prohibition arising from any requirement to obtain a consent,
approval (including regulatory approval), license or authorization
of any Governmental Authority that has not been obtained in order
to provide such Obligations Guarantee);
provided
that to the extent any
such consent, approval, license or authorization is required from
the FCC or any State PUC, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts (including
by making all applicable filings and submitting all applicable
notices) to obtain the same promptly after such Restricted
Subsidiary is otherwise required to become a Designated Subsidiary,
(f) any captive insurance company, (g) any not-for-profit
Subsidiary or (h) any Subsidiary where the burden or cost of
providing an Obligations Guarantee by such Subsidiary is excessive
in relation to the benefit that would be afforded to the Lenders
thereby, as determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation
with the Borrower;
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Subsidiary shall be a Designated Subsidiary if
such Subsidiary shall be an obligor (including pursuant to a
Guarantee) in respect of any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness, any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness or
any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither Primus Management ULC, a British Columbia
unlimited liability company, nor Bircan Management ULC, a British
Columbia unlimited liability company, shall be a “Designated
Subsidiary” unless so designated by the Borrower in writing
to the Administrative Agent.
“
Disposition
” means any sale,
transfer, lease or other disposition (including any sale or
issuance of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary) of any property by
any Person, including any sale, transfer or other disposition, with
or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any
rights and claims associated therewith. “
Dispose
” has the meaning
correlative thereto.
“
Disqualified Equity Interest
”
means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such
Person 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, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder
thereof), or upon the occurrence of any event or condition,
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely
for Equity Interests in such Person that are not Disqualified
Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of fractional shares of such
Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or
otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that
do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of
fractional shares of such Equity Interests), in whole or in part,
or is required to be repurchased by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder
thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that
do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in lieu of
fractional shares of such Equity Interests) or (c) is or becomes
convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily or at the
option of the holder thereof, Indebtedness or any other Equity
Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person
that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and Cash in
lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), in each case,
prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest Maturity Date
(determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of
any such Equity Interests outstanding on the date hereof, the date
hereof), except, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), as a result of
a “change of control” or “asset sale”, so
long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of
such a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the
prior payment in full of all Obligations and, if any are then in
effect, the termination of the Commitments;
provided
that an Equity
Interest in any Person that is issued to any employee or to any
plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such
employees shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest
solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person
or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory
or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s
termination, death or disability;
provided
further
that the Closing Date
Preferred Stock shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity
Interest.
“
Disqualified Institution
” means
(a) such competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as have
been identified by name in writing by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent from time to time and (b) any Affiliate of any
such Person identified pursuant to clause (a) above (i) that
has been identified by name in writing by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent from time to time or (ii) where such
Affiliate’s relationship to such Person is readily apparent
on its face on the basis of the name of such Affiliate, in each
case under this clause (b), other than any such Affiliate that is a
bona fide fixed income investor or debt fund that is engaged in the
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial
loans, bonds or similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course
of business;
provided
that no Person shall
be a Disqualified Institution until the date on which the list of
Disqualified Institutions that have been so identified by name
pursuant to this definition shall have been made available to the
Lenders on the Platform. It is understood and agreed that any
identification by the Borrower pursuant to this definition shall
not apply retroactively to disqualify any assignment or
participation to any Person that shall have become a Lender or a
participant prior thereto (but that no further assignments or
delegations to, or sales of participations by, may be made to any
such Person thereafter and such Person shall thereafter for all
other purposes be a Disqualified Institution). The Administrative
Agent will promptly make such list available on the Platform upon
the written request of the Borrower that it do so. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the parties
hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall
not have any duty to ascertain, monitor or enforce compliance with
the list of Disqualified Institutions and shall not have any
liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a
Disqualified Institution.
“
Dollars
” and the sign
“
$
” mean the
lawful money of the United States of America.
“
Domestic Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia.
“
EEA Financial Institution
” means
(a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any
EEA Member Country that is subject to the supervision of an EEA
Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member
Country that is a parent of an institution described in clause (a)
above, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA
Member Country that is a subsidiary of an institution described in
clause (a) or (b) above 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 (a) any
Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Related Fund (any two
or more Related Funds of any Lender being treated as a single
Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereof) and (b) any
commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or
other Person that is an “accredited investor” (as
defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and that
extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of business;
provided
that in no
event shall any natural person (or any holding company, investment
vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit
of, a natural person), any Defaulting Lender, any Disqualified
Institution, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of
the Borrower be an Eligible Assignee.
“
Employee Benefit Plan
” means any
of (a) an “employee benefit plan”, as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Parts II, III or IV of
Title I of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA and that is or was sponsored,
maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to
by, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates, (b) a “plan” as defined in
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”, in
each case, other than a Foreign Plan.
“
Engagement Letter
”
means the Engagement Letter dated
February 13, 2018, among Goldman Sachs Bank USA, MSSF, The Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and the Borrower.
“
Environmental Laws
” means all
applicable laws (including common law), statutes, ordinances,
orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations
or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to
pollution or to the protection of the environment, natural
resources, threatened or endangered species or human health and
safety.
“
Environmental Liability
” means all
liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits,
judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs,
(including administrative oversight costs, natural resource
damages, monitoring and remediation costs and reasonable fees and
expenses of attorneys and consultants), whether contingent or
otherwise, arising out of or relating to: (a) compliance
or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, (b) the
generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment,
recycling, disposal (or arrangement for such activities) of any
Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials,
(d) the presence or Release of any Hazardous Materials or
(e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement
pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to
any of the foregoing.
“
Equity Interests
” means any and
all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however
designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all
equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a
corporation), including partnership interests and membership
interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase
or acquire any of the foregoing (other than, prior to the date of
such conversion, Indebtedness that is convertible into any such
Equity Interests).
“
ERISA
” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“
ERISA Affiliate
” means, with
respect to any Person, (a) any corporation that is a member of
a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section
414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which such Person is a
member, (b) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
that is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common
control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of which such Person is a member and (c) any member of
an affiliated service group within the meaning of
Section 414(m) or 414(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which
such Person, any corporation described in clause (a) above or any
trade or business described in clause (b) above is a member. Any
Person that was, but has since ceased to be, an ERISA Affiliate
(within the meaning of the previous sentence) of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary shall continue to be considered an ERISA
Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary within the
meaning of this definition with respect to the period such Person
was an ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities arising after such
period for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could
be liable under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.
“
ERISA Event
” means (a) the
occurrence of a “reportable event” within the meaning
of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder
with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the
provision for 30 day notice to the PBGC has been waived by
regulation), (b) the failure of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates to meet the
minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue
Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan
(whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a
required installment under Section 430(j) of the Internal Revenue
Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure of the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates to make any required contribution to a
Multiemployer Plan, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an
application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with
respect to any Pension Plan, (d) the provision by the administrator
of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a
notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination
described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA, (e) the withdrawal by the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more
contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan
resulting in liability to the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary
or any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or
4064 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a
“substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA, (f) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate any Pension Plan, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Pension Plan, (g) the incurrence by the Borrower,
any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or
partial withdrawal from any Pension Plan, (h) the imposition of
liability on the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or
4069 of ERISA, (i) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a
complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203
and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any
liability therefor, (j) the receipt by the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice
from any Multiemployer Plan (i) that such Multiemployer Plan is in
insolvency pursuant to Section 4245 of ERISA, (ii) that such
Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered” or
“critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of
the Internal Revenue Code or Section 305 of ERISA) or (iii) that
such Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate or has terminated
under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA, (k) a determination that any
Pension Plan is in “at risk” status (as defined in
Section 430(i)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 303(i)(4)
of ERISA) with respect to any plan year, (l) the occurrence of
an act or omission that could reasonably be expected to give rise
to the imposition on the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or
related charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or
under Section 409, Section 502(c), 502(i) or 502(l), or Section
4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan, (m) the
assertion of a claim (other than routine claims for benefits)
against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan
or the assets thereof, or against the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in
connection with any Employee Benefit Plan, (n) receipt from the IRS
of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee
Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of
any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, (o) the imposition of
a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or
Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the
Internal Revenue Code or (p) the occurrence of a non-exempt
“prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 4975 of
the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to
which the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates is a “disqualified person”
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code)
or a “party in interest” (within the meaning of Section
406 of ERISA).
“
Escrow Cash Amount
” means
$62,000,000.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral
” means Cash
proceeds from the borrowing of the “Tranche B Term
Borrowings” made under the First Lien Credit Agreement in an
aggregate amount equal to the Escrow Cash Amount that has been
deposited into the Escrow Cash Collateral Account, together with
any interest or profits thereon.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Account
” as
defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement
” as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Escrow Cash Collateral Outside
Date
” as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
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.
“
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans.
“
Eurodollar Rate Loan
” means a Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate.
“
Event of Default
” means any
condition or event set forth in Section 8.1.
“
Exchange Act
” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
“
Excluded Property
” as defined in
the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement”.
“
Excluded Sources
” means the
proceeds of any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness by, or the
issuance of any Equity Interests by, or the making of capital
contributions to, the Borrower or any of the Restricted
Subsidiaries, the proceeds of any Disposition outside the ordinary
course of business and any other proceeds not included in
Consolidated Net Income.
“
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, US 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
requested by the Borrower under Section 2.22) or (ii) such Lender
changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that,
pursuant to Section 2.19, amounts with respect to such Taxes were
payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before
such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or
Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its
lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s
failure to comply with Section 2.19(g) and (d) any US federal
withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“
Existing Debt Documents
” means (a)
the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2016, as amended,
among Fusion NBS Acquisition Corp., East West Bank, as
Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, an Issuing Bank and a
Lender, and the other lenders party thereto, (b) the Fifth Amended
and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement and Security Agreement,
dated as of November 14, 2016, as amended, among Fusion NBS
Acquisition Corp., the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower
guarantors thereto, Praesidian Capital Opportunity Fund III, LP, as
Agent, and the lenders party thereto, (c) that certain Second
Amended and Restated Unsecured Promissory Note, dated November 14,
2016, payable by the Borrower to Marvin Rosen and (d) the Credit
Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2014, as amended, among the
Acquired Company, Birch Communications, Inc., Cbeyond, Inc., the
other guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and PNC
Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.
“
Existing EWB Letter of Credit
”
means the Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No. 17OSL03973
in the amount of $450,000 issued on August 23, 2017 by East West
Bank.
“
Existing Subordinated Notes
” means
the subordinated notes, each dated October 28, 2016, as amended and
restated as of May 4, 2018, in favor of Holcombe T. Green, Jr., R.
Kirby Godsey and the Holcombe T. Green, Jr. 2013 Five-Year Annuity
Trust.
“
Extended/Modified Loans
” as
defined in the definition of “Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment”.
“
Extended/Modified Loan Maturity
Date
” means, with respect to Extended/Modified Loans
of any Class, the scheduled date on which such Extended/Modified
Loans shall become due and payable in full hereunder, as specified
in the applicable Extension/Modification Agreement.
“
Extending/Modifying Lenders
” as
defined in Section 2.24(a).
“
Extension/Modification Agreement
”
means an Extension/Modification Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more
Extending/Modifying Lenders, effecting one or more
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments and such other
amendments hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are
contemplated by Section 2.24.
“
Extension/Modification Offer
” as
defined in Section 2.24(a).
“
Extension/Modification Permitted
Amendment
” means an amendment to this Agreement and
the other Credit Documents, effected in connection with an
Extension/Modification Offer pursuant to Section 2.24, providing
for (a) an extension of the Maturity Date and/or (b) an
increase or decrease in the yield (including any increase or
decrease in, or an introduction of, interest margins, benchmark
rate floors, fixed interest rates or fees or premiums), in each
case, applicable to the Loans of the Extending/Modifying Lenders of
the applicable Extension/Modification Request Class (such Loans
being referred to as the “
Extended/Modified Loans
”) and, in
connection therewith:
(i) any
modification of (including the introduction of) any scheduled
amortization applicable to such Extended/Modified Loans,
provided
that the
weighted average life to maturity of such Extended/Modified Loans
shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted average life to
maturity of the Loans of the applicable Extension/Modification
Request Class, determined at the time of such
Extension/Modification Offer (and, for purposes of determining the
weighted average life to maturity of any such Loans, the effects of
any prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall
be disregarded),
(ii) a
modification of voluntary or mandatory prepayments applicable to
such Extended/Modified Loans (including prepayment premiums,
“no call” terms and other restrictions thereon),
provided
that in
the case of any Extended/Modified Loans, such requirements may
provide that such Extended/Modified Loans may participate in any
mandatory prepayments on a pro rata basis (or on a basis that is
less than pro rata) with the Loans of the applicable
Extension/Modification Request Class, but may not provide for
mandatory prepayment requirements that are more favorable than
those applicable to the Loans of the applicable
Extension/Modification Request Class, and/or
(iii) any
addition of any affirmative or negative covenants applicable to the
Borrower and/or any Subsidiary,
provided
that to the extent
such covenants are not consistent with those applicable to the
Loans of the applicable Extension/Modification Request Class, such
differences shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent (except for covenants (A) beneficial to the Lenders
where this Agreement is amended to include such covenants for the
benefit of all Lenders or (B) applicable only to periods after the
latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of effectiveness of the
applicable Extension/Modification Agreement).
“
Extension/Modification Request
Class
” as defined in
Section 2.24(a).
“
Facility
” means any real property
(including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located
thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or
used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
respective predecessors or Affiliates.
“
Fair Share
” as defined in
Section 7.2(b).
“
Fair Share Contribution Amount
” as
defined in Section 7.2(b).
“
FATCA
”
means Sections 1471 through 1474
of the Internal Revenue Code, effective as of the date hereof (or
any amended or successor version that is 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 Internal Revenue Code and any
fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted
pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention
among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of
the Internal Revenue Code.
“
FCC
” means the Federal
Communications Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to the functions thereof.
“
Federal Funds Effective Rate
”
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System on such day, as published by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next
succeeding such day;
provided
that (a) if such day
is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such
day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding
Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day,
and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding
Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall
be the average rate quoted to the Administrative Agent on such day
on such transactions by major financial institutions selected by
the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Federal Funds Effective Rate, determined as above, would otherwise
be less than zero, then the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be
deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement.
“
Fee Letters
” means (a) the Fee
Letter, dated April 30, 2018, between Goldman Sachs and the
Borrower, (b) the Amended and Restated Arranger Fee Letter, dated
May 4, 2018, among Goldman Sachs, MSSF, MUFG and the Borrower and
(c) the Administrative Agent Fee Letter.
“
Financial Officer Certification
”
means (a) with respect to any consolidated financial statements of
any Person, a certificate of the chief financial officer of such
Person stating that such financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of such
Person and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the
consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for
the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial
statements), subject to changes resulting from normal year-end
audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (b) with
respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement, a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower stating
that such reconciliation statement accurately reflects all
adjustments necessary to treat the Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if
they were not consolidated with the Borrower and to otherwise
eliminate all accounts of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries and
reflects no other adjustment from the related GAAP financial
statement (except as otherwise disclosed in such reconciliation
statement).
“
Financing Transactions
” means
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by each Credit
Party of the Credit Documents to which it is to be a party, the
creation of the Liens provided for in the Collateral Documents and,
in the case of the Borrower, the borrowing of Loans and the use of
the proceeds thereof and (b) the execution, delivery and
performance by each Credit Party of the First Lien Credit Documents
to which it is to be a party, the creation of the Liens provided
for in the First Lien Credit Documents and, in the case of the
Borrower, the borrowing of the loans, the use of the proceeds
thereof and the issuance of letters of credit under the First Lien
Credit Agreement.
“
First Lien Credit Agreement
” means
the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof, among the Borrower, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the lenders
party thereto and Wilmington Trust, as administrative agent and
collateral agent thereunder.
“
First Lien Credit Documents
” means
the “Credit Documents” as defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement.
“
First Lien Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness
” has the meaning assigned to the term
“Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness” (or any
comparable successor provision) in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Fiscal Quarter
” means a fiscal
quarter of any Fiscal Year.
“
Fiscal Year
” means the fiscal year
of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each
calendar year.
“
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
” means
the ratio, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive
Fiscal Quarters, of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such
period.
“
Flood Hazard Property
” means any
Real Estate Asset subject to a Mortgage or required pursuant to the
terms hereof to become subject to a Mortgage in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and
located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.
“
Flood Certificate
” means a life of
loan “Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form” of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“
Flood Program
”
means the National Flood Insurance
Program created by the US Congress pursuant to (a) the National
Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as now or hereafter in effect or any
successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of
1973, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute
thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, as
now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (d)
the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, as now or hereafter in
effect or any successor statute thereto and (e) the Biggert-Waters
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, as now or hereafter in effect
or any successor statute thereto, including any and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“
Flood Zone
”
means areas having special flood
hazards as described in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,
as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute
thereto.
“
Foreign Lender
” means a Lender
that is not a US Person.
“
Foreign Plan
” means any plan that
would be an Employee Benefit Plan but for the fact that is not
subject to United States law and that is maintained or contributed
to by the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or, to the extent
that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have liability
with respect to such Pension Plan, any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates for or on behalf of its employees whose principal place
of employment is outside of the United States.
“
Foreign Plan Event
” means, with
respect to any Foreign Plan, (a) the failure to make or, if
applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices,
any employer or employee contributions required by applicable laws
or by the terms of such Foreign Plan, (b) the existence of
unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any
applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted
absent a waiver from the applicable Governmental Authority, (c) the
receipt of a notice from a Governmental Authority relating to the
intention to terminate any such Foreign Plan, or alleging the
insolvency of any such Foreign Plan, or alleging the insolvency of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that sponsors,
contributes to or participates in such Foreign Plan, (d) the
initiation of any action or filing by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to voluntarily terminate or wind up in whole
or in part any Foreign Plan where any such Foreign Plan is not
fully funded and that would result in the incurrence of a liability
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (e) the incurrence of
liability by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under
applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of
such Foreign Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any
participating employer therein, (f) the failure to timely register
or loss of good standing with applicable Governmental Authorities
of any such Foreign Plan required to be so registered or maintain
such standing if such failure to register or loss of such standing
would result in the incurrence of a liability by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary or (g) the failure of any Foreign Plan to
comply with any material provisions of applicable laws or with the
material terms of such Foreign Plan if such failure would result in
the incurrence of a liability by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary.
“
Foreign Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“
Funding Notice
” means a notice
substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
“
Fusion Global Arrangement
” means
the “Fusion Global Arrangement” as defined in the
Merger Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.
“
GAAP
” means, at any time, subject
to Section 1.2(a), United States generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect at such time, applied in accordance with
the consistency requirements thereof.
“
Goldman Sachs
” means Goldman Sachs
Lending Partners LLC.
“
Governmental Act
” means any act or
omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de
jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.
“
Governmental Authority
” means any
federal, state, municipal, national, supranational or other
government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof
or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether
associated with the United States of America, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia or a foreign entity or government
(including any supra-national body exercising such powers or
functions, such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“
Governmental Authorization
” means
any permit, license, registration, approval, exemption,
authorization, plan, directive, binding agreement, consent order or
consent decree made to, or issued, promulgated or entered into by
or with, any Governmental Authority.
“
Guarantee
” of or by any Person
(the “
guarantor
”) means any obligation,
contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation of any other Person (the “
primary obligor
”) in any manner,
whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or
supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment
thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, Securities or
services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness
or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain
working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the
primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d)
as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of
guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation;
provided
that the
term “Guarantee” shall not include (i) endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (ii)
customary indemnity obligations entered into in connection with any
Acquisition or any Disposition permitted hereunder (other than any
such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount, as of
any date of determination, of any Guarantee shall be the principal
amount outstanding on such date of Indebtedness or other obligation
guaranteed thereby (or, in the case of (A) any Guarantee the terms
of which limit the monetary exposure of the guarantor or (B) any
Guarantee of an obligation that does not have a principal amount,
the maximum monetary exposure as of such date of the guarantor
under such Guarantee (as determined, in the case of clause (A),
pursuant to such terms or, in the case of clause (B), reasonably
and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower)).
“
Guarantor Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary that is a party hereto as a
“Guarantor” and a party to the Pledge and Security
Agreement as a “Grantor” thereunder.
“
Guarantors
” means each Guarantor
Subsidiary;
provided
that the term
“Guarantors” shall also include the Borrower solely for
purposes of the Guarantee of Obligations of the other Credit
Parties pursuant to Section 7.
“
Hazardous Materials
” means any
petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes,
asbestos in any form, polychlorinated biphenyls, hazardous or toxic
substances and any other chemical, material, waste or substance
that is prohibited, limited or regulated, or that could result in
liability, under any Environmental Law.
“
Hedge Agreement
” means any
agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative
transaction, or any option or similar agreement, involving, or
settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies,
commodities, prices of equity or debt securities or instruments, or
economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic,
financial or pricing risk or value, or any similar transaction or
combination of the foregoing transactions;
provided
that no phantom stock,
stock option, stock appreciation right or similar plan or right
providing for payments only on account of services provided by
current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of
the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedge
Agreement.
“
Highest Lawful Rate
” means the
maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time
to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws
applicable to any Lender that are presently in effect or, to the
extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws that may
hereafter be in effect and that allow a higher maximum nonusurious
interest rate than applicable laws now allow.
“
Historical Acquired Company Financial
Statements
” means the audited consolidated balance
sheets and related audited consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash
flows, in each case prepared in conformity with GAAP, of the
Acquired Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2017.
“
Historical Borrower Financial
Statements
” means the audited consolidated balance
sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, changes
in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, in each case prepared
in conformity with GAAP, of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31,
2017.
“
Incremental Amount
” means, as of
any date of determination, an amount not in excess of (a) (i) the
sum of (A) $50,000,000 and (B) the aggregate principal amount of
Tranche B Term Loans prepaid prior to such date pursuant to
Section 2.12(a), in each case, to the extent not financed with the
proceeds of any Long-Term Indebtedness and excluding any such
reduction in connection with a refinancing thereof (and, in each
case, excluding any prepayments thereof in excess of the amount
thereof outstanding on the Closing Date or incurred in reliance on
this clause (a)),
minus
(ii) the sum of
(A) the aggregate amount of Incremental Commitments
established prior to such date in reliance on this clause (a), (B)
the aggregate principal amount of any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness incurred prior to such date in reliance on
this clause (a) and (C) the aggregate principal amount of any
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness incurred in reliance on
clause (a)(i)(A) of the definition of “Incremental
Amount” under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any
comparable successor provision) (the amounts available on such date
under this clause (a) above being referred to as the
“
Unrestricted Incremental
Amount
”),
plus
(b) an additional amount
so long as, in the case of this clause (b), after giving Pro Forma
Effect to the incurrence of Indebtedness with respect to which the
Incremental Amount is being determined and the use of proceeds
thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds of such Indebtedness
(and any other Indebtedness incurred substantially concurrently
therewith), and assuming, solely for purposes of this
determination, that the entire amount of the Incremental
Commitments with respect to which the Incremental Amount is being
determined are fully funded as Loans), (i) the Total Net Leverage
Ratio, determined as of the last day of the Test Period most
recently ended on or prior to such date, shall not exceed 3.65:1.00
(the “
Total Incremental
Leverage Limit
”) and (ii) the Borrower shall be
in compliance with Section 6.7(a), determined as of the last
day of the Test Period most recently ended on or prior to such
date;
provided
that
(I) if, for purposes of determining capacity under clause (b)
above, Pro Forma Effect is given to the entire committed amount of
any Indebtedness with respect to which the Incremental Amount is
being determined, such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed
and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without any
further testing under this definition (
provided
that such committed
amount shall, solely for purposes of calculating availability under
clause (b) above, at all times thereafter be deemed to be
fully funded as Indebtedness for borrowed money), (II) in the
case of any Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred concurrently in
reliance on the Unrestricted Incremental Amount and in reliance on
clause (b) above, the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be permitted
to exceed the Total Incremental Leverage Limit to the extent of the
amounts of such Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred in reliance on the
Unrestricted Incremental Amount, (III) in the case of any
Incremental Commitments or Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness established or incurred in reliance on clause (b)
above, any other Indebtedness incurred concurrently therewith
pursuant to and in accordance with any clause of Section 6.1 that
does not require observance of the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall,
solely in the case of subclause (i) of clause (b)
above, be disregarded for purposes of calculating the Total Net
Leverage Ratio under such subclause of clause (b) above,
(IV) in the case of any Incremental Commitment or Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness established or incurred in
reliance on clause (b) above, to the extent the proceeds thereof
are intended to be applied to finance a Limited Conditionality
Transaction, at the election of the Borrower, Pro Forma Compliance
with the Total Net Leverage Ratio and Section 6.7(a) as
required under clause (b) above (but not, for the avoidance of
doubt, actual compliance with Section 6.7(a)) may be tested in
accordance with the provisions of Section 1.5, and (V) any
Incremental Commitments and Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness may be established or incurred in reliance on
clause (a) or (b) above regardless of whether there is
capacity under any such other clause above, or may be established
or incurred in reliance in part on clause (a) or (b) above and in
part on any such other clause above, all as determined by the
Borrower in its sole discretion,
provided
that absent an
election by the Borrower, to the extent that the applicable
requirements have been satisfied, such incurrence shall be deemed
to have been made pursuant to clause (b) above.
“
Incremental Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Incremental Loans of a single
Class.
“
Incremental Commitment
” means,
with respect to any Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender,
established pursuant to an Incremental Facility Agreement and
Section 2.23, to make Incremental Loans of any Class hereunder,
expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of
the Incremental Loans of such Class to be made by such Lender,
subject to any increase or reduction pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Incremental Commitment of any Class, if any, is set forth in the
Incremental Facility Agreement or Assignment Agreement pursuant to
which such Lender shall have established or assumed its Incremental
Commitment of such Class.
“
Incremental Facility Agreement
”
means an Incremental Facility Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Incremental
Lenders, establishing Incremental Commitments of any Class,
specifying the purposes for which the proceeds of the Loans made
pursuant thereto will be used and effecting such other amendments
hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are contemplated by
Section 2.23.
“
Incremental Lender
” means a Lender
with an Incremental Commitment or an Incremental Loan.
“
Incremental Loan
” means a term
loan made by an Incremental Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.23.
“
Incremental Maturity Date
” means,
with respect to Incremental Loans of any Class, the scheduled date
on which such Incremental Loans shall become due and payable in
full hereunder, as specified in the applicable Incremental Facility
Agreement.
“
incur
” means to create, incur,
assume or, in the case of any Indebtedness, otherwise become liable
with respect to such Indebtedness.
“
Indebtedness
” means, with respect
to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of
such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under
conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to
property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all
obligations of such Person in respect of deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred
compensation payable to directors, officers, employees or
consultants of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and
(iii) purchase price adjustments, earnouts, deferred
compensation or other similar arrangements incurred in connection
with any Acquisition, except to the extent that the amount payable
pursuant to such purchase price adjustment, earnout, deferred
compensation or similar arrangement is reflected on such
Person’s consolidated balance sheet in conformity with GAAP),
(e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) the
maximum aggregate amount (determined after giving effect to any
prior drawings or reductions that have been reimbursed) of all
letters of credit and letters of guaranty in respect of which such
Person is an account party, (g) the principal component of all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of
bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Indebtedness of others
secured by any Lien on any property owned or acquired by such
Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been
assumed by such Person, valued, as of any date of determination, at
the lesser of (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness and
(ii) the fair value of such property (as determined in good faith
by such Person), (i) all Guarantees by such Person of
Indebtedness of others and (j) all Disqualified Equity Interests in
such Person, valued, as of the date of determination, at the
greater of (i) the maximum aggregate amount that would be
payable upon maturity, redemption, repayment or repurchase thereof
(or of Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness into which
such Disqualified Equity Interests are convertible or exchangeable)
and (ii) the maximum liquidation preference of such Disqualified
Equity Interests. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
Indebtedness of any other Person (including any partnership in
which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person
is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership
interest in or other relationship with such other Person, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person
is not liable therefor.
“
Indemnified Liabilities
” means any
and all liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities),
obligations, losses, damages (including natural resource damages),
penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs (including the
costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing, abatement,
cleanup, removal, remediation or other response action necessary to
remove, remediate, clean up or abate any Hazardous Materials),
expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses and other
charges of counsel and consultants for the Indemnitees in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial
proceeding or hearing commenced or threatened by any Person
(including by any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof), whether
or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a
potential party thereto (but limited, in the case of any one such
proceeding or hearing, to fees, expenses and other charges of one
firm of primary counsel, one firm of regulatory counsel, and, if
reasonably necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable
jurisdiction for all the Indemnitees (and, if any Indemnitee shall
have advised the Borrower that there is an actual or perceived
conflict of interest, one additional firm of primary counsel, one
additional firm of regulatory counsel and, if reasonably necessary,
one additional firm of local counsel in each applicable
jurisdiction for each group of affected Indemnitees that are
similarly situated (in each case, excluding allocated costs of
in-house counsel)), and any fees or expenses incurred by the
Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect,
special, consequential or otherwise and whether based on any
federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations
(including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or
regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable
causes of action or on contract or otherwise, that may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any
manner relating to or arising out of (a) this Agreement or the
other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby (including the Lenders’ agreement to make Credit
Extensions, the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein or the use or intended use of the proceeds thereof, the
Vector Facility Arrangements, any amendments, waivers or consents
with respect to any provision of this Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents, or any enforcement of any of the Credit Documents
(including any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon
any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Obligations
Guarantee)), (b) any commitment letter, engagement letter, fee
letter or other letter or agreement delivered by any Agent, any
Arranger or any Lender to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates in
connection with the arrangement of the credit facilities provided
for herein or in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or (c) any actual or alleged presence or
Release of Hazardous Materials on, at or under or from any property
currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or
any Affiliate or any Environmental Liability related in any way to
the Borrower or any Affiliate.
“
Indemnified Taxes
” means (a)
Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any
payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party
under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise
described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“
Indemnitee
” as defined in Section
10.3.
“
Installment
” means, when used in
respect of any Loans or Borrowings of any Class established under
Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25, each payment of the principal
amount thereof due under Section 2.11(b) (including the
payment due on the Maturity Date applicable to the Loans of such
Class).
“
Insurance/Condemnation Event
”
means any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under
the power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar
proceeding of, or any Disposition under a threat of such taking of,
all or any part of any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, other than any of the foregoing resulting in aggregate
Net Proceeds not exceeding $5,000,000 during any Fiscal
Year.
“
Intellectual Property
” as defined
in the Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
” as defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
“
Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
” means a Second Lien Intercompany
Indebtedness Subordination Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit G.
“
Intercompany Note
” means a
promissory note substantially in the form of
Exhibit H.
“
Intercreditor Agreement
” means the
Intercreditor Agreement in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit I, with such changes therefrom as may be agreed to by the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower or as are contemplated by
Section 10.24.
“
Interest Payment Date
” means (a)
with respect to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of March,
June, September and December of each year, commencing on
the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and (b) with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest
Period applicable to such Loan and, in the case of any such Loan
with an Interest Period of longer than three months’
duration, each date that is three months, or an integral multiple
thereof, after the commencement of such Interest
Period.
“
Interest Period
” means, with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on
the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month that is one month, two
months, three months or six months thereafter (or, in the case of
any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing of any Class, such longer period
thereafter as shall have been consented to by each Lender of such
Class and notified in writing to the Administrative Agent), as
selected by the Borrower in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice;
provided
that (a) if an
Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business
Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day unless no succeeding Business Day occurs in such
month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
immediately preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period
that commences 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, subject
to clause (c) below, end on the last Business Day of the last
calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Interest Period for
a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing of any Class may extend beyond the
Maturity Date for Borrowings of such Class. For purposes hereof,
the date of a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall initially be the date
on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the
effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of
such Borrowing.
“
Interest Rate Determination Date
”
means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that is two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period.
“
Internal Revenue Code
” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“
Investment
” means, with respect to
a specified Person, any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness
or other Securities (including any option, warrant or other right
to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or
loans or advances (other than trade advances made in the ordinary
course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on
the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in conformity
with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness of (including any
such Guarantees arising as a result of the specified Person being a
co-maker of any note or other instrument or a joint and several
co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit or letter of
guaranty), or any other investments in (including any investment in
the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less
than the fair value thereof (as determined reasonably and in good
faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower)), any other
Person that are held or made by the specified Person. The amount,
as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form
of a loan or an advance shall be the aggregate principal amount
thereof made on or prior to such date of determination, minus the
amount, as of such date of determination, of any Returns with
respect thereto, but without any adjustment for write-downs or
write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion
thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date
thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be
determined in accordance with the definition of the term
“Guarantee”, (c) any Investment in the form of a
purchase or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests,
evidences of Indebtedness or other Securities of any Person shall
be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by
the chief financial officer of the Borrower) of the consideration
therefor (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection
therewith),
plus
the fair value (as so determined) of all additions, as of such date
of determination, thereto, and
minus
the amount, as of such
date of determination, of any Returns with respect thereto, but
without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value
of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such
Investment after the time of such Investment, (d) any Investment
(other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c)
above) in the form of a transfer of Equity Interests or other
property by the investor to the investee, including any such
transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair
value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief
financial officer of the Borrower) of such Equity Interests or
other property as of the time of such transfer (less, in the case
of any investment in the form of transfer of property for
consideration that is less than the fair value thereof, the fair
value (as so determined) of such consideration as of the time of
the transfer),
minus
the amount, as of such
date of determination, of any Returns with respect thereto, but
without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value
of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such
Investment after the time of such transfer, and (e) any Investment
(other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or
(d) above) in any Person resulting from the issuance by such Person
of its Equity Interests to the investor shall be the fair value (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower) of such Equity Interests at the time of
the issuance thereof.
“
Iqmax Disposition
” means the
Disposition by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
assets acquired pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement,
dated as of January 24, 2018, by and between Network Billing
Systems, LLC and Iqmax, Inc., such Disposition to be consummated in
accordance with the terms of such Asset Purchase
Agreement.
“
IRS
” means the United States
Internal Revenue Service.
“
Junior Indebtedness
” means
(a) any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,
any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness and any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness that, in each case, is Permitted Junior
Lien Secured Indebtedness or Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness and
(b) the Subordinated Notes, any other Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness or any other Subordinated Indebtedness, other than any
Subordinated Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary.
“
Junior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement
” means, with respect to any Permitted Junior
Lien Secured Indebtedness, any intercreditor agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the
Borrower, that contains terms and conditions that are within the
range of terms and conditions customary for intercreditor
agreements that are of the type that govern intercreditor
relationships between holders of senior secured credit facilities
and holders of the same type of Indebtedness as such Permitted
Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness.
“
LCT Test Date
” as defined in
Section 1.5.
“
Leasehold Property
” means, as of
any time of determination, any leasehold interest then owned by any
Credit Party in any leased real property.
“
Lender
” means each Person listed
on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person
that shall have become a party hereto in accordance with the terms
hereof pursuant to an Assignment Agreement, an Incremental Facility
Agreement or a Refinancing Facility Agreement, other than any such
Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment Agreement.
“
Lender Presentation
” means the
Lender Presentation dated February 2018 and the Transaction Update
dated April 2018, relating to this Agreement and the credit
facilities provided for herein.
“
License
” means any license,
permit, consent, certificate, franchise approval, waiver,
registration or authorization granted or issued by the FCC, any
State PUC or any other Governmental Authority with authority to
regulate the provision of telecommunications services.
“
Lien
” means any lien, mortgage,
pledge, assignment, security interest, hypothecation, charge or
encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature
thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement
having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.
“
Limited Conditionality
Transaction
” means an Acquisition or Investment
(other than an intercompany Investment) permitted by this Agreement
that the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is contractually
committed to consummate (it being understood that such commitment
may be subject to conditions precedent, which conditions precedent
may be amended, satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of
the applicable agreement) and the consummation of which is not
conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party
financing.
“
Loan
” means a Tranche B Term Loan,
an Incremental Loan of any Class, an Extended/Modified Loan of any
Class or a Refinancing Loan of any Class.
“
Long-Term Indebtedness
” means any
Indebtedness that, in conformity with GAAP, constitutes (or, when
incurred, constituted) a long-term liability.
“
Majority in Interest
”, when used
in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, Lenders
having Term Loan Exposure of such Class representing more than 50%
of the Term Loan Exposure of all the Lenders of such Class at such
time. For purposes of this definition, the amount of Term Loan
Exposures of any Class shall be determined by excluding the Term
Loan Exposure of such Class of any Defaulting Lender.
“
Margin Stock
” as defined in
Regulation U.
“
Material Acquisition
” means any
Acquisition, or a series of related Acquisitions, by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that the portion of
the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis
for such Acquisition or Acquisitions, attributable to the Persons
or the assets so acquired for the most recent period of 12
consecutive months for which financial statements are available at
the time of the consummation thereof exceeds $10,000,000;
provided
further
that the
Specified Acquisition shall in any event constitute a Material
Acquisition.
“
Material Adverse Effect
” means a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, results of operations,
assets or financial condition of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Credit
Parties to fully and timely perform their obligations under the
Credit Documents, taken as a whole, (c) the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against the Credit Parties of any
Credit Documents to which they are party or (d) the rights,
remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, any Agent,
any Arranger, any Lender or any Secured Party under the Credit
Documents, taken as a whole.
“
Material Disposition
” means any
Disposition, or a series of related Dispositions, by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary of (a) all or substantially all
the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in any Person or (b)
assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or
substantially all the assets constituting a business unit,
division, product line or line of business of) any Person;
provided
that the
portion of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent
Test Period attributable to the Persons or assets so Disposed
exceeds $10,000,000.
“
Material Indebtedness
” means
Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Guarantees under the Credit
Documents), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedge
Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $12,000,000 or
more,
provided
that
any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness and Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
shall at all times constitute “Material Indebtedness”.
In the case of any Material Indebtedness that is a Guarantee of any
other Indebtedness, each reference to “Material
Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include a reference to such
Guaranteed Indebtedness. For purposes of determining Material
Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any
Hedge Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount
(giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedge
Agreement were terminated at such time.
“
Material Real Estate Asset
” means
each Real Estate Asset owned in fee by a Credit Party that,
together with the improvements thereon and all contiguous and all
related parcels and the improvements thereon forming part of such
Real Estate Asset, has a fair value, as of the Closing Date or as
of the time of the acquisition thereof, of greater than $5,000,000
in the aggregate.
“
Material Subsidiary
” means each
Restricted Subsidiary (a) the consolidated total assets of
which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Restricted
Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) equal 5.0% or more of
the Consolidated Total Assets or (b) the consolidated revenues
of which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Restricted
Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) equal 5.0% or more of
the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, in each case as of the end of or for the most recent
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower for
which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to
Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the delivery
of any such financial statements, as of the end of or for the
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending with the last
Fiscal Quarter included in the Historical Borrower Financial
Statements);
provided
that if at the end of
or for any such most recent period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters the combined consolidated total assets or combined
consolidated revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries that under
clauses (a) and (b) above would not constitute Material
Subsidiaries would, but for this proviso, exceed 10.0% of the
Consolidated Total Assets or 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, then one or more of
such excluded Restricted Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of
this Agreement be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries in descending
order based on the amounts (determined on a consolidated basis for
such Restricted Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries) of
their consolidated total assets or consolidated revenues, as the
case may be, until such excess shall have been eliminated;
provided
further
that the
Borrower may specify any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary to be a
Material Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such Subsidiary meets
the requirements set forth under clause (a) or (b) above. For
purposes of this definition, the Consolidated Total Assets and
consolidated revenues of the Borrower as of any date prior to, or
for any period that commenced prior to, the Closing Date shall be
determined on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to the Merger and
the other Transactions to occur on the Closing Date.
“
Maturity Date
” means the Tranche B
Term Loan Maturity Date, the Incremental Maturity Date with respect
to the Incremental Loans of any Class, the Extended/Modified Loan
Maturity Date with respect to the Extended/Modified Loans of any
Class or the Refinancing Maturity Date with respect to the
Refinancing Loans of any Class, as the context
requires.
“
Merger
” means the merger of the
Acquired Company with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub
surviving such merger as a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower,
pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
“
Merger Agreement
” means the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 26, 2017, as
amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of September 15, 2017, the Second Amendment to Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated as of September 29, 2017, the Amended and
Restated Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as
of October 27, 2017, the Fourth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of January 24, 2018, the Fifth Amendment to
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 25, 2018, the
Sixth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March
12, 2018, the Seventh Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of April 4, 2018, the Eighth Amendment to Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of April 26, 2018, and the Ninth Amendment
to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 27, 2018,
by and among the Borrower, Merger Sub and the Acquired Company,
together with the exhibits (including the forms of the
stockholders’ agreement and the registration rights
agreement), disclosure letters and other documents relating
thereto.
“
Merger Sub
” means Fusion BCHI
Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“
Moody’s
” means Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to its rating agency
business.
“
Mortgage
” means a mortgage, deed
of trust, assignment of leases and rents or other security document
granting a Lien on any Material Real Estate Asset in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as
security for the Obligations. Each Mortgage shall be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent.
“
MSSF
” means Morgan Stanley Senior
Funding, Inc.
“
MUFG
” means MUFG Union Bank,
N.A.
“
Multiemployer Plan
” means any
Employee Benefit Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” as
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
“
Net Proceeds
” means, with respect
to any event, (a) the Cash (which term, for purposes of this
definition, shall include Cash Equivalents) proceeds received in
respect of such event, including any Cash received in respect of
any noncash proceeds, but only as and when received, net of (b) the
sum, without duplication, of (i) all reasonable fees and
out-of-pocket expenses (including any underwriting discounts and
commissions) paid in connection with such event by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary to Persons that are not Affiliates of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any
Asset Sale or Insurance/Condemnation Event, (A) the amount of
all payments (including in respect of principal, accrued interest
and premiums) required to be made by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay
Indebtedness of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
types referred to in clauses (a) through (e) of the definition of
“Indebtedness” (other than Loans, Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness, Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness, Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and any
Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary) secured by the
assets subject thereto, (B) the amount of all Taxes paid (or
reasonably estimated to be payable) by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, and the amount of any reserves established
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in conformity with
GAAP to fund purchase price adjustment, indemnification and similar
contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable that are
directly attributable to the occurrence of such event and (C) the
repayment of customer deposits required upon such Asset Sale or
Insurance/Condemnation Event and (iii) in the case of any proceeds
from any Asset Sale or Insurance/Condemnation Event affecting the
assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned
Subsidiary, the portion of such proceeds received by such
Restricted Subsidiary attributable to the noncontrolling interests
in such Restricted Subsidiary, in each case as determined
reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower. For purposes of this definition, in the event any
contingent liability reserve established with respect to any event
as described in clause (b)(ii)(B) above shall be reduced, the
amount of such reduction shall, except to the extent such reduction
is made as a result of a payment having been made in respect of the
contingent liabilities for which such reserve has been established,
be deemed to be receipt, on the date of such reduction, of Cash
proceeds in respect of such event.
“
New Subordinated Note
” means the
subordinated unsecured note issued by the Borrower on the Closing
Date to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (or an entity majority-owned and
Controlled by Holcombe T. Green, Jr. or his heirs, beneficiaries,
trusts or estate) in an aggregate principal amount of
$10,000,000.
“
Note
” means a promissory note
issued to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.6(c).
“
Obligations
” means all obligations
of every nature of each Credit Party under this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents, whether for principal, interest (including
default interest accruing pursuant to Section 2.9 and interest
(including such default interest) that would continue to accrue
pursuant to the Credit Documents on any such obligation after the
commencement of any proceeding under the Debtor Relief Laws with
respect to any Credit Party, whether or not such interest is
allowed or allowable against such Credit Party in any such
proceeding), fees (including prepayment fees), expenses,
indemnification or otherwise.
“
Obligations Guarantee
” means the
Guarantee of the Obligations created under
Section 7.
“
OFAC
” means the United States
Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“
Open Market Purchases
” as defined
in Section 10.6(i)(ii).
“
Organizational Documents
” means
(a) with respect to any corporation or company, its certificate or
articles of incorporation, organization or association, as amended,
and its bylaws, as amended, (b) with respect to any limited
partnership, its certificate or declaration of limited partnership,
as amended, and its partnership agreement, as amended, (c) with
respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, as
amended, and (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its
certificate of formation or articles of organization, as amended,
and its operating agreement, as amended. In the event any term or
condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires
any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state
or similar governmental official, the reference to any such
“Organizational Document” shall only be to a document
of a type customarily certified by such governmental
official.
“
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 Credit Document, or sold or
assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).
“
Other Taxes
”
means any and 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, this Agreement or any other Credit
Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes
imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment
made pursuant to Section 2.22).
“
Pari Passu Intercreditor
Agreement
” means, with respect to any Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, an intercreditor agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the
Borrower, that contains terms and conditions that are within the
range of terms and conditions customary for intercreditor
agreements that are of the type that govern intercreditor
relationships between holders of senior secured credit facilities
and holders of the same type of Indebtedness as such Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness.
“
Participant Register
” as defined
in Section 10.6(g).
“
PATRIOT Act
”
means the Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L.
107-56).
“
PBGC
” means the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation.
“
Pension Plan
” means any Employee
Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of
ERISA.
“
Permitted Acquisition
” means any
Acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that:
(a) (i) in
the case of any Acquisition of Equity Interests in a Person, each
of such Person and its Subsidiaries will become a Restricted
Subsidiary (or will be merged or consolidated with or into the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, with the continuing or
surviving Person being the Borrower (in the case of any such
transaction involving the Borrower) or a Restricted Subsidiary) and
(ii) in the case of any Acquisition of other assets, such assets
will be owned by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary;
(b) all
actions required to be taken with respect to such Person or such
assets, as the case may be, in order to satisfy the requirements
set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the
term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” (subject to
the discretion of the Collateral Agent set forth in such
definition) shall have been taken (or arrangements for the taking
of such actions satisfactory to the Collateral Agent shall have
been made) (it being understood that all other requirements set
forth in such definition that are applicable to such Acquisition
shall be required to be satisfied in accordance with (and within
the time periods provided in) Sections 5.10 and 5.11);
(c) the
Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of the Test
Period most recently ended prior to the consummation thereof
(giving Pro Forma Effect to such Acquisition and any other Pro
Forma Events in connection therewith (including incurrence of
Indebtedness)), shall not be greater than the lesser of (i) the
greater of (A) 3.65:1.00 and (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of
such last day (but determined prior to giving Pro Forma Effect to
such Acquisition or any other Pro Forma Events in connection
therewith (including incurrence of Indebtedness)) and (ii) the
maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial
covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a);
provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower demonstrating that the condition
set forth in this clause (c) have been satisfied;
provided
,
further
, that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (c) may be
tested in accordance with Section 1.5;
(d) the
business of any such acquired Person, or such acquired assets, as
the case may be, constitute a business permitted under
Section 6.11;
(e) immediately
prior and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
provided
that, in
the case of any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election
of the Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (e)
may be tested in accordance with Section 1.5; and
(f) the
Acquisition Consideration paid in respect of such Acquisition shall
not be in the form of Cash or Cash Equivalents unless the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of the Test
Period most recently ended prior to the consummation thereof
(giving Pro Forma Effect to such Acquisition and any other Pro
Forma Events in connection therewith (including incurrence of
Indebtedness)), (i) in the case of any such Acquisition consummated
on or prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date, shall be
greater than or equal to 1.15:1.00 and (ii) in the case of any such
Acquisition consummated at any time thereafter, shall be greater
than or equal to 1.25:1.00;
provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower demonstrating that the condition
set forth in this clause (f) has been satisfied;
provided
,
further
, that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the election of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in this clause (f) may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5.
“
Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(i).
“
Permitted Encumbrances
”
means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for Taxes that are not overdue by more than 30 days
or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.3, if
adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained by the
applicable Person in conformity with GAAP;
(b) carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than
any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA), arising in the ordinary course of
business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than
60 days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly and diligently conducted, if adequate reserves
with respect thereto are maintained by the applicable Person in
conformity with GAAP;
(c) pledges
and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance
and other social security laws (other than any Lien imposed
pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section
303(k) of ERISA) and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank
guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i)
above;
(d) pledges
and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business to secure
the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for payment of
Indebtedness), leases (other than capital leases), statutory
obligations (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k)
of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA), public
utility services provided to the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary, surety, litigation and appeal bonds, performance bonds
and other obligations of a like nature and (ii) in respect of
letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued
for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set
forth in clause (i) above;
(e) judgment
liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of
Default under Section 8.1(h);
(f) easements,
zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real
property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of
business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
materially detract from the value of the affected property or
interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(g) 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 is not violated by the current use and operation of
the affected real property;
(h) ground
leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or
leased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary are
located;
(i) Liens
of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business
under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the
relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected
upon;
(j)
banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and
remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with
depository institutions;
provided
that such deposit
accounts or funds are not established or deposited for the purpose
of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to
restrictions on access by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
in excess of those required by applicable banking
regulations;
(k) Liens
arising by virtue of precautionary UCC financing statement filings
(or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating
leases entered into by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens
representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or
sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or
sublessee, in the property subject to any lease (other than any
capital lease), license or sublicense or concession agreement
permitted by this Agreement;
(m) 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;
(n) deposits
of Cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure the performance
of its obligations under the lease for such premises, in each case
in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Liens
that are contractual rights of set-off; and
(p) Liens
on Cash and Cash Equivalents securing obligations in respect of
Hedge Agreements permitted under Section 6.12;
provided
that the term “Permitted Encumbrances”
shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, other than Liens
referred to in clauses (c) and (d) above securing letters of
credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments.
“
Permitted Holders
” means (a)
Holcombe T. Green, Jr., R. Kirby Godsey, Holcombe Green, III,
Marvin S. Rosen and Matthew D. Rosen and their respective heirs,
beneficiaries, trusts, estates and controlled Affiliates
(including, for so long as such Person constitutes such a
controlled Affiliate, BCHI Holdings, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company) and (b) any employee benefit plan of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Person acting in its capacity as
trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such
plan.
“
Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(h).
“
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement
”
means the Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement, any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement or any Senior
Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
“
Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness
” means any secured Indebtedness of the
Borrower and/or any other Credit Party in the form of one or more
series of junior lien secured bona fide “high yield”
notes, bonds or debentures or junior lien secured term loans, and
the Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party;
provided
that (a) such
Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the
Collateral on a junior priority basis with the Liens on the
Collateral securing the Obligations and is not secured by any
assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Collateral,
(b) such Indebtedness is not Guaranteed by any Person other than
the Credit Parties and (c) the administrative agent, collateral
agent, trustee and/or any similar representative acting on behalf
of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to a
Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, providing that the Liens on
the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior in
priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations;
provided
that if
such Indebtedness is the initial Permitted Junior Lien Secured
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties,
then the Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall have executed
and delivered the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (or an
acknowledgement thereof in the form specified therein) and the
Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties, the Junior Lien
Intercreditor Agreement. It is understood and agreed that,
notwithstanding the final paragraph of Section 6.1, Permitted
Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness may only be incurred and
outstanding in reliance on Section 6.1(e), 6.1(h) or
6.1(i).
“
Permitted Lien
” means any Lien
permitted by Section 6.2.
“
Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness
” means any secured Indebtedness of the
Borrower and/or any other Credit Party in the form of one or more
series of senior secured bona fide “high yield” notes,
bonds or debentures (but not loans), and the Guarantees thereof by
any Credit Party;
provided
that (a) such
Indebtedness is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the
Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens on the Collateral
securing the Obligations (it being understood that the
determination as to whether such Liens are on a pari passu basis
shall be made without regard to control of remedies) and is not
secured by any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than
the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness is not Guaranteed by any
Person other than the Credit Parties and (c) the administrative
agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or any similar representative
acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have
become party to a Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement providing that
the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank
equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the
Obligations (it being understood that the determination as to
whether such Liens rank equal in priority shall be made without
regard to control of remedies);
provided
that if such
Indebtedness is the initial Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties,
then the Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall have executed
and delivered the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement (or an
acknowledgement thereof in the form specified therein) and the
Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties, the Pari Passu Intercreditor
Agreement. It is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding the
final paragraph of Section 6.1, Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness may only be incurred and outstanding in reliance on
Section 6.1(e), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i).
“
Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(e). As of the date hereof, Indebtedness under the
First Lien Credit Agreement constitutes Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness
Documents
” means the First Lien Credit Agreement and
the other First Lien Credit Documents and any other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness
” means any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on all or a portion of the
Collateral on a senior basis to the Liens on the Collateral
securing the Obligations;
provided
that (a) such
Indebtedness is not secured by any assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness is not
Guaranteed by any Person other than the Credit Parties and
(c) the administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee and/or
any similar representative acting on behalf of the holders of such
Indebtedness shall have become party to a Senior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement, providing that the Liens on the Collateral securing such
Indebtedness shall rank senior in priority to the Liens on the
Collateral securing the Obligations;
provided
that if such
Indebtedness is the initial Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties,
then the Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall have executed
and delivered the Senior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (or an
acknowledgement thereof in the form specified therein) and the
Collateral Agent agrees to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
Lenders and the other Secured Parties, the Senior Lien
Intercreditor Agreement. It is understood and agreed that,
notwithstanding the final paragraph of Section 6.1, Permitted
Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness may only be incurred and
outstanding in reliance on Section 6.1(e).
“
Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means Indebtedness permitted under
Section 6.1(q). As of the date hereof, the Subordinated Notes
constitute Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Document
” means the Subordinated Notes and any other
credit agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument
evidencing or governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness.
“
Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness
”
means any Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any other Credit
Party in the form of one or more series of unsecured, senior or
subordinated bona fide “high yield” notes, bonds or
debentures or unsecured, senior or subordinated term loans;
provided
that (a)
such Indebtedness is not secured by any Liens on any assets of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and (b) such Indebtedness is not
Guaranteed by any Person other than the Credit
Parties.
“
Person
” means any natural person,
corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, joint stock
company, joint venture, association, company, trust, bank, trust
company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether
or not a legal entity, and any Governmental Authority.
“
Platform
” means Debtdomain,
IntraLinks/IntraAgency, SyndTrak or another similar website or
other information platform.
“
Pledge and Security Agreement
”
means the Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the
date hereof, among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties and the
Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit J.
“
Post-Closing Letter Agreement
”
means the Second Lien Post-Closing Letter Agreement dated as of the
date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent.
“
Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant
” means, at any time, (a) any financial
maintenance covenant that is not included in this Agreement at such
time for the benefit of all Lenders and (b) any financial
maintenance covenant that is included in this Agreement at such
time for the benefit of all Lenders but has covenant levels or
effectiveness triggers that are more restrictive on the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries than the covenant levels or
effectiveness triggers set forth in this Agreement at such
time.
“
Prime Rate
” means the rate of
interest quoted in the print edition of
The Wall Street Journal
, Money Rates
Section as the Prime Rate (currently defined as the base rate on
corporate loans posted by at least 70% of the nation’s 10
largest banks), as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a
reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or
best rate actually charged to any customer. Any Agent and any
Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of
interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.
“
Private Lenders
” means Lenders
that wish to receive Private-Side Information.
“
Private-Side Information
” means
any information with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
that is not Public-Side Information.
“
Pro Forma Basis
”,
“
Pro Forma
Compliance
” and “
Pro Forma Effect
” means, with
respect to any Pro Forma Event, that such Pro Forma Event and the
following transactions in connection therewith (to the extent
applicable) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of
the applicable period of measurement for the applicable covenant or
requirement: (a) historical income statement items (whether
positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person, if
any, subject to such Pro Forma Event, (i) in the case of a
Disposition of a business unit, division, product line or line of
business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, a
Disposition that otherwise results in a Restricted Subsidiary
ceasing to be a Subsidiary or a designation of a Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of
an Acquisition by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether
by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or any other Investment that
results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or a
designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, shall be
included, (b) any repayment, retirement, redemption, satisfaction
and discharge or defeasance of Indebtedness in connection therewith
and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any
of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith, and if such
Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness
shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period
for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate
which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as
at the relevant date of determination (taking into account any
hedging obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such hedging
obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). “Pro
Forma Basis,” “Pro Forma Compliance” and
“Pro Forma Effect” in respect of any Pro Forma Event
shall be calculated in a reasonable and factually supportable
manner by the Borrower and in the manner that is consistent with
the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA. For the avoidance
of doubt, the amount of net cost savings, operating expense
reductions, other operating improvements and synergies projected by
the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of actions
taken or to be taken in connection with any Pro Forma Event may be
included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in the manner, and subject
to the limitations, set forth in the definition of such
term.
“
Pro Forma Event
” means (a) any
Acquisition by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether by
merger, consolidation or otherwise, or any other Investment (other
than intercompany Investments), (b) any Disposition of a business
unit, division, product line or line of business of the Borrower or
a Restricted Subsidiary and any other Disposition that results in a
Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary, (c) any
designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, (d) any incurrence or repayment,
retirement, redemption, satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of
Indebtedness, (e) any Restricted Junior Payment and (f) any other
transaction where the consummation thereof, or the determination of
whether such transaction is permitted to be consummated under this
Agreement, requires that a financial covenant or test be calculated
on a Pro Forma Basis after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
transaction.
“
Pro Forma Financial Statements
”
means pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September
30, 2017 and the pro forma condensed consolidated statements of
operations for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016, in each
case, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, prepared
after giving effect to the Transactions as contemplated by such pro
forma financial statements as if they had occurred as of the end of
such period (in the case of such balance sheet) or on January 1,
2016 (in the case of such statement of operations), in each case as
included in the Definitive Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A) for the
Borrower filed with the SEC on December 28, 2017, as amended by the
Borrower’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13,
2018.
“
Pro Rata Share
” means, with
respect to any Lender, at any time, (a) when used in reference
to payments, computations and other matters relating to the
Tranche B Term Loans or Tranche B Term Borrowings, the
percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Tranche B Term
Loan Exposure of such Lender at such time by (ii) the
aggregate Tranche B Term Loan Exposure of all the Lenders at
such time, (b) when used in reference to payments,
computations and other matters relating to Commitments, Loans or
Borrowings of any other Class, the percentage obtained by dividing
(i) the Term Loan Exposure of such Lender with respect to such
Class at such time by (ii) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all
the Lenders with respect to such Class at such time, and
(c) when used for any other purpose (including under Section
9.6), the percentage obtained by dividing (i) an amount equal
to the sum of the Tranche B Term Loan Exposure and the Term
Loan Exposure of each such other Class of such Lender at such time
by (ii) an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate
Tranche B Term Loan Exposure and the aggregate Term Loan
Exposure of each such other Class of all the Lenders at such
time.
“
Projections
” means the projections
of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for each Fiscal
Quarter of Fiscal Year 2018 and for each Fiscal Year thereafter
through and including Fiscal Year 2025 heretofore provided to the
Lenders.
“
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 Lenders
” means Lenders that
do not wish to receive Private-Side Information.
“
Public-Side Information
” means
information that is either (a) available to all holders of Traded
Securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (b) not material
non-public information (for purposes of United States federal,
state or other applicable securities laws).
“
Real Estate Asset
” means any
interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) owned by any Credit Party in
any real property.
“
Recipient
” means any Agent and any
Lender, as applicable.
“
Refinancing Commitments
” as
defined in Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Facility Agreement
”
means a Refinancing Facility Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Refinancing
Lenders, establishing Refinancing Commitments and effecting such
other amendments hereto and to the other Credit Documents as are
contemplated by Section 2.25.
“
Refinancing Indebtedness
” means,
in respect of any Indebtedness (the “
Original Indebtedness
”), any
Indebtedness that extends, renews or refinances such Original
Indebtedness (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof);
provided
that (a)
the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not
exceed the principal amount of such Original Indebtedness except by
an amount not greater than accrued and unpaid interest on such
Original Indebtedness, any original issue discount applicable to
such Refinancing Indebtedness, any unused commitments in respect of
such Original Indebtedness (only if and to the extent that, had
such Original Indebtedness been incurred under such commitments at
the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred, it would have
been permitted hereunder) and any reasonable fees, premiums and
expenses relating to such extension, renewal or refinancing; (b)
the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall
not be earlier than that of such Original Indebtedness, and such
stated final maturity shall not be subject to any conditions that
could result in such stated final maturity occurring on a date that
precedes the stated final maturity of such Original Indebtedness
(other than as a result of an acceleration of any such stated
maturity upon an event of default or a voluntary termination by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any commitments to extend
credit in respect thereof); (c) the weighted average life to
maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be shorter than
the remaining weighted average life to maturity of such Original
Indebtedness (and, for purposes of determining the weighted average
life to maturity of such Original Indebtedness, the effects of any
prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall be
disregarded); (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not
constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of any
Restricted Subsidiary that shall not have been (or, in the case of
after-acquired Restricted Subsidiaries, shall not have been
required to become) an obligor in respect of such Original
Indebtedness; (e) if such Original Indebtedness shall have been
subordinated to the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness
shall also be subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less
favorable in any material respect to the Lenders,
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with the drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness, together
with drafts of the subordination terms to be applicable thereto,
stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such
subordination terms satisfy the requirement of this clause (e)
shall be conclusive evidence that such terms satisfy such
requirement unless the Administrative Agent or the Requisite
Lenders notify the Borrower in writing within such five Business
Day period that it or they disagree with such determination
(including a reasonably detailed description of the basis upon
which it or they disagree); (f) if such Original Indebtedness shall
be Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, then (i) such Refinancing
Indebtedness satisfies the Specified Permitted Indebtedness
Documentation Requirements, (ii) if such Original Indebtedness was
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, such Refinancing
Indebtedness, if secured, shall be Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness or Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness and
(iii) if such Original Indebtedness was Permitted Junior Lien
Secured Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness, if secured,
shall be Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness; (g) if
such Original Indebtedness was Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Permitted
Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness, Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness, Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness or
Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness; and (h) such Refinancing
Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other
than the assets that secured (or, in the case of after-acquired
assets, would be required to secure pursuant to the terms thereof)
such Original Indebtedness or, to the extent such assets would have
been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the
terms thereof, that are proceeds and products of, or after-acquired
property that is affixed or incorporated into, the assets that
secured such Original Indebtedness.
“
Refinancing Lender
” as defined in
Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Loans
” as defined in
Section 2.25(a).
“
Refinancing Maturity Date
” means,
with respect to Refinancing Loans of any Class, the scheduled date
on which such Refinancing Loans shall become due and payable in
full hereunder, as specified in the applicable Refinancing Facility
Agreement.
“
Register
” as defined in
Section 2.6(b).
“
Regulation D
” means
Regulation D of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation T
” means
Regulation T of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation U
” means
Regulation U of the Board of Governors.
“
Regulation X
” means
Regulation X of the Board of Governors.
“
Related Fund
” means, with respect
to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund
that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by
the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of
such investment advisor.
“
Related Parties
” means, with
respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
directors, officers, partners, members, trustees, employees,
controlling persons, agents, administrators, managers,
representatives and advisors of such Person and of such
Person’s Affiliates.
“
Release
” means any release, spill,
emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the
environment or from, under, within or upon any building, structure,
facility or fixture.
“
Requisite Lenders
” means, at any
time, Lenders having or holding Tranche B Term Loan Exposure
and Term Loan Exposure of any other Class representing more than
50% of the sum of the Tranche B Term Loan Exposure and Term Loan
Exposure of each such other Class of all the Lenders at such time.
For purposes of this definition, the amount of Tranche B Term Loan
Exposure and Term Loan Exposure of any other Class shall be
determined by excluding the Tranche B Term Loan Exposure and Term
Loan Exposure of each such other Class of any Defaulting
Lender.
“
Restricted Junior Payment
” means
(a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect
(whether in Cash, Securities or other property), with respect to
any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
(b) any payment or distribution, direct or indirect (whether in
Cash, Securities or other property), including any sinking fund or
similar deposit, on account of any redemption, retirement,
purchase, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancelation or
termination of, or any other return of capital with respect to, any
Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(c) any payment or other distribution, direct or indirect (whether
in Cash, Securities or other property) of or in respect of
principal of or interest or premium on any Junior Indebtedness, or
any payment or other distribution (whether in Cash, Securities or
other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on
account of the redemption, retirement, purchase, acquisition,
defeasance (including in-substance or legal defeasance), exchange,
conversion, cancelation or termination of any Junior
Indebtedness.
“
Restricted Subsidiary
” means any
Subsidiary that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“
Retained ECF Percentage
” means,
with respect to any Fiscal Year, (a) 100%
minus
(b) the Applicable
ECF Percentage with respect to such Fiscal Year.
“
Returns
” means (a) with respect to
any Investment in the form of a loan or advance, the repayment to
the investor in Cash or Cash Equivalents of principal thereof and
(b) with respect to any other Investment, any return of capital
received by the investor in Cash or Cash Equivalents in respect of
such Investment.
“
Rollover Indebtedness
” means
Indebtedness of any Credit Party issued to any Lender in lieu of
such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of any prepayment of
any Borrowing made pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i).
“
S&P
” means S&P Global
Ratings, or any successor to its rating agency
business.
“
Sale/Leaseback Transaction
” means
an arrangement relating to property owned by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary Disposes of such property to any Person and the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary leases such property, or other
property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose
or purposes as the property Disposed of, from such Person or its
Affiliates.
“
Sanctioned Country
” means, at any
time, a country, region or territory that is itself the subject or
target of any Sanctions (at the date of this Agreement, Crimea,
Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
“
Sanctioned Person
” means, at any
time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of
designated Persons maintained by the US Department of State, the US
Department of Treasury (including OFAC), the United Nations
Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member
state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or the
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (Canada), (b)
any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country
or (c) any Person controlled or 50% or more owned by any such
Person or Persons described in clause (a) or (b)
above.
“
Sanctions
” as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
Sanctions Laws
” as defined in
Section 4.21.
“
SEC
”
means the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission.
“
Secured Parties
” as defined in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Securities
” means any stock,
shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates,
certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing
agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any
instruments commonly known as “securities” or any
certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or
interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the
foregoing.
“
Securities Act
” means the
Securities Act of 1933.
“
Senior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement
” means, with respect to any Permitted Senior
Lien Secured Indebtedness, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other
intercreditor agreement, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, that
contains terms and conditions that are within the range of terms
and conditions customary for intercreditor agreements that are of
the type that govern intercreditor relationships between holders of
second lien secured credit facilities and holders of the same type
of Indebtedness as such Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness.
“
Senior Lien Obligations Discharge
Date
” shall be deemed to have occurred upon
(a) payment in full in cash of the principal of all
Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Agreement and all the
other Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness, (b) payment in
full in cash of all other “Obligations” (as defined in
the First Lien Credit Agreement) set forth in clause (a) of the
definition of such term in the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any
comparable term under any other Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness) that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and
owing at or prior to the time such principal is paid (excluding,
for the avoidance of doubt, contingent expense reimbursement and
indemnification obligations that are not yet due and payable), (c)
cancellation of or the entry into arrangements satisfactory to the
issuer thereof with respect to all letters of credit issued and
outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement or the
obligations under which otherwise constitute Permitted Senior Lien
Secured Indebtedness and (d) termination or expiration of all
commitments to lend under the First Lien Credit Agreement or in
respect of any other Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness, it
being understood that notwithstanding any prior occurrence of a
Senior Lien Obligations Discharge Date, if on any subsequent date
any Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness shall be in effect
or outstanding (or any such Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness shall be reinstated), from and after such date, no
Senior Lien Obligations Discharge Date shall be deemed to have
occurred for purposes of this Agreement.
“
Solvency Certificate
”
means a Solvency Certificate
executed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower
substantially in the form of Exhibit K.
“
Solvent
” means, with respect to
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, that as
of the date of determination, (a) the sum of the debt and other
liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the
present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (b) the capital of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not
unreasonably small in relation to their business as conducted or
proposed to be conducted, on a consolidated basis, (c) the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred
and do not intend to incur, or believe (nor should they reasonably
believe) that they will incur, debts and liabilities (including
contingent liabilities), on a consolidated basis, beyond the
ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due
(whether at maturity or otherwise) and (d) the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are “solvent”
within the meaning given to that term and similar terms under any
applicable Debtor Relief Laws and other applicable laws relating to
preferences, fraudulent transfers and conveyances or transfers
undervalue. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any
contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount
that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at
such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to
become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such
contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under
GAAP).
“
Specified Acquisition
” means an
Acquisition identified to the Arrangers prior to the Closing Date
(for the avoidance of doubt, not constituting the Acquisition of
the Acquired Company), the business of which constitutes a business
engaged in (or any business that is similar, complementary or
related to, or a reasonable extension of, the business engaged in)
by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding, for
purposes of this definition, the Acquired Company and its
Subsidiaries) on the Closing Date;
provided
that such Acquisition
(a) if such Acquisition is consummated prior to the Escrow Cash
Collateral Outside Date, to the extent of the Acquisition
Consideration therefor (other than any portion thereof funded with
Net Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower
after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date of consummation
of such Acquisition from any issuance and sale of Equity Interests
in the Borrower (other than any Disqualified Equity Interests and
other than any Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of
the Borrower)), is consummated solely in reliance on Section 6.6(w)
and (b) in any event, is consummated on or prior to December 31,
2018.
“
Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation
Requirements
” means, with respect to any Indebtedness,
the requirements that the terms of such Indebtedness (excluding
interest rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins,
benchmark rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and
prepayment or redemption terms (including “no call”
terms and other restrictions thereunder) and premiums) are, when
taken as a whole, either (a) not materially more favorable to the
lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than those
applicable under this Agreement when taken as a whole
(other than terms benefitting such lenders or
holders (i) where this Agreement is amended to include such
beneficial terms for the benefit of all Lenders or (ii)
applicable only to periods after the latest Maturity Date in effect
at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness
) or (b) solely in the case of Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, otherwise on current market terms for
such type of Indebtedness
;
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with any drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a
reasonably detailed description of the material terms and
conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation
relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good
faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements of
this definition shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and
conditions satisfy such requirement unless the Administrative Agent
or the Requisite Lenders notify the Borrower in writing within such
five Business Day period that it or they disagree with such
determination (including a reasonably detailed description of the
basis upon which it or they disagree);
provided
further
that such Indebtedness
shall not include any Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant unless such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance
Covenant applies only to periods after the latest Maturity Date in
effect at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or this
Agreement is amended to include such Previously Absent Financial
Maintenance Covenant for the benefit of all Lenders.
“
State PUC
” means any Governmental
Authority of any State that exercises authority over intrastate
telecommunications rates or provision of telecommunications
services or the ownership, construction or operation of any
intrastate network facility or telecommunications systems or over
Persons that own, construct or operate an intrastate network
facility or telecommunications systems, in each case by reason of
the nature or type of the business subject to regulation and not
pursuant to laws and regulations of general applicability to
Persons conducting business in such state.
“
Subordinated Indebtedness
” of any
Person means Indebtedness of such Person that is contractually
subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such
Person, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Subordinated
Notes.
“
Subordinated Notes
” means the
Existing Subordinated Notes and the New Subordinated
Note.
“
Subsidiary
” means, with respect to
any Person (the “
parent
”) at any date, (a) any
Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of
the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements
if such financial statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP
as of such date and (b) any other Person of which Equity
Interests representing more than 50% of the equity value or more
than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a
partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests
are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or
one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or
more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to
Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“
Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire
” means a certificate in the form of
Exhibit L or any other form approved by the Collateral
Agent.
“
Syndication Agent
” means Goldman
Sachs, in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facility
established under this Agreement.
“
Tax
” 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 Exposure
” means, with
respect to any Lender, for any Class of Commitments or Loans at any
time, (a) prior to the making of the Loans of such Class, the
Commitment of such Class of such Lender at such time and (b) after
the making of the Loans of such Class, the aggregate principal
amount of the Loans of such Class of such Lender at such
time.
“
Test Period
” means, for any date
of determination, the most recent period of four consecutive Fiscal
Quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the
first delivery of any such financial statements, the period of four
consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended December 31,
2017).
“
Total Leverage Ratio
” means the
ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such
date to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four
consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended on such date (or,
if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, most recently
prior to such date).
“
Total Net Leverage Ratio
” means
the ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of
such date to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of
four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower ended on such date
(or, if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, most
recently prior to such date).
“
Traded Securities
” means any debt
or equity Securities issued pursuant to a public offering
registered under the Securities Act or Rule 144A offering or other
similar private placement.
“
Tranche B Term Borrowing
” means a
Borrowing comprised of Tranche B Term Loans.
“
Tranche B Term Loan
” means a
term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.1(a)(i).
“
Tranche B Term Loan
Commitment
” means, with respect to any Lender, the
commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche B Term Loan
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum
principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loan to be made by such
Lender, subject to any increase or reduction pursuant to the terms
and conditions hereof. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Tranche B Term Loan Commitment, if any, is set forth on
Schedule
2.1
or in the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such
Lender shall have assumed its Tranche B Term Loan Commitment. The
aggregate amount of the Tranche B Term Loan Commitments as of the
Closing Date is $85,000,000.
“
Tranche B Term Loan Exposure
”
means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) prior to
the making of Tranche B Term Loans hereunder, the Tranche B Term
Loan Commitment of such Lender at such time and (b) after the
making of Tranche B Term Loans hereunder, the aggregate principal
amount of the Tranche B Term Loans of such Lender outstanding
at such time.
“
Tranche B Term Loan Maturity
Date
” means the date that is five years and six months
after the Closing Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the
immediately preceding Business Day).
“
Transactions
” means (a) the
Financing Transactions, (b) the Closing Date Refinancing, (c) the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, including the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business
and the consummation of the Fusion Global Arrangement or the
dissolution of Fusion Global Services LLC, (d) the issuance of the
New Subordinated Note, (e) the Closing Date Common Equity Issuance,
(f) the issuance and sale of the Closing Date Preferred Stock and
(g) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the
foregoing.
“
Treasury Rate
” means, as of any
date of determination of the Yield Maintenance Amount, the yield to
maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury
securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in
the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519)
that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior
to such date of determination (or, if such Statistical Release is
no longer published, any publicly available source of similar
market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such date of
determination to but excluding the date that is 18 months after the
Closing Date;
provided
,
however
, that if the period
from such date of determination to but excluding the date that is
18 months after the Closing Date is not equal to the constant
maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly
average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by
linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a
year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury
securities for which such yields are given, except that if the
period from such date of determination to but excluding the date
that is 18 months after the Closing Date is less than one year, the
weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury
securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be
used.
“
Type
” when used in reference to
any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on
such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined
by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or the Base
Rate.
“
UCC
” means the Uniform Commercial
Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from
time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.
“
Unrestricted Cash
” means, on any
date, Cash and Cash Equivalents (excluding, for the avoidance of
doubt, security deposits held by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary) owned on such date by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, as reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such
date in conformity with GAAP (but only to the extent the number
reflected is a positive number),
provided
that (a) except in the
case of any Cash or Cash Equivalents consisting of Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral, such Cash and Cash Equivalents do not
appear (and would not be required to appear) as
“restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of such
Person prepared in conformity with GAAP, (b) such Cash and Cash
Equivalents are free and clear of all Liens, other than
(i) nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 6.2 (including
clause (a) of the definition of the term “Permitted
Encumbrances”), (ii) Liens referred to in clause (i) of the
definition of the term “Permitted Encumbrances”, (iii)
Liens created under the Credit Documents and (iv) Liens
securing any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness, and (c) except in the
case of contractual restrictions in respect of any Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral pursuant to the Vector Subordinated
Note Cash Collateral Control Agreement or the First Lien Credit
Agreement, the use of such Cash and Cash Equivalents for
application to the payment of Indebtedness is not prohibited in any
material respect by applicable law or any material Contractual
Obligation and such Cash and Cash Equivalents are not contractually
restricted in any material respect from being distributed to the
Borrower;
provided
further
that the
Escrow Cash Collateral shall not constitute Unrestricted
Cash.
“
Unrestricted Subsidiary
” means (a)
any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in the manner provided below and not
subsequently redesignated as a “Restricted Subsidiary”
in the manner provided below and (b) each Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The
Borrower may designate any Subsidiary to be an “Unrestricted
Subsidiary” by delivering to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower
specifying such designation and certifying that such designated
Subsidiary satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition;
provided
that no
Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless
(a) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
designation, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom, (b) immediately after
giving Pro Forma Effect to such designation, (i) the Total Net
Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than the lesser of (A)
4.00:1.00 and (B) the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted
under the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a), in each
case, determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended
Test Period, and (ii) the combined “EBITDA” of all the
Unrestricted Subsidiaries (calculated in accordance with the
definition of the term Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
mutatis mutandis
) for the most recent
period Test Period then ended shall not exceed 5% of the
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, (c) such
Subsidiary does not own any Equity Interests in any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries, (d) neither such Subsidiary nor any of its
Subsidiaries owns or holds any License that is required for the
conduct of business in the ordinary course by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries or is otherwise material to the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (e) each Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary has been designated as (and, for so long as it is a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, continues as) an “Unrestricted
Subsidiary” in accordance with this definition, (f) the
Investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries (including, after giving effect to the next
sentence, those resulting from such designation) are permitted
under Section 6.6, (g) such Subsidiary shall have been or will
promptly be designated an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or
otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness, any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness and any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and (h) no
Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it
was previously an Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been
redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary. Upon the designation of
any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to have made an Investment
in such Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount equal at the time of
such designation to the fair value of such Subsidiary (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower). The Borrower shall cause each
Unrestricted Subsidiary to satisfy at all times the requirements
set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (g) above.
The
Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
“Restricted Subsidiary” by delivering to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer
of the Borrower specifying such redesignation and certifying that
such redesignation satisfies the requirements set forth in this
paragraph;
provided
that (a) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such
redesignation, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom and (b) the redesignation of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall
constitute the incurrence, at the time of such redesignation, of
any Indebtedness, Liens and Investments of such Subsidiary existing
at such time.
“
Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation
Statement
” means, with respect to any balance sheet or
statement of comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity or
cash flows of the Borrower, such financial statement (in
substantially the same form) prepared on the basis of consolidating
the accounts of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and
treating Unrestricted Subsidiaries as if they were not consolidated
with the Borrower and otherwise eliminating all accounts of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, together with an explanation of
reconciliation adjustments in reasonable detail.
“
US Person
” means any Person that
is a “United States Person” as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code and a
disregarded entity (for US federal income tax purposes) owned by
such Person.
“
US Tax Compliance Certificate
” as
defined in Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(3).
“
Vector Collateral
” means any
assets of any Vector Lender provided as collateral to secure
obligations of the Vector Lenders under the Vector Senior Loan
Facility (including any such assets in the form of “Tranche B
Term Loans” made under the First Lien Credit Agreement held
by any Vector Lender).
“
Vector Facility Arrangements
”
means the Vector Senior Loan Facility and the Vector Subordinated
Note.
“
Vector Lender
” means Vector SPV or
any Affiliate thereof that holds term loans made under the First
Lien Credit Agreement and is an obligor under the Vector Senior
Loan Facility.
“
Vector Senior Loan Facility
Lender
” means Goldman Sachs or any of its
Affiliates.
“
Vector Senior Loan Facility
” means
the Credit Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Vector SPV, as
borrower, the Vector Senior Loan Facility Lender, Goldman Sachs, as
administrative agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as
collateral agent and collateral custodian, pursuant to which, and
on the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Vector Senior
Loan Facility Lender shall make a senior secured loan to Vector
SPV, which loan shall be secured by, among other things, the
“Tranche B Term Loans” made under the First Lien Credit
Agreement held by Vector SPV and a cash reserve funded in part with
the proceeds of the Vector Subordinated Note.
“
Vector SPV
” means Vector Fusion
Holdings (Cayman) Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with
limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands that is a
subsidiary of Vector Capital V, L.P.
“
Vector Subordinated Note
” means
the Subordinated Note dated May 4, 2018, and in a principal amount
of $25,000,000, issued by Vector SPV to the Borrower for cash
consideration of $25,000,000.
“
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account
” as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Control Agreement
” as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Vector Subordinated Note
Collateral
” as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
“
Weighted Average Yield
” means, at
any time, with respect to any Loan or other Indebtedness, the
weighted average yield to stated maturity of such Loan or other
Indebtedness based on the interest rate or rates applicable thereto
and giving effect to all upfront or similar fees or original issue
discount payable by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates to the
Lenders or other applicable creditors advancing such Loan or other
Indebtedness with respect thereto (but not any arrangement fees,
structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees
not paid generally to all such Lenders or other applicable
creditors, and excluding any ticking or amendment fees previously
paid with respect to such Loans or other Indebtedness) (in each
case, with upfront or similar fees or original issue discount being
deemed to constitute like amounts of original issue discount, and
such fees and original discount being equated to interest margins
in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practice
based on an assumed life to maturity of the lesser of four years
and the tenor of such Loan or other Indebtedness) and to any
interest rate “floor”. For purposes of determining the
Weighted Average Yield of any floating rate Indebtedness at any
time, the rate of interest applicable to such Indebtedness at such
time shall be assumed to be the rate applicable at all times prior
to maturity;
provided
that appropriate
adjustments shall be made for any scheduled changes in rates of
interest provided for in the documents governing such Indebtedness.
Determinations of the Weighted Average Yield shall be made in a
manner consistent with accepted financial practice.
“
wholly owned
”, when used in
reference to a Subsidiary of any Person, means that all the Equity
Interests in such Subsidiary (other than directors’
qualifying shares and other nominal amounts of Equity Interests
that are required to be held by other Persons under applicable law)
are owned, beneficially and of record, by such Person, another
wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person or any combination
thereof.
“
Wilmington Trust
” as defined in
the preamble hereto.
“
Write-Down and Conversion Powers
”
means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down
and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to
time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member
Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in
the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“
Yield Maintenance Amount
” means,
with respect to any Tranche B Term Loan that is prepaid pursuant to
Section 2.12(a)(i) (for the avoidance of doubt, including on
account of the requirements set forth in Section 2.25) or 2.13(c)
or is subject to any amendment or other modification of this
Agreement that, directly or indirectly, reduces the Weighted
Average Yield of such Tranche B Term Loan (or is required to be
assigned pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such
amendment or modification), an amount equal to the present value of
the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of interest that would have
otherwise been payable on the principal amount of such Tranche B
Term Loan so prepaid or subject to such amendment or modification
(or assignment) (assuming that such Tranche B Term Loan will bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of three months (giving
effect to any floor rate) as of the date of such prepayment or
amendment or modification (or assignment) plus (ii) the Applicable
Rate with respect to Tranche B Term Loans that are Eurodollar Rate
Loans) from the date of such prepayment or amendment or
modification (or assignment) through the date that is 18 months
after the Closing Date, plus (b) 4.00% of the principal amount of
such Tranche B Term Loan so prepaid or subject to such amendment or
modification (or assignment), discounted in accordance with
accepted financial practice at a discount rate (applied on the same
periodic basis as that on which interest on the Tranche B Term
Loans is payable) equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points
per annum. Determinations of the Yield Maintenance Amount shall be
made in a manner consistent with accepted financial
practice.
1.2.
Accounting
Terms; Pro Forma Calculations
. (a) Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature used herein shall be construed in conformity with GAAP as in
effect from time to time;
provided
that (i) if the
Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent, shall request an
amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any
change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the
application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the
Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, by notice to the
Borrower, shall request an amendment to any provision hereof for
such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given
before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof,
then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in
effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become
effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such
provision amended in accordance herewith and
(ii) notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all
terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be
construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to
herein shall be made, (A) without giving effect to any election
under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification 825 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or
Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect)
(and related interpretations) to value any Indebtedness or other
liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair
value”, as defined therein, (B) without giving effect to
any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt
instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any
other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting
Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such
Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described
therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the
full stated principal amount thereof, and (C) without giving
effect to any change to GAAP occurring after the date hereof as a
result of the adoption of any proposals set forth in the
Proposed Accounting Standards
Update, Leases (Topic 842)
, issued by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board on May 16, 2013, or any other proposals
issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection
therewith, in each case if such change would require treating any
lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a
capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) was not
required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31,
2015. It is understood and agreed that when any term of an
accounting or financial nature refers to a determination being made
on a “consolidated basis”, when such reference is made
with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (or
any Restricted Subsidiary and its Restricted Subsidiaries), such
determination shall exclude from such consolidation the accounts of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(b)
All computations
required to be made hereunder giving effect to any Acquisition,
Disposition or other Pro Forma Event shall be calculated after
giving Pro Forma Effect thereto (and, in the case of any
computations made hereunder to determine whether such Acquisition,
Disposition or other Pro Forma Event is permitted to be consummated
hereunder, to any other such Pro Forma Event consummated since the
first day of the period covered by any component of such Pro Forma
computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if
such Pro Forma Event occurred on the first day of the most recent
Test Period. It is understood that, prior to the last day of the
Test Period ending on June 30, 2018, for purposes of any
provision hereof that requires compliance with Section 6.7(a) on a
Pro Forma Basis, such compliance will be determined based on the
ratio set forth in Section 6.7(a) that would be first applicable
under such Section.
(c)
Prior to the
release of the Escrow Cash Collateral in accordance with
Section 9.8(d)(ii), “Tranche B Term Loans” made
under the First Lien Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the amount of Escrow Cash Collateral on deposit in
the Escrow Cash Collateral Account at any time, but in no event in
excess of the Escrow Cash Amount, shall be deemed not to be
outstanding solely for purposes of determining actual compliance by
the Borrower with Section 6.7(a).
1.3.
Interpretation,
Etc
. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context
otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural,
depending on the reference. References herein to any Article,
Section, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to an Article or a
Section of, or a Schedule or an Exhibit to, this Agreement,
unless otherwise specifically provided. The words
“include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect as the word “shall”. The words
“asset” and “property” shall be construed
to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all
real and personal, tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including Cash, Securities, accounts and contract rights. The word
“law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes,
rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official
rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or
with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments,
orders, writs and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. The
words “not otherwise applied”, and words of similar
import, when used with reference to any amount of Net Proceeds of
any issuance or sale of Equity Interests that is proposed to be
applied to any particular use, payment or transaction, shall be
construed to mean that such amount was not previously applied, or
is not simultaneously being applied, to any other use, payment or
transaction other than such particular use, payment or transaction.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and unless the
context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference
to any agreement, instrument or other document (including this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents) shall be construed as
referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from
time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject
to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or
modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference
to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring
thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws),
and all references to any statute shall be construed as referring
to all rules, regulations, rulings and official interpretations
promulgated or issued thereunder, (c) any reference herein to any
Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors
and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth
herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority or any
self-regulating entity, any other Governmental Authority or entity
that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, and (d)
the words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof. Terms defined in the UCC as in effect
in the State of New York on the Closing Date and not otherwise
defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have
the meanings provided by those definitions.
1.4.
Classification
of Loans and Borrowings
.
For purposes of this Agreement,
Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Class
(
e.g.
, a
“Tranche B Term Loan” or “Tranche B Term Loan
Borrowing”) or by Type (
e.g.
, a “Eurodollar Rate
Loan” or “Eurodollar Rate Borrowing”) or by Class
and Type (
e.g.
, a
“Eurodollar Rate Tranche B Term Loan” or
“Eurodollar Rate Tranche B Term Loan
Borrowing”).
1.5.
Conditionality
Testing Date
. Solely for purposes of determining compliance
with any provision of this Agreement (including compliance with the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio, the Total
Net Leverage Ratio or any other financial metric, the absence of
any Default or Event of Default and the accuracy of any
representation or warranty) that expressly permits such compliance
to be determined or tested in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 1.5 in connection with a Limited Conditionality
Transaction (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not for purposes of
determining whether the Borrower has actually complied with Section
6.7 itself), the date of determination of whether such provision
has been satisfied shall, at the option of the Borrower and upon
delivery by the Borrower on or prior to the applicable LCT Test
Date of a written notice to that effect to the Administrative
Agent, be the date on which the definitive agreements for such
Limited Conditionality Transaction are entered into (the
“
LCT Test
Date
”), with such determination to give effect on a
Pro Forma Basis to such Limited Conditionality Transaction and the
other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith
(including any incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of
proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the
most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCT Test Date. For the
avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has exercised such option and
any of the ratios, financial metrics or amounts for which
compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are
exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, financial
metric or amount, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA, at or prior to the consummation of the Limited
Conditionality Transaction, such ratio, financial metric or amount
will be deemed not to have been exceeded as a result of such
fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such
provision has been satisfied in connection with such Limited
Conditionality Transaction. If the Borrower has exercised such
option in connection with any Limited Conditionality Transaction,
then, in connection with any subsequent calculation of ratios,
financial metrics or amounts (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not
for purposes of determining whether the Borrower has actually
complied with Section 6.7 itself) on or following the relevant LCT
Test Date and prior to the earlier of (a) the date on which such
Limited Conditionality Transaction is consummated and (b) the date
that the definitive agreements for such Limited Conditionality
Transaction are terminated or expire without consummation of such
Limited Conditionality Transaction (with the Borrower agreeing to
provide the Administrative Agent with prompt notice thereof), any
such ratio, financial metric or basket shall be calculated on a Pro
Forma Basis assuming such Limited Conditionality Transaction and
the other transactions in connection therewith (including any
incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens and the use of proceeds
thereof) have been consummated.
1.6.
Effectuation
of Transactions
. All references herein to the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries or the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to
be (unless the context otherwise requires) references to such
Persons, and all the representations and warranties of the Borrower
and the other Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents shall be deemed made, in each case, after
giving effect to the Merger and the other Transactions to occur on
the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.
LOANS
2.1.
Loans
.
(a)
Commitments
.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender agrees
to make, on the Closing Date, a term loan to the Borrower in
Dollars in a principal amount not to exceed such Lender’s
Tranche B Term Loan Commitment. Amounts borrowed pursuant to
this Section 2.1(a)(i) that are repaid or prepaid may not be
reborrowed. Each Lender’s Tranche B Term Loan Commitment
shall terminate immediately and without any further action upon the
making of a Tranche B Term Loan, as applicable, by such Lender or,
if earlier, at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing
Date.
(ii)
Additional
Classes of Commitments may be established as provided in
Section 2.23 or 2.25, and the Loans thereunder shall be made
in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in, such Section.
(b)
Borrowing Mechanics for
Loans
.
(i)
Each Loan shall be
made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class
and Type made by the Lenders of such Class proportionately to their
applicable Pro Rata Shares. At the commencement of each Interest
Period for any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be
in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$500,000 in excess of such amount;
provided
that a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing that results from a continuation of an outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is
equal to the amount of such outstanding Borrowing.
(ii)
To
request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a fully completed and executed Funding Notice
(A) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, not later than
2:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days in
advance of the proposed Credit Date (which shall be a Business Day)
and (B) in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, not later than 11:00
a.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day in advance of
the proposed Credit Date (which shall be a Business Day) (or, in
each case, with respect to any Borrowing of Incremental Loans or
Refinancing Loans, not later than such other time as shall be
specified therefor in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement
or Refinancing Facility Agreement). Promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of a Funding Notice in accordance with this
paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the
applicable Class of the details thereof and of the amount of such
Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
Following delivery of a Funding Notice for a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing, any failure to make such Borrowing shall be subject to
Section 2.17(c).
(iii)
Each
Lender shall make the principal amount of each Loan required to be
made by it hereunder on any Credit Date available to the
Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on such Credit Date (or, with respect to any Borrowing of
Incremental Loans or Refinancing Loans, not later than such other
time as shall be specified therefor in the applicable Incremental
Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement) by wire
transfer of same day funds in Dollars to the account of the
Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will
make each such Loan available to the Borrower by promptly remitting
the amounts so received, in like funds, to the account specified by
the Borrower in the applicable Funding Notice.
2.2.
[Reserved]
.
2.3.
[Reserved]
.
2.4.
Pro
Rata Shares; Obligations Several; Availability of Funds
. (a)
All Loans on the occasion of any Borrowing shall be made by the
Lenders in proportion to their applicable Pro Rata Shares. The
failure of any Lender to make any Loan shall not relieve any other
Lender of its obligations hereunder;
provided
that the Commitments
and other obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several, and no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to
make any Loan or to satisfy any of its other obligations
hereunder.
(b)
Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender prior to
the applicable Credit Date that such Lender does not intend to make
available to the Administrative Agent the amount of such
Lender’s Loan requested to be made on such Credit Date, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Administrative Agent on such Credit Date
and may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to,
make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made the amount of its Loan
available to the Administrative Agent, then such Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand, such corresponding amount, with interest
thereon for each day from and including the date such amount is
made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of such
payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a
payment to be made by such Lender, (A) at any time prior to the
third Business Day following the date such amount is made available
to the Borrower, the customary rate set by the Administrative Agent
for the correction of errors among banks and (B) thereafter, the
Base Rate or (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the
Borrower, the interest rate applicable hereunder to Base Rate Loans
of the applicable Class. If the Borrower and such Lender shall both
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 such amount to the
Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender’s Loan included in the applicable
Borrowing.
2.5.
Use
of Proceeds
. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the
Tranche B Term Loans made on the Closing Date, together with the
proceeds of the term loans made under the First Lien Credit
Agreement on the Closing Date, the proceeds of the New Subordinated
Note and the Closing Date Common Equity Issuance, (a) to consummate
the Closing Date Refinancing, (b) to pay fees and expenses in
connection with the Transactions and (c) to the extent any
excess proceeds of the Tranche B Term Loans remain after the
application of proceeds under clauses (a) and (b) above, for
working capital and other general corporate purposes of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. The Borrower will use the
proceeds of any Incremental Loan for the purposes specified in the
applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, and the proceeds of any
Refinancing Loan solely for the repayment or prepayment of
Borrowings as set forth in Section 2.25(c) and the payment of
any related fees, premiums and expenses. The Borrower will use the
proceeds of the “Tranche B Term Loans” made under the
First Lien Credit Agreement on the Closing Date constituting Escrow
Cash Collateral solely to consummate the Specified Acquisition or
to make the mandatory prepayment of “Tranche B Term
Loans” required under the First Lien Credit Agreement and, to
the extent any excess proceeds thereof remain after such
application in accordance with the provisions of the First Lien
Credit Agreement, for working capital and other general corporate
purposes of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries.
2.6.
Evidence
of Debt; Register; Notes
. (a)
Lenders’ Evidence of
Debt
. Each Lender shall maintain records evidencing the
Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender, including the
principal amount of the Loans made by such Lender and each
repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Such records
maintained by any Lender shall be prima facie evidence thereof,
absent manifest error;
provided
that the failure to
maintain any such records, or any error therein, shall not in any
manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay any amounts due
hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof;
provided
further
that in the event of
any inconsistency between the records maintained by any Lender and
the records maintained by the Administrative Agent, the records
maintained by the Administrative Agent shall govern and
control.
(b)
Register
. The Administrative
Agent shall maintain records of the name and address of, and the
Commitments of and the principal amount of and stated interest on
the Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time (the
“
Register
”). The
entries in the Register shall be prima facie evidence thereof,
absent manifest error;
provided
that the failure to
maintain the Register, or any error therein, shall not in any
manner affect the obligation of any Lender to make a Loan or other
payment hereunder or the obligation of the Borrower to pay any
amounts due hereunder, in each case in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by
the Borrower or any Lender (but, in the case of a Lender, only with
respect to (i) any entry relating to such Lender’s
Commitments or Loans and (ii) the identity of the other
Lenders (but not information as to such other Lenders’
Commitments or Loans)) at any reasonable time and from time to time
upon reasonable prior notice. The Borrower hereby designates the
Person serving as the Administrative Agent to serve as the
Borrower’s non-fiduciary agent solely for purposes of
maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.6(b)
and agrees that, in consideration of such Person serving in such
capacity, such Person and its Related Parties shall constitute
“Indemnitees”.
(c)
Notes
. Upon the request of any
Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall promptly prepare, execute
and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered
assigns) to evidence such Lender’s Loans of any Class, which
shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
M.
2.7.
Interest
on Loans
. (a) Subject to Section 2.9, each Loan of any
Class shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof from the date made through repayment (whether by
acceleration or otherwise) thereof as follows:
(i)
if a Base Rate
Loan, at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate with respect to
Loans of such Class; or
(ii)
if
a Eurodollar Rate Loan, at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the
Applicable Rate with respect to Loans of such Class.
The
applicable Base Rate or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be
determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination
shall be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto, absent
manifest error.
(b)
The basis for
determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan, and the
Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing,
shall be selected by the Borrower pursuant to the applicable
Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice delivered in
accordance herewith;
provided
that there shall be no
more than 10 (or such greater number as may be agreed to by the
Administrative Agent) Eurodollar Rate Borrowings outstanding at any
time. In the event the Borrower fails to specify in any Funding
Notice the Type of the requested Borrowing, then the requested
Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing. In the event the
Borrower fails to deliver in accordance with Section 2.8 a
Conversion/Continuation Notice with respect to any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein,
at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be
converted to a Base Rate Borrowing. In the event the Borrower
requests the making of, or the conversion to or continuation of,
any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing but fails to specify in the
applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice the
Interest Period to be applicable thereto, the Borrower shall be
deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No
Borrowing of any Class may be converted into a Borrowing of another
Class.
(c)
Interest payable
pursuant to Section 2.7(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of
Base Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year (or, in the case of
Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Prime Rate, a
365-day or 366-day year, as applicable), and (ii) in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case
for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which
such interest accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date
of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period
applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being
converted from a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion of
such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may
be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the
expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or,
with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such
Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded;
provided
that if a
Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s
interest shall accrue on such Loan.
(d)
Except as otherwise
set forth herein, accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in
arrears (i) on each Interest Payment Date applicable to such Loan,
(ii) upon any voluntary or mandatory repayment or prepayment of
such Loan, to the extent accrued on the amount being repaid or
prepaid, (iii) on the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan
and (iv) in the event of any conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan
prior to the end of the Interest Period then applicable thereto, on
the effective date of such conversion.
2.8.
Conversion/Continuation
.
(a) Subject to Section 2.17, the Borrower shall have the
option:
(i)
to convert at any
time all or any part of any Borrowing from one Type to the other
Type; and
(ii)
to
continue, at the end of the Interest Period applicable to any
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, all or any part of such Borrowing as a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and to elect an Interest Period
therefor;
provided
, in each case, that at
the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an amount that complies with
Section 2.1(b).
In the
event any Borrowing shall have been converted or continued in
accordance with this Section 2.8 in part, such conversion or
continuation shall be allocated ratably, in accordance with their
applicable Pro Rata Shares, among the Lenders holding the Loans
comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each part of
such Borrowing resulting from such conversion or continuation shall
be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b)
To exercise its
option pursuant to this Section 2.8, the Borrower shall deliver a
fully completed and executed Conversion/Continuation Notice to the
Administrative Agent (i) not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City
time) one Business Day in advance of the proposed
Conversion/Continuation Date, in the case of a conversion to a Base
Rate Borrowing, and (ii) not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City
time) at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
Conversion/Continuation Date, in the case of a conversion to, or a
continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing. In lieu of delivering
a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower may give the
Administrative Agent, not later than the applicable time set forth
above, telephonic notice of any proposed conversion or
continuation;
provided
that such telephonic
notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery to the
Administrative Agent of a fully completed and executed
Conversion/Continuation Notice. Except as otherwise provided
herein, a Conversion/Continuation Notice for a conversion to, or a
continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall be irrevocable
on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and the
Borrower shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in
accordance therewith; any failure to effect such conversion or
continuation in accordance therewith shall be subject to Section
2.17(c).
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, if an Event of Default under
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) or, at the request of the
Requisite Lenders (or a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any
Class), any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, then no outstanding Borrowing (of the applicable Class,
in the case of such a request by a Majority in Interest of Lenders
of any Class) may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing.
2.9.
Default
Interest
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), any principal of or
interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the
Borrower hereunder shall bear interest (in the case of an Event of
Default under Section 8.1(a), only on overdue amounts), payable on
demand, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal
to (a) in the case of the principal of any Loan, 2.00% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable hereunder to such
Loan or (b) in the case of any other amount, a rate (computed on
the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days
elapsed) that is 2.00% per annum in excess of the highest interest
rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or
acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this
Section 2.9 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and
shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise
prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender.
2.10.
Fees
.
(a) The Borrower agrees to pay on the Closing Date to Goldman
Sachs, as an Arranger, for the account of each Lender, closing fees
in an amount separately agreed among the Borrower and the
Arrangers.
(b)
The Borrower agrees
to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the
Arrangers, as applicable, such other fees in the amounts and at the
times separately agreed upon (including pursuant to the
Administrative Agent Fee Letter) in respect of the credit
facilities provided herein.
(c)
Fees paid hereunder
shall not be refundable or creditable under any
circumstances.
2.11.
Scheduled
Installments; Repayment on Maturity Date
. (a) To the extent
not previously paid, all Tranche B Term Loans shall be due and
payable on the Tranche B Term Loan Maturity Date.
(b)
Subject to Section
2.11(c), the Borrower shall repay Loans of any Class established
under Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 in such amounts and on such
date or dates as shall be specified therefor in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension/Modification Agreement or
Refinancing Facility Agreement. To the extent not previously paid,
all Loans of any such Class shall be due and payable on the
Maturity Date applicable to the Loans of such Class.
(c)
The Installments of
any Class of Loans established under Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25
shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary or mandatory
prepayments of, or any repurchases by the Borrower of, the Loans of
such Class in accordance with Section 2.14.
(d)
Prior to any
repayment of any Borrowings of any Class under this
Section 2.11, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or
Borrowings of the applicable Class to be repaid and shall notify
the Administrative Agent of such selection at least one Business
Day in advance of such repayment. Each such notice may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing). Each repayment of a Borrowing shall be
allocated among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing
in accordance with their applicable Pro Rata Shares.
2.12.
Voluntary
Prepayments; Call Protection
.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments
. (i)
At any time and from time to time, the Borrower may, without
premium or penalty (except as applicable under Section 2.12(b)) but
subject to compliance with the conditions set forth in this Section
2.12(a) and with Section 2.17(c), prepay any Borrowing in whole or
in part;
provided
that each such partial voluntary prepayment of any Borrowing
shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess of such
amount.
(ii)
To
make a voluntary prepayment pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i),
the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent not later than
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (A) at least one Business Day
prior to the date of prepayment, in the case of prepayment of Base
Rate Borrowings, or (B) at least three Business Days prior to the
date of prepayment, in the case of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings. Each such notice shall specify the prepayment date
(which shall be a Business Day) and the principal amount of each
Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid, and may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing). Each such notice shall be irrevocable,
and the principal amount of each Borrowing specified therein shall
become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein;
provided
that a
notice of prepayment of any Borrowing pursuant to Section
2.12(a)(i) may state that such notice is conditioned upon the
occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case
such notice may be rescinded by the Borrower (by notice to the
Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of
prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise
the Lenders of the applicable Class of the details thereof. Each
voluntary prepayment of a Borrowing shall be allocated among the
Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing in accordance with
their applicable Pro Rata Shares.
(iii)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 2.12 to the contrary, in
connection with a refinancing in full of the credit facilities
established hereunder, any Lender may, with the consent of the
Borrower, elect, by written agreement executed by the Borrower,
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, to accept Rollover
Indebtedness in lieu of all or any part of such Lender’s
applicable Pro Rata Share of any prepayment of any Borrowing made
pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(i).
(b)
Tranche B Term Loan Call
Protection
. In the event that on or prior to the date that
is 36 months after the Closing Date, all or any portion of the
Tranche B Term Borrowings (i) are prepaid pursuant to Section
2.12(a)(i) (for the avoidance of doubt, including on account of the
requirements set forth in Section 2.25) or 2.13(c) or (ii) are
subject to any amendment or other modification of this Agreement
that, directly or indirectly, reduces the Weighted Average Yield of
any Tranche B Term Loans, then each Lender whose Tranche B Term
Loans are so prepaid or subject to such amendment or modification,
or which is required to assign any of its Tranche B Term Loans
pursuant to Section 2.22 in connection with such amendment or
modification, shall be paid a fee equal to (A) if such prepayment
or amendment or modification (or such assignment) occurs on or
prior to the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date, the
Yield Maintenance Amount with respect to the principal amount so
prepaid or subject to such amendment or modification (or such
assignment), (B) if such prepayment or amendment or
modification (or such assignment) occurs after the date that is
18 months after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date
that is 24 months after the Closing Date, 4.00% of the aggregate
principal amount of such Lender’s Tranche B Term Loans so
prepaid or subject to such amendment or modification (or such
assignment), and (C) if such prepayment or amendment or
modification (or such assignment) occurs after the date that is 24
months after the Closing Date but on or prior to the date that is
36 months after the Closing Date, 2.00% of the aggregate principal
amount of such Lender’s Tranche B Term Loans so prepaid or
subject to such amendment or modification (or such assignment);
provided
that no
such fee shall be due and payable if such prepayment or amendment
or modification (or such assignment) occurs after the date that is
36 months after the Closing Date.
2.13.
Mandatory
Prepayments/Commitment Reductions
. (a)
Asset Sales
. Subject to Section
2.13(i), not later than the fifth Business Day following the date
of receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Net
Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale, the Borrower shall prepay
the Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net
Proceeds;
provided
that the Borrower may, at least one Business Day prior to the date
of the required prepayment, deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect
that the Borrower intends to cause such Net Proceeds (or a portion
thereof specified in such certificate) to be reinvested in
non-current assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries or in Permitted Acquisitions or other
Acquisitions, in each case, within 365 days after the receipt of
such Net Proceeds, and certifying that, as of the date thereof, no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case
during such period the Borrower shall not be required to make such
prepayment to the extent of the amount set forth in such
certificate;
provided
further
that any such Net
Proceeds that are not so reinvested by the end of such period (or
within a period of 270 days thereafter if by the end of such
initial 365-day period the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall have entered into a binding agreement with a
third party to so reinvest such Net Proceeds) shall be applied to
prepay the Borrowings promptly upon the expiration of such period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may use a portion of
any Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale that would otherwise
be required pursuant to this Section 2.13(a) to be applied to
prepay the Borrowings to prepay, repurchase or redeem any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness that, in each case, constitutes Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness but only to the extent such Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof is
required to be (or is required to be offered to the holders thereof
to be) prepaid, repurchased or redeemed as a result of such Asset
Sale (with the amount of the prepayment of the Borrowings that
would otherwise have been required pursuant to this Section 2.13(a)
being reduced accordingly),
provided
that (i) such portion
shall not exceed the product of (A) the amount of such Net Proceeds
multiplied by (B) a fraction of which the numerator is the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness and the denominator is the sum of the
aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness and all Borrowings, in each case at the time of
occurrence of such Asset Sale, and (ii) in the event the holders of
such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness shall have declined
such prepayment, repurchase or redemption, the declined amount
shall promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days after the
date of rejection) be applied to prepay the
Borrowings.
(b)
Insurance/Condemnation Events
.
Subject to Section 2.13(i), not later than the fifth Business Day
following the date of receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, or by the Collateral Agent as loss payee, of any Net
Proceeds in respect of any Insurance/Condemnation Event, the
Borrower shall prepay the Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal
to 100% of such Net Proceeds;
provided
that the Borrower may,
at least one Business Day prior to the date of the required
prepayment, deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower to the effect that the Borrower
intends to cause such Net Proceeds (or a portion thereof specified
in such certificate) to be reinvested in replacement assets
(including through the repair, restoration or replacement of the
damaged, destroyed or condemned assets) or other non-current assets
useful in the business of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries or in Permitted Acquisitions or other Acquisitions, in
each case, within 365 days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds,
and certifying that, as of the date thereof, no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, in which case during such period
the Borrower shall not be required to make such prepayment to the
extent of the amount set forth in such certificate;
provided
further
that any such Net
Proceeds that are not so reinvested by the end of such period (or
within a period of 270 days thereafter if by the end of such
initial 365-day period the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall have entered into a binding agreement with a
third party to so reinvest such Net Proceeds) shall be applied to
prepay the Borrowings promptly upon the expiration of such period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may use a portion of
any Net Proceeds in respect of any Insurance/Condemnation Event
that would otherwise be required pursuant to this Section 2.13(b)
to be applied to prepay the Borrowings to prepay, repurchase or
redeem any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness that, in each case, constitutes
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness but only to the extent
such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness pursuant to the
terms thereof is required to be (or is required to be offered to
the holders thereof to be) prepaid, repurchased or redeemed as a
result of such Insurance/Condemnation Event (with the amount of the
prepayment of the Borrowings that would otherwise have been
required pursuant to this Section 2.13(b) being reduced
accordingly),
provided
that (i) such portion
shall not exceed the product of (A) the amount of such Net Proceeds
multiplied by (B) a fraction of which the numerator is the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu
Secured Indebtedness and the denominator is the sum of the
aggregate principal amount of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness and all Borrowings, in each case at the time of
occurrence of such Insurance/Condemnation Event, and (ii) in the
event the holders of such Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness
shall have declined such prepayment, repurchase or redemption, the
declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within 10 Business
Days after the date of rejection) be applied to prepay the
Borrowings.
(c)
Issuance of Debt
. On the date
of receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Net
Proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than any
Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1), the
Borrower shall prepay the Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal
to 100% of such Net Proceeds.
(d)
[Reserved]
.
(e)
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
.
Subject to Section 2.13(i), in the event that there shall be
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year (commencing with
the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2019), the Borrower shall, not
later than the earlier of (x) 95 days after the end of such
Fiscal Year and (y) five Business Days after the delivery of
the financial statements with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant
to Section 5.1(a), prepay the Borrowings of each Class in an
aggregate principal amount equal to (i) the product of (A) the
Applicable ECF Percentage for such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(B) the
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year
multiplied by
(C) the
percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Borrowings of
all Classes outstanding as of the end of such Fiscal Year
represented by the Borrowings of such Class (but, in each case,
disregarding for purposes of determining such percentage any
prepayments or repurchases referred to in clause (ii) below)
minus
(ii) the sum
of the aggregate principal amount of the Borrowings of such Class
voluntarily prepaid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.12 or, to
the extent of Cash spent, repurchased by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 10.6(i)(i),
minus
(iii) the product of (A)
the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Borrowings
of all Classes outstanding as of the end of such Fiscal Year
represented by the Borrowings of such Class (but, in each case,
disregarding for purposes of determining such percentage any
prepayments or repurchases referred to in clause (ii) above)
multiplied by
(B)
the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of any optional
prepayments, repurchases or redemptions of any Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness,
that, in each case, constitutes Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness or Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness (and, in
each case, does not constitute revolving loans),
plus
(y) the aggregate
principal amount of any optional prepayments of any revolving loans
under the First Lien Credit Agreement but solely to the extent the
revolving commitments in respect thereof are permanently reduced in
connection therewith (and solely to the extent of the amount of
such permanent reduction and excluding any reduction in connection
with a refinancing thereof), in each case under clauses (ii) and
(iii) above, (I) to the extent such prepayments, repurchases or
redemptions have not been financed with the proceeds of incurrences
of Long-Term Indebtedness and (II) if such prepayments, repurchases
or redemptions occurred (1) during such Fiscal Year (to the
extent not applied to reduce any mandatory prepayment required
under this Section 2.13(e) in respect of any prior Fiscal Year
pursuant to clause (2) below) or (2) at the option of the Borrower,
after the end of such Fiscal Year and prior to the time that the
mandatory prepayment required under this Section 2.13(e) in
respect of such Fiscal Year is due as provided above;
provided
that no prepayment
shall be required under this Section 2.13(e) unless the amount
thereof would equal or exceed $1,000,000.
(f)
[Reserved]
.
(g)
Notice and Certificate
. At
least one Business Day prior to any mandatory prepayment or
reduction pursuant to this Section 2.13, the Borrower (i) shall
notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such prepayment or
reduction and (ii) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth
the calculation of the amount of the applicable prepayment or
reduction. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify
the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or
portion thereof to be prepaid (with such specification to be in
accordance with Section 2.14(b)), or the effective date and the
amount of any such reduction, as applicable, and may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing). Promptly following receipt of any such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the
applicable Class of the details thereof. Each mandatory prepayment
of any Borrowing shall be allocated among the Lenders holding Loans
comprising such Borrowing in accordance with their applicable Pro
Rata Shares and shall be subject to compliance with Section
2.17(c).
(h)
Foreign Restrictions and Taxes
.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.13 to
the contrary, if the Borrower determines in good faith that (i) any
Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale by, or any
Insurance/Condemnation Event affecting the assets of, a Restricted
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, or any portion
of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow attributable to a Restricted
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC Holding Company, are prohibited,
restricted or delayed by applicable foreign law (including currency
controls) from being repatriated to the United States (and that, in
view of the available liquidity and working capital requirements of
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or
CFC Holding Companies (as determined by the Borrower in good faith,
with such determination being permitted to disregard availability
under the revolving commitments under any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness (it being understood that the Borrower shall not be
required to borrow under any such revolving commitments to make any
such mandatory prepayment required under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b)
or 2.13(e))), such repatriation is reasonably required in order to
provide the Borrower with the funds with which to make such
prepayment as would otherwise be required hereunder), then the
amount thereof so affected will not be required to be applied to
prepay Borrowings as otherwise required under Section 2.13(a),
2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as applicable,
provided
that (A) the Borrower
shall, and shall cause such CFC or CFC Holding Company to, use
commercially reasonable efforts to take actions reasonably required
by the applicable foreign law to permit such repatriation and (B)
the Borrower shall, subject to Section 2.13(i), prepay Borrowings
in accordance with such applicable Section in a principal amount
equal to such affected amount (or a portion thereof) at such time
as (x) the repatriation of such amount (or such portion thereof)
becomes permitted under applicable foreign law or (y) the Borrower
determines in good faith that, in view of the available liquidity
and working capital requirements of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies (taking
into account the foregoing considerations), funds are available in
the United States to make such prepayment (or such portion
thereof),
provided
further
that any
such prepayment shall no longer be required to be made with respect
to any such amounts that, after the use of such commercially
reasonable efforts, have not been repatriated prior to the date
that is one year after the date the original prepayment was
required to be made under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as
applicable, or (ii) that repatriation of any Net Proceeds in
respect of any Asset Sale by, or any Insurance/Condemnation Event
affecting the assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that is a CFC or a
CFC Holding Company, or any portion of Consolidated Excess Cash
Flow attributable to a Restricted Subsidiary that is a CFC or a CFC
Holding Company, would have a material adverse tax consequence
(taking into account any withholding tax, any Subpart F inclusion
and any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in
connection with such repatriation) to the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries (and that, in view of the available
liquidity and working capital requirements of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies
(as determined by the Borrower in good faith, with such
determination being permitted to disregard availability under the
revolving commitments under any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness (it being understood that the Borrower shall not be
required to borrow under any such revolving commitments to make any
such mandatory prepayment required under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b)
or 2.13(e))), such repatriation is reasonably required in order to
provide the Borrower with the funds with which to make such
prepayment as would otherwise be required hereunder), then the
amount thereof so affected will not be required to be applied to
prepay Borrowings as otherwise required under Section 2.13(a),
2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as applicable,
provided
that the Borrower
shall, subject to Section 2.13(i) prepay Borrowings in accordance
with such applicable Section in a principal amount equal to such
affected amount (or a portion thereof) at such time as (A) the
repatriation of such amount (or such portion thereof) would no
longer result in a material adverse tax consequence or (B) the
Borrower determines in good faith that, in view of the available
liquidity and working capital requirements of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries that are not CFCs or CFC Holding Companies
(taking into account the foregoing considerations), funds are
available in the United States to make such prepayment (or such
portion thereof),
provided
further
that any such
prepayment shall no longer be required to be made after the date
that is one year after the date the original prepayment was
required to be made under Section 2.13(a), 2.13(b) or 2.13(e), as
applicable.
(i)
Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 2.13 to the contrary, until the Senior
Lien Obligations Discharge Date, no mandatory prepayment of Loans
pursuant to this Section 2.13 (other than pursuant to Section
2.13(c)) shall be required to be made, except, to the extent
permitted under the First Lien Credit Agreement, the Intercreditor
Agreement, any other Senior Lien Intercreditor Agreement then in
effect and any other Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness
then outstanding, with respect to the portion (if any) of the Net
Proceeds of the applicable Asset Sale or Insurance/Condemnation
Event or the portion (if any) of the Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
for the applicable Fiscal Year, in each case, available after the
required prepayment of Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit
Agreement or prepayment, repurchase or redemption of other
Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness, in each case, as a
result of any portion thereof having been declined by the term
lenders under the First Lien Credit Agreement in accordance with
Section 2.14(c) thereof (and by the holders of such other Permitted
Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness pursuant to any comparable
provision thereof).
2.14.
Application
of Prepayments; Waivable Mandatory Prepayments
.
(a) Application of Voluntary
Prepayments and Repurchases
. Any voluntary prepayment of
Borrowings of any Class pursuant to Section 2.12(a) shall, in the
case of Loans of any Class subject to scheduled amortization of
principal, be applied to reduce any subsequent Installments to be
paid pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Borrowings of
such Class in the manner specified by the Borrower in the notice of
prepayment relating thereto (or, if no such manner is specified in
such notice, in direct order of maturity);
provided
that any prepayment of
Borrowings of any such Class as contemplated by Section 2.25(b)
shall be applied to reduce any subsequent Installments to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Borrowings of such
Class in the manner specified in Section 2.25(c). Any repurchase of
Loans of any Class as contemplated by Section 10.6(i) shall, in the
case of Loans of any Class subject to scheduled amortization of
principal, be applied to reduce any subsequent Installments to be
paid pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Borrowings of
such Class in the manner specified in Section 10.6(i).
(b)
Application of Mandatory
Prepayments
. Any mandatory prepayment of Borrowings pursuant
to Section 2.13 shall (i) be allocated among the Classes
of Borrowings on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Borrowings of each such Class),
provided
that (A)
any prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.13(e) shall be
allocated to each Class of Borrowings as set forth therein and (B)
the amounts so allocable to Incremental Loans, Extended/Modified
Loans or Refinancing Loans of any Class may be applied to other
Borrowings as provided in the applicable Incremental Facility
Agreement, Extension/Modification Agreement or Refinancing Facility
Agreement and (ii) in the case of Loans of any Class subject
to scheduled amortization of principal, be applied to reduce any
subsequent Installments to be made pursuant to Section 2.11
with respect to Borrowings of such Class as provided in the
applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension/Modification
Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement.
(c)
Waivable Mandatory Prepayments
.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Lender may
elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which may be given by
telephone or in writing (and, if given by telephone, shall promptly
be confirmed in writing)) at least one Business Day (or such
shorter period as may be established by the Administrative Agent)
prior to the required prepayment date, to decline all or any
portion of any mandatory prepayment of its Loans pursuant to
Section 2.13 (other than Section 2.13(c)), in which case the
aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to
prepay Loans but was so declined shall be,
first
, applied by the Borrower on the
required prepayment date to prepay or offer to redeem any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness to the extent required thereby and,
second
, to the extent of the remainder
thereof that is not so applied to prepay or redeem such
Indebtedness, shall be retained by the Borrower.
2.15.
General
Provisions Regarding Payments
. (a) All payments by the
Borrower or any other Credit Party of principal, interest, fees and
other amounts required to be made hereunder or under any other
Credit Document shall be made by wire transfer of same day funds in
Dollars, without defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim, free
of any restriction or condition, to the account of the
Administrative Agent in the United States of America most recently
designated by it for such purpose and received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on the date due for the account of the Persons entitled thereto;
provided
that
payments made pursuant to Sections 2.17(c), 2.18, 2.19, 10.2 and
10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The
Administrative Agent shall distribute any payment received by it
hereunder for the account of any other Person to the appropriate
recipient promptly following receipt thereof.
(b)
All payments in
respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall be accompanied by
payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or
prepaid, and all such payments (and, in any event, any payments in
respect of any Loan on a date when interest is due and payable with
respect to such Loan) shall be applied to the payment of interest
then due and payable before application to principal.
(c)
If any
Conversion/Continuation Notice is withdrawn as to any Affected
Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of
its applicable Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning
payments received thereafter.
(d)
Subject to the
proviso set forth in the definition of “Interest
Period”, whenever any payment to be made hereunder with
respect to any Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not
a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding
Business Day, and such extension of time shall be included in the
computation of the payment of interest hereunder.
(e)
Any payment
hereunder by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent that is not received by the Administrative Agent in same day
funds prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date due
shall, unless the Administrative Agent shall determine otherwise,
be deemed to have been received, for purposes of computing interest
and fees hereunder (including for purposes of determining the
applicability of Section 2.9), on the Business Day immediately
following the date of receipt (or, if later, the Business Day
immediately following the date the funds received become available
funds).
(f)
If an Event of
Default shall have occurred and the maturity of the Loans shall
have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.1, all payments or
proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent in respect of any of the Obligations, or from any sale of,
collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the
Collateral, shall, subject to the requirements of any applicable
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, be applied in accordance with
the application arrangements set forth in Section 5.02 of the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
(g)
Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have been notified by the Borrower prior
to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not
make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the
Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith
and may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to,
distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the
Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the
Lenders severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with
interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to
the Administrative Agent (i) at any time prior to the third
Business Day following the date such amount is distributed to it,
the customary rate set by the Administrative Agent for the
correction of errors among banks and (ii) thereafter, the Base
Rate.
2.16.
Ratable
Sharing
. The Lenders hereby agree among themselves that if
any Lender shall, whether through the exercise of any right of
set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action or
by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or
otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash
collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction
of a portion of the aggregate amount of any principal, interest and
fees owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit
Documents (collectively, the “
Aggregate Amounts Due
” to such
Lender) resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater
proportion of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such Lender than the
proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate
Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify the
Administrative Agent and each other Lender in writing of the
receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such
payment to purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the
Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such
payments of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the Aggregate Amounts Due to
them;
provided
that, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment
received by any purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such
Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Credit Party or
otherwise, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price
paid for such participation shall be returned to such purchasing
Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest. Each Credit Party expressly consents to the foregoing
arrangements and agrees that any holder of a participation so
purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien,
consolidation, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all
monies owing by such Credit Party to such holder with respect
thereto as fully as if such holder were owed the amount of the
participation held by such holder. The provisions of this Section
2.16 shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment made by the
Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement, including any payment made by the Borrower pursuant
to Section 2.22 or any Extension/Modification Agreement,
Incremental Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility Agreement,
(ii) any acceptance by any Lender of any Rollover Indebtedness in
accordance with Section 2.12(a)(iii) or (iii) any payment obtained
by any Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a
participation in Loans or other Obligations owing to it pursuant to
and in accordance with the express terms of this
Agreement.
2.17.
Making
or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans
.(a)
Inability to Determine Applicable
Interest Rate
.
(i)
If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing
of any Class:
(A)
the Administrative
Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent
manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period;
or
(B)
the Administrative
Agent is notified in writing by a Majority in Interest of the
Lenders of such Class that the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to
such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then
the Administrative Agent shall give notice (which may be
telephonic) thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as promptly as
practicable, whereupon, (x) no Loans of such Class may be made
as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans until such time as the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and (y)
any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the
Borrower with respect to the Loans in respect of which such
determination was made shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders when such circumstances no longer exist.
(ii)
If
at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that
(x) the circumstances set forth in Section 2.17(a)(i)(A) have
arisen (including because the rate described in clause (a) of the
definition of “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” is not
available or published on a current basis) and such circumstances
are unlikely to be temporary or (y) the circumstances set forth in
Section 2.17(a)(i)(A) have not arisen but the supervisor for
the administrator of the rate described in clause (a) of the
definition of “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” or a
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative
Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after
which the rate described in clause (a) of the definition of
“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” no longer be used for
determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent
and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of
interest to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate that gives due
consideration to the then prevailing market convention for
determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans denominated in
Dollars in the United States at such time, and the Administrative
Agent and the Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this
Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other
related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the
avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a
reduction of the Applicable Rate);
provided
that if such alternate
rate of interest shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed
to be zero for all purposes of this Agreement. Such amendment shall
become effective without any further action or consent of any other
party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall
not have received, within five Business Days of the date a copy of
such amendment is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from
the Requisite Lenders stating that the Requisite Lenders object to
such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be
determined in accordance with this paragraph (but, in the case of
the circumstances described in clause (y) above, only to the extent
the rate described in clause (a) of the definition of
“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period is
not available or published at such time on a current basis),
(1) no Loans of any Class may be made as, or converted to,
Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) any Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the Borrower requesting the
making of, or conversion to or continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower.
(b)
Illegality or Impracticability of
Eurodollar Rate Loans
. In the event that on any date (i) any
Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be final
and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the
making, maintaining, converting to or continuation of its
Eurodollar Rate Loans has after the Closing Date become unlawful as
a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law
(or would conflict with any treaty, rule, regulation, guideline or
order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply
therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) the Requisite Lenders
shall have determined (which determination shall be final and
conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that the making,
maintaining, converting to or continuation of their Eurodollar Rate
Loans has become impracticable as a result of contingencies
occurring after the Closing Date that materially and adversely
affect the London interbank market or the position of the Lenders
in that market, then, if such Lender or Lenders shall have provided
notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, such
Lender or each of such Lenders, as the case may be, shall be an
“
Affected
Lender
”. If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
receive a notice from (A) any Lender pursuant to clause (i) of the
preceding sentence or (B) a notice from Lenders constituting
Requisite Lenders pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding
sentence, then (1) the obligation of the Lenders (or, in the case
of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, of
the applicable Lender) to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to,
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be
withdrawn by each applicable Affected Lender, (2) to the extent
such determination by any Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant to a
Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Lenders (or
in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding
sentence, the applicable Lender) shall make such Loan as (or
continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be)
a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Lenders’ (or in the case of any
notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, the
applicable Lender’s) obligations to maintain Eurodollar Rate
Loans (the “
Affected
Loans
”) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of
the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect
to the Affected Loans or when required by law, and (4) the Affected
Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date
of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent
any such determination by an Affected Lender relates to a
Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant
to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the
Borrower shall have the option, subject to Section 2.17(c), to
rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as to
all Lenders by giving written notice (or telephonic notice promptly
confirmed by written notice) thereof to the Administrative Agent of
such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives
notice of its determination as described above (which notice of
rescission the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each
other Lender). Each Affected Lender shall promptly notify the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower when the circumstances that
led to its notice pursuant to this Section 2.17(b) no longer
exist.
(c)
Compensation for Breakage or
Non-Commencement of Interest Periods
. In the event that (i)
a borrowing of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date
specified therefor in any Funding Notice (or any telephonic request
for a borrowing) given by the Borrower (other than as a result of a
failure by such Lender to make such Loan in accordance with its
obligations hereunder), whether or not such notice may be rescinded
in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) a conversion to or
continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date
specified therefor in any Conversion/Continuation Notice (or a
telephonic request given for any conversion or continuation) given
by the Borrower, whether or not such notice may be rescinded in
accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) any payment of any
principal of any Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day other than on
the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as
a result of an Event of Default), (iv) the conversion of any
Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day other than on the last day of
an Interest Period applicable thereto, (v) any Eurodollar Rate Loan
is assigned other than on the last day of an Interest Period
applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.22 or (vi) a prepayment of any
Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in
any notice of prepayment given by the Borrower, whether or not such
notice may be rescinded in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Borrower shall compensate each Lender for all losses, costs,
expenses and liabilities that such Lender may sustain, including
any loss incurred from obtaining, liquidating or employing losses
from third parties, but excluding any loss of margin or any
interest rate “floor”, for the period following any
such payment, assignment or conversion or any such failure to
borrow, pay, prepay, convert or continue. To request compensation
under this Section 2.17(c), a Lender shall deliver to the
Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis
and calculation of any amount or amounts that such Lender is
entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.17(c), which
certificate shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.
The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any
such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt
thereof.
(d)
Booking of Eurodollar Rate
Loans
. Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurodollar
Rate Loans at, to or for the account of any of its branch offices
or the office of any Affiliate of such Lender.
(e)
Assumptions Concerning Funding of
Eurodollar Rate Loans
. Calculation of all amounts payable to
a Lender under this Section 2.17 and under Section 2.18 shall be
made as though such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant
Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of a Eurodollar deposit
bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (a)(i) of
the definition of the term Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in an amount
equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a
maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the
transfer of such Eurodollar deposit from an offshore office of such
Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in the United States of
America;
provided
that each Lender may fund each of its Eurodollar Rate Loans in any
manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized
only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this
Section 2.17 and under Section 2.18.
2.18.
Increased
Costs; Capital Adequacy and Liquidity
. (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 (except any such reserve requirement reflected in
the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate);
(ii)
subject
any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes,
(B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the
definition of “Excluded Taxes” and (C) Connection
Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit,
commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other
liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii)
impose
on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition,
cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or any
Loan made by such Lender;
and the
result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to
such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to,
continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation
to make any such Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received
or receivable by such Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether
of principal, interest or any other amount) then, from time to time
upon request of such Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will
pay to such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or
other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs
incurred or reduction suffered.
(b)
Capital and Liquidity
Requirements
. If any Lender determines that any Change in
Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or
such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or
liquidity requirements, has had or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on
the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a
consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or
the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such
Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved
but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such
Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s
holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity),
then from time to time upon request of such Lender, the Borrower
will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for
any such reduction suffered.
(c)
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 Section 2.18(a) or 2.18(b) and
delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest
error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due
on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt
thereof.
(d)
Delay in Requests
. Failure or
delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to
this Section 2.18 shall not constitute a waiver of such
Lender’s right to demand such compensation;
provided
that the Borrower
shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this
Section 2.18 for any increased costs incurred or reductions
suffered more than 120 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 Lender’s intention
to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law
giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive,
then the 120-day period referred to above shall be extended to
include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e)
Certain Limitations
.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the
contrary, no Lender shall request, or be entitled to receive, any
compensation pursuant to this Section unless it shall be the
general policy or practice of such Lender to seek compensation in
similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other credit
agreements, if any.
2.19.
Taxes;
Withholding, Etc.
(a)
[Reserved]
.
(b)
Payments Free of Taxes
. Any and
all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party
under any Credit Document shall be made without deduction or
withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If
any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of
an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or
withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding
agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to
make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full
amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority
in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an
Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit
Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction
or withholding has been made (including such deductions and
withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this
Section 2.19) 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 Credit
Parties
. Each Credit Party shall timely pay to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the
option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the
payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d)
Indemnification by the Credit
Parties
. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally
indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after written 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 2.19) payable or paid by such Recipient
or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such
Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with
respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were
correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant
Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such
payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a
copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent
on its own behalf (including in its capacity as the Collateral
Agent) or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
(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 Credit
Party has already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such
Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit
Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such
Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section
10.6(g) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and
(iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case,
that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection
with any Credit 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 Credit
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 Section 2.19(e).
(f)
Evidence of Payments
. As soon
as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a
Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.19, such Credit
Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority
evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such
payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.
(g)
Status of Lenders
. (i) Any
Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of
withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit
Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed
documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made
without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In
addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation
prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is
subject to backup withholding or information reporting
requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission
of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in
Section 2.19(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not
be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such
completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to
any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially
prejudice the legal or commercial position of such
Lender.
(ii)
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A)
Any Lender that is
a US Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under
this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the
reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent),
executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is
exempt from United States federal backup withholding
tax.
(B)
Any Foreign Lender
shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies
as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on
which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement
(and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the
following is applicable:
(1)
in the case of a
Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to
which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of
interest under any Credit Document, executed originals of IRS Form
W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from,
or reduction of, US federal withholding Tax pursuant to the
“interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with
respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document,
IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an
exemption from, or reduction of, US federal withholding Tax
pursuant to the “business profits” or “other
income” article of such tax treaty;
(2)
executed originals
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 Internal Revenue Code, (x) a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N-1 to the effect
that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the
meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a
“10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the
meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a
“controlled foreign corporation” described in Section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code
(a “
US Tax
Compliance Certificate
”) and (y) executed originals of
IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or
(4)
to the extent a
Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of
IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or
W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a US Tax Compliance Certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit N-2 or Exhibit N-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 US Tax Compliance
Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N-4 on behalf of
each such direct and indirect partner.
(C)
Any Foreign Lender
shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies
as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on
which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement
(and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of
any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming
exemption from or a reduction in US federal withholding Tax, duly
completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be
prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction
required to be made.
(D)
If a payment made
to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to US
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
Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times
prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation
prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section
1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional
documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA
and to determine that such Lender has complied with such
Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount
to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of
this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments
made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Section 2.19, applicable law includes FATCA.
(iii)
Each
Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously
delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect,
it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal
inability to do so.
(h)
Treatment of Certain Refunds
.
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 2.19 (including by
the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this
Section 2.19), 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 2.19 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 Section
2.19(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 Section 2.19(h), in no event will the indemnified party be
required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to
this Section 2.19(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 indemnification
payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never
been paid. This Section 2.19(h) shall not be construed to require
any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any
other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential)
to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(i)
Survival
. Each party’s
obligations under this Section 2.19 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 Credit Document.
2.20.
Obligation
to Mitigate
. If any Lender becomes an Affected Lender or
requests compensation under Section 2.18, or if the
Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional
amount to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the
account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, then such
Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable
efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or
booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights
and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
Affiliates if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or
assignment and delegation (a) would cause such Lender to cease to
be an Affected Lender or would eliminate or reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19, as the case may be, in the
future and (b) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed
cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such
designation or assignment and delegation.
2.21.
Defaulting
Lenders
. 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, the Commitments and Loans
of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining
whether the Requisite Lenders or any other requisite Lenders have
taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Credit
Document (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other
modification pursuant to Section 10.5);
provided
that any amendment,
waiver or other modification that under clauses (i), (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vi) of Section 10.5(b) requires the consent of all
Lenders affected thereby shall require the consent of such
Defaulting Lender in accordance with the terms
thereof.
2.22.
Replacement
of Lenders
. If (a) any Lender has become an Affected Lender,
(b) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.18,
(c) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or
additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for
the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19, (d) any
Lender becomes and continues to be a Defaulting Lender or a
Disqualified Institution or (e) any Lender fails to consent to
a proposed waiver, amendment or other modification of any Credit
Document, or to any departure of any Credit Party therefrom, that
under Section 10.5 requires the consent of all the Lenders (or
all the affected Lenders or all the Lenders or all the affected
Lenders of the affected Class) and with respect to which the
Requisite Lenders (or, in circumstances where Section 10.5(d) does
not require the consent of the Requisite Lenders, a Majority in
Interest of the Lenders of the affected Class) shall have granted
their consent, 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
Section 10.6, including the consent requirements set forth
therein), all its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents (other than existing
rights to payment under Sections 2.17(c), 2.18 and 2.19) (or, in
the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a
failure to provide a consent, all such interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as
a Lender of an applicable Class) to an Eligible Assignee that shall
assume such obligations (which may be another Lender, if a Lender
accepts such assignment and delegation);
provided
that (i) the
Borrower shall have caused to be paid to the Administrative Agent
the registration and processing fee referred to in
Section 10.6(d), (ii) 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 (including any amounts under
Section 2.17(c)) and any prepayment fee under
Section 2.12(b) (if applicable, in each case only to the
extent such amounts relate to its interest as a Lender of an
applicable Class) from the assignee (in the case of such principal
and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all
other amounts), (iii) such assignment and delegation does not
conflict with applicable law, (iv) in the case of any such
assignment and delegation resulting from a claim for compensation
under Section 2.18 or payments required to be made pursuant to
Section 2.19, such assignment will result in a reduction in
such compensation or payments thereafter and (v) in the case of any
such assignment and delegation resulting from the failure to
provide a consent, the assignee shall have given such consent. A
Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and
delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver or consent by
such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower
to require such assignment and delegation have ceased to apply.
Each party hereto agrees that an assignment and delegation required
pursuant to this Section 2.22 may be effected pursuant to an
Assignment Agreement executed by the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such
assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto.
2.23.
Incremental
Facilities
. (a) The Borrower may on one or more occasions,
by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request the
establishment of Incremental Commitments,
provided
that the aggregate
amount of all the Incremental Commitments established hereunder on
any date shall not exceed the Incremental Amount as of such date.
Each such notice shall specify (i) the date on which the Borrower
proposes that the Incremental Commitments shall be effective, which
shall be a date not less than five Business Days (or such shorter
period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) after the
date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent,
and (ii) the amount of the Incremental Commitments being
requested (it being agreed that (A) any Lender approached to
provide any Incremental Commitment may elect or decline, in its
sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Commitment and
(B) any Person that the Borrower proposes to become an
Incremental Lender, if such Person is not then a Lender, must be an
Eligible Assignee and must be approved by the Administrative Agent
(such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed)).
(b)
The terms and
conditions of any Incremental Commitment and the Incremental Loans
to be made thereunder shall be as set forth in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement;
provided
that (i) no
Incremental Maturity Date shall be earlier than the latest Maturity
Date in effect on the date of incurrence of such Incremental Loans,
(ii) the weighted average life to maturity of any Incremental
Loans shall be no shorter than the longest remaining weighted
average life to maturity of any other Class of Loans outstanding on
the date of incurrence of such Incremental Loans (and, for purposes
of determining the weighted average life to maturity of any such
other Class of Loans, the effects of any prepayments made prior to
the date of the determination shall be disregarded), it being
understood that, subject to this clause (ii), the amortization
schedule applicable to (and the effect thereon of any prepayments
of) any Incremental Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and
the applicable Incremental Lenders, (iii) the Weighted Average
Yield, determined as of the date of incurrence of such Incremental
Loans, shall not be greater than the Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined as of such date
(giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted Average Yield on
the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective subsequent to the
Closing Date but prior to such date, but excluding the effect of
any increase in interest margins with respect thereto pursuant to
this clause (iii)), plus 0.50% per annum unless the Applicable
Rate (together with, as provided in the proviso below, the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors) with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans is increased, or fees to Lenders then holding the
Tranche B Term Loans are paid, so as to cause the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to equal the
Weighted Average Yield with respect to such Incremental Loans minus
0.50%,
provided
that any increase in the effective Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans due to the application of an
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor to any Incremental
Loans shall be effected solely through an increase in the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the Tranche B Term
Loans and only to the extent an increase in such floor with respect
to the Tranche B Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest
rate then in effect with respect thereto, (iv) Incremental
Loans may participate in any mandatory prepayments on a pro rata
basis (or on a basis that is less than pro rata) with the other
Loans, but may not provide for mandatory prepayment requirements
that are more favorable than those applicable to any other Loans,
(v) any Incremental Commitments and any Loans thereunder shall
rank pari passu in right of payment, and shall be secured by the
Collateral on an equal and ratable basis, with the other
Commitments and Loans, and shall be extensions of credit to the
Borrower that are Guaranteed only by the Credit Parties and
(vi) except for the terms referred to above and subject to
Section 2.23(c), to the extent the terms of any Incremental Loans
(other than interest rates (whether fixed or floating), interest
margins, benchmark rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and
prepayment terms (including “no call” terms and other
restrictions thereon) and premiums) are not consistent with those
of the Tranche B Term Loans as in effect on the date of incurrence
of such Incremental Loans, such differences shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent (except for terms
benefitting the Incremental Lenders (A) where this Agreement is
amended to include such beneficial terms for the benefit of all
Lenders or (B) applicable only to periods after the latest Maturity
Date in effect as of the date of incurrence of such Incremental
Loans). In the event any Incremental Loans have the same terms as
any existing Class of Loans then outstanding or any
Extended/Modified Loans or Refinancing Loans then substantially
concurrently established (in each case, disregarding any
differences in original issue discount or upfront fees if not
affecting the fungibility thereof for US federal income tax
purposes), such Incremental Loans may, at the election of the
Borrower, be treated as a single Class with such outstanding Loans
or such Extended/Modified Loans or Refinancing Loans, and any
scheduled Installments set forth in Section 2.11 with respect to
any such Class of Loans may be increased to reflect scheduled
amortization of such Incremental Loans.
(c)
The Incremental
Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Incremental
Facility Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, each
Incremental Lender providing such Incremental Commitments and the
Administrative Agent;
provided
that no Incremental
Commitments shall become effective unless (i) on the date of
effectiveness thereof, both immediately prior to and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Incremental Commitments (and
assuming that the full amount of such Incremental Commitments shall
have been funded as Loans on such date), and the use of proceeds
thereof
,
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would result therefrom and the representations and warranties of
each Credit Party set forth in the Credit Documents shall be true
and correct (A) in the case of the representations and warranties
qualified as to materiality, in all respects, and (B) otherwise, in
all material respects, in each case on and as of such date, except
in the case of any such representation and warranty that
specifically relates to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on and as
of such earlier date;
provided
that, in the case of
Incremental Commitments established to finance, in whole or in
part, a Limited Conditionality Transaction, the conditions set
forth in this clause (i) may be tested in accordance with
Section 1.5 to the extent agreed by the Borrower and the
Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments, all as
set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement,
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the date of effectiveness thereof and signed by
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with
the conditions set forth in clause (i) above and, if such
Incremental Commitments or any portion thereof are being
established in reliance on clause (b) of the definition of the term
“Incremental Amount”, setting forth a reasonably
detailed calculation of the Incremental Amount under such clause,
and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s
certificates, officer’s certificates, reaffirmation
agreements and other documents as shall reasonably be requested
(consistent in all material respects with the documents delivered
under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date) by the Administrative
Agent in connection with any such transaction. Each Incremental
Facility Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender, effect
such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as
may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the
Administrative Agent, to give effect to the provisions of this
Section 2.23, including any amendments necessary to treat the
applicable Incremental Commitments and Incremental Loans as a new
Class of Commitments and Loans hereunder (including for purposes of
prepayments and voting (it being agreed that such new Class of
Commitments and Loans may be included in the definitions of
“Majority in Interest”, “Pro Rata Share”
and “Requisite Lenders” and may be afforded class
voting rights requiring the consent of Lenders under such Class in
addition to any other consent of Lenders that might otherwise be
required under Section 10.5) and to enable such new Class of
Commitments and Loans to be extended under Section 2.24 or
refinanced under Section 2.25).
(d)
Upon the
effectiveness of an Incremental Commitment of any Incremental
Lender, such Incremental Lender shall be deemed to be a
“Lender” (and a Lender in respect of Commitments and
Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder, and henceforth shall be
entitled to all the rights of, and benefits accruing to, Lenders
(or Lenders in respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable
Class) hereunder and shall be bound by all agreements,
acknowledgements and other obligations of Lenders (or Lenders in
respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder
and under the other Credit Documents.
(e)
Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein and in the applicable
Incremental Facility Agreement, each Incremental Lender holding an
Incremental Commitment of any Class shall make a loan to the
Borrower in an amount equal to such Incremental Commitment on the
date specified in such Incremental Facility Agreement.
(f)
The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any notice from the Borrower referred to in
Section 2.23(a) and of the effectiveness of any Incremental
Commitments, in each case advising the Lenders of the details
thereof.
2.24.
Extension/Modification
Offers
. (a) The Borrower may on one or more occasions, by
written notice to the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers
(each, an “
Extension/Modification Offer
”) to
all the Lenders of any Class (each Class subject to such an
Extension/Modification Offer being referred to as an
“
Extension/Modification
Request Class
”), on the same terms and conditions, and
on a pro rata basis, to each Lender within any
Extension/Modification Request Class, to make one or more
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments pursuant to procedures
reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably
acceptable to the Borrower. Such notice shall set forth (i) the
terms and conditions of the requested Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment and (ii) the date on which such
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment is requested to become
effective (which shall not be less than five Business Days or more
than 60 Business Days after the date of such notice, unless
otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent).
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendments shall become effective
only with respect to the Loans of the Lenders of the
Extension/Modification Request Class that accept the applicable
Extension/Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “
Extending/Modifying Lenders
”) and,
in the case of any Extending/Modifying Lender, only with respect to
such Lender’s Loans of such Extension/Modification Request
Class as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made. Any
Extended/Modified Loans shall constitute a separate Class of Loans
from the Extension/Modification Request Class from which they were
converted and, in the event any Extended/Modified Loans have the
same terms as any existing Class of Loans then outstanding or any
Incremental Loans or Refinancing Loans then substantially
concurrently established (in each case, disregarding any
differences in original issue discount or upfront fees if not
affecting the fungibility thereof for US federal income tax
purposes), such Extended/Modified Loans may, at the election of the
Borrower, be treated as a single Class with such outstanding Loans
or such Incremental Loans or Refinancing Loans, and any scheduled
Installments set forth in Section 2.11 with respect to any such
Class of Loans may be increased to reflect scheduled amortization
of such Extended/Modified Loans. The Extension/Modification Offer
shall not be required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum
increment,
provided
that the Borrower may, at its option and subject to its right to
waive any such condition in its sole discretion, specify as a
condition to the effectiveness of any Extension/Modification
Permitted Amendment that a minimum amount, as specified in the
Extension/Modification Offer, of Loans of the
Extension/Modification Request Class consent thereto. The Borrower
may amend, revoke or replace any Extension/Modification Offer at
any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable
Extension/Modification Agreement. In connection with any
Extension/Modification Offer, the Borrower shall agree to such
procedures, if any, as may be reasonably established by, or
acceptable to, the Administrative Agent to accomplish the purposes
of this Section 2.24.
(b)
An
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment shall be effected
pursuant to an Extension/Modification Agreement executed and
delivered by the Borrower, each applicable Extending/Modifying
Lender and the Administrative Agent;
provided
that no
Extension/Modification Permitted Amendment shall become effective
unless the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent such legal opinions, board resolutions, secretary’s
certificates, officer’s certificates, reaffirmation
agreements and other documents as shall reasonably be requested
(consistent in all material respects with the documents delivered
under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date) by the Administrative Agent
in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each
Extension/Modification Agreement. Each Extension/Modification
Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the
applicable Extending/Modifying Lenders, effect such amendments to
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary
or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give
effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24, including (i) a
reduction to any scheduled Installments set forth in Section 2.11
with respect to Loans of the Extension/Modification Request Class
to reflect the treatment of the Extended/Modified Loans as a new
Class of Loans (it being understood that the amount of any
scheduled amortization payable to any non-Extending/Modifying
Lender with respect to its Loans of the Extension/Modification
Request Class shall not be reduced as a result thereof) and (ii)
any amendments necessary to treat the applicable Loans of the
Extending/Modifying Lenders as a new “Class” of loans
hereunder (including for purposes of prepayments and voting) (it
being agreed that such new Class of Loans may be included in the
definitions of “Majority in Interest”, “Pro Rata
Share” and “Requisite Lenders” and may be
afforded class voting rights requiring the consent of Lenders under
such Class in addition to any other consent of Lenders that might
otherwise be required under Section 10.5).
2.25.
Refinancing
Facilities.
(a) The Borrower may, on one or more occasions,
by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request the
establishment hereunder of one or more additional Classes of term
loan commitments (the “
Refinancing Commitments
”) pursuant
to which each Person providing such a commitment (a
“
Refinancing
Lender
”) will make term loans to the Borrower (the
“
Refinancing
Loans
”). Each such notice shall specify (i) the date
on which the Borrower proposes that the Refinancing Commitments
shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than five
Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the
Administrative Agent) after the date on which such notice is
delivered to the Administrative Agent, (ii) the amount of the
Refinancing Commitments requested to be established and (iii) the
identity of each Person proposed to become a Refinancing Lender in
connection therewith (it being agreed that (x) any Lender
approached to provide any Refinancing Commitment may elect or
decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Refinancing
Commitment and (y) any Person that the Borrower proposes to be a
Refinancing Lender, if such Person is not then a Lender, must be an
Eligible Assignee and must be approved by the Administrative Agent
(such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed)).
(b)
The terms and
conditions of any Refinancing Commitments and the Refinancing Loans
to be made thereunder shall be as determined by the Borrower and
the applicable Refinancing Lenders and set forth in the applicable
Refinancing Facility Agreement;
provided
that (i) the
Refinancing Maturity Date of such Refinancing Loans shall not be
earlier than the Maturity Date of the Class of Loans being
refinanced, (ii) the weighted average life to maturity of such
Refinancing Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted
average life to maturity of the Class of Loans being refinanced
(and, for purposes of determining the weighted average life to
maturity of such Class of Loans being refinanced, the effects of
any prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall
be disregarded), it being understood that, subject to this clause
(ii), the amortization schedule applicable to (and the effect
thereon of any prepayments of) any Refinancing Loans shall be
determined by the Borrower and the applicable Refinancing Lenders,
(iii) in the case of any partial refinancing of the Tranche B
Term Loans, the Weighted Average Yield with respect to such
Refinancing Loans, determined as of the date of incurrence of such
Refinancing Loans, shall not be greater than the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined as of
such date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted Average
Yield on the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective subsequent
to the Closing Date but prior to such date, but excluding the
effect of any increase in interest margins with respect thereto
pursuant to this clause (iii)), plus 0.50% per annum unless the
Applicable Rate (together with, as provided in the proviso below,
the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors) with respect to
the Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding after such
refinancing is increased, or fees to Lenders then holding the
Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding after such refinancing
are paid, so as to cause the Weighted Average Yield with respect to
the Tranche B Term Loans to remain outstanding after such
refinancing to equal the Weighted Average Yield with respect to
such Refinancing Term Loans minus 0.50%,
provided
that any increase in
the effective Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans due to the application of an Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness shall be effected solely
through an increase in the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate
floor applicable to the Tranche B Term Loans and only to the extent
an increase in such floor with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans
would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect with
respect thereto, (iv) any Refinancing Loans may participate in
any mandatory prepayments hereunder on a pro rata basis (or on a
basis that is less than pro rata) with the other Loans, but may not
provide for mandatory prepayment requirements that are more
favorable than those applicable to the other Loans, (v) any
Refinancing Commitments and Refinancing Loans made thereunder shall
rank
pari passu
in right of
payment, and shall be secured by the Collateral on an equal and
ratable basis, with the other Loans and Commitments hereunder, and
shall be extensions of credit to the Borrower that are Guaranteed
only by the Credit Parties, and (vi) except for the terms referred
to above, to the extent the terms of any Refinancing Loans (other
than interest rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins,
benchmark rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and
prepayment terms (including “no call” terms and other
restrictions thereon) and premiums) are not consistent with those
of the Class of Loans being refinanced, such differences shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (except for terms
benefitting the Refinancing Lenders (A) where this Agreement is
amended to include such beneficial terms for the benefit of all
Lenders or (B) applicable only to periods after the latest Maturity
Date in effect as of the date of incurrence of such Refinancing
Loans);
provided
further
that
clauses (i), (ii) and (vi) shall not apply if, at the time of the
incurrence of such Refinancing Loans and after giving effect to the
application of the proceeds thereof, such Refinancing Loans shall
be the sole Class of Loans outstanding under this Agreement. In the
event any Refinancing Loans have the same terms as any existing
Class of Loans then outstanding or any Incremental Loans or
Extended/Modified Loans then substantially concurrently established
(in each case, disregarding any differences in original issue
discount or upfront fees if not affecting the fungibility thereof
for US federal income tax purposes), such Refinancing Loans may, at
the election of the Borrower, be treated as a single Class with
such outstanding Loans or such Incremental Loans or
Extended/Modified Loans, and any scheduled Installments set forth
in Section 2.11 with respect to any such Class of Loans may be
increased to reflect scheduled amortization of such Refinancing
Loans.
(c)
The Refinancing
Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Refinancing
Facility Agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower, each
Refinancing Lender providing such Refinancing Commitments and the
Administrative Agent;
provided
that no Refinancing
Commitments shall become effective unless (i) the Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent such legal opinions,
board resolutions, secretary’s certificates, officer’s
certificates, reaffirmation agreements and other documents as shall
reasonably be requested (consistent in all material respects with
the documents delivered under Section 3.1 on the Closing Date)
by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith,
(ii) substantially concurrently with the effectiveness
thereof, the Borrower shall obtain Refinancing Loans thereunder and
shall repay or prepay then outstanding Borrowings of any Class in
an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of such
Refinancing Commitments (less the aggregate amount of accrued and
unpaid interest with respect to such outstanding Borrowings, any
original issue discount or upfront fees applicable to such
Refinancing Loans and any reasonable fees, premium and expenses
relating to such refinancing) and (iii) any such prepayment of
Borrowings of any Class shall, if Loans of such Class are subject
to scheduled amortization of principal, be applied to reduce any
subsequent Installments to be made pursuant to Section 2.11 with
respect to Borrowings of such Class on a pro rata basis (in
accordance with the principal amounts of such Installments) and, in
the case of a prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Borrowings, shall be
subject to Section 2.17(c). Each Refinancing Facility
Agreement may, without the consent of any Lender other than the
applicable Refinancing Lenders, effect such amendments to this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or
appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to give
effect to the provisions of this Section 2.25, including any
amendments necessary to treat the applicable Refinancing
Commitments and Refinancing Loans as a new Class of Commitments or
Loans hereunder (including for purposes of prepayments and voting
(it being agreed that such new Class of Commitments and Loans may
be included in the definitions of “Majority in
Interest”, “Pro Rata Share” and “Requisite
Lenders” and may be afforded class voting rights requiring
the consent of Lenders under such Class in addition to any other
consent of Lenders that might otherwise be required under Section
10.5) and to enable such new Class of Loans to be extended under
Section 2.24 or refinanced under this Section 2.25).
(d)
Upon the
effectiveness of a Refinancing Commitment of any Refinancing
Lender, such Refinancing Lender shall be deemed to be a
“Lender” (and a Lender in respect of Commitments and
Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder, and henceforth shall be
entitled to all the rights of, and benefits accruing to, Lenders
(or Lenders in respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable
Class) hereunder and shall be bound by all agreements,
acknowledgements and other obligations of Lenders (or Lenders in
respect of Commitments and Loans of the applicable Class) hereunder
and under the other Credit Documents.
(e)
The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any notice from the Borrower referred to in
Section 2.25(a) and of the effectiveness of any Refinancing
Commitments, in each case advising the Lenders of the details
thereof.
SECTION
3.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
3.1.
Closing
Date
. This Agreement and the obligation of each Lender to
make any Credit Extension shall not become effective until the date
on which each of the following conditions shall be satisfied (or
waived in accordance with Section 10.5):
(a)
Credit Agreement
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each
Designated Subsidiary (including the Acquired Company and each of
its Subsidiaries that is a Designated Subsidiary) and each other
party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on
behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent (which may include a facsimile or electronic
image scan transmission) that such party has signed a counterpart
of this Agreement.
(b)
Organizational Documents;
Incumbency
. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in
respect of the Borrower and each Designated Subsidiary (including
the Acquired Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is a
Designated Subsidiary), a certificate of such Person (or, in the
case of a partnership, its general partner), dated the Closing Date
and executed by the secretary or an assistant secretary or manager
of such Person, attaching (i) a copy of each Organizational
Document of such Person, which shall be certified as of the Closing
Date or a recent date prior thereto by the appropriate Governmental
Authority, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the
officers/manager or general partner of such Person executing each
Credit Document, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Managers, Board
of Directors or similar governing body of such Person approving and
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party,
certified as of the Closing Date by such secretary or assistant
secretary or manager as being in full force and effect without
modification or amendment, and (iv) a good standing
certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of such
Person’s jurisdiction of organization, dated the Closing Date
or a recent date prior thereto.
(c)
Closing Date Refinancing
. The
Closing Date Refinancing shall have been consummated or shall be
consummated substantially simultaneously with the initial funding
of Loans on the Closing Date, and the Administrative Agent shall
have received customary payoff letters with respect thereto or
other evidence thereof reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Arrangers.
(d)
Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement
. Subject to the final paragraph of this
Section 3.1, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall
have been satisfied. The Collateral Agent shall have received a
completed Collateral Questionnaire in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Arrangers, dated the
Closing Date and executed by an Authorized Officer of each of the
Borrower and the Acquired Company, together with all attachments
contemplated thereby, including the results of a search of the UCC
(or equivalent) filings made with respect to the Credit Parties in
the jurisdictions contemplated by the Collateral Questionnaire and
copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed
by such search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent and the Arrangers that the Liens indicated by such
financing statements (or similar documents) are Permitted Liens or
have been, or substantially contemporaneously with the initial
funding of Loans on the Closing Date will be,
released.
(e)
Evidence of Insurance
. Subject
to the final paragraph of this Section 3.1, the Collateral
Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrower’s
insurance broker or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent and the Arrangers that the insurance required to
be maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 is in full force and effect,
together with customary endorsements naming the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of Secured Parties, as additional insured and
lender’s loss payee thereunder to the extent required under
Section 5.5.
(f)
Opinions of Counsel
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written
opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral
Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date) of each of
(i) Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, counsel for the Credit
Parties, (ii) Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, regulatory counsel
for the Credit Parties, (iii) Jones Day, Georgia counsel for the
Credit Parties, and (iv) Spencer Fane LLP, Kansas counsel for the
Credit Parties, in each case in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers (and
each Credit Party hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such
opinion to the Administrative Agent).
(g)
Fees and Expenses
. The Borrower
shall have paid to the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders all fees and expenses (including legal fees and expenses
and recording fees) and other amounts due and payable on or prior
to the Closing Date pursuant to the Credit Documents, the
Engagement Letter and the Fee Letters.
(h)
Solvency Certificate
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received the Solvency Certificate,
dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of
the Borrower.
(i)
Closing Date Certificate
. The
Administrative Agent shall have received the Closing Date
Certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments
thereto.
(j)
Letter of Direction
. The
Administrative Agent and Goldman Sachs, as an Arranger, shall have
received a duly executed letter of direction from the Borrower
addressed to Goldman Sachs, as an Arranger, directing the
disbursement on the Closing Date of the proceeds of the Loans to be
made on such date.
(k)
PATRIOT Act
. At least five days
prior to the Closing Date, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
shall have received all documentation and other information
(including with respect to the Acquired Company and its
Subsidiaries) required by bank regulatory authorities under
applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money
laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT
Act.
(l)
Consummation of the Merger
. The
Merger shall have been (or substantially concurrently with the
funding of the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
be) consummated, pursuant to and on the terms set forth in the
Merger Agreement. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
Merger Agreement (including a copy of the Acquired Company
Indemnity Letter Agreement), together with all closing deliverables
thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
complete and correct.
(m)
Distribution of the Consumer/SMB
Business
. The Consumer/SMB Business shall have been (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche B
Term Loans on the Closing Date shall be) distributed by the
Acquired Company, pursuant to and on the terms set forth in the
Merger Agreement. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
definitive agreements relating to the distribution of the
Consumer/SMB Business, together with all closing deliverables
thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer of the Acquired
Company as complete and correct.
(n)
Fusion Global Transactions
. The
Borrower shall have consummated (or substantially concurrently with
the funding of the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date
shall consummate) the Fusion Global Arrangement, pursuant to and on
the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Arrangers shall
have received a copy of the definitive agreements relating to the
Fusion Global Arrangement, together with all closing deliverables
thereunder, certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
complete and correct.
(o)
Subordinated Notes Issuance or
Amendment
. The Borrower shall have received (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche B
Term Loans on the Closing Date shall receive) gross cash proceeds
of not less than $10,000,000 from the issuance of the New
Subordinated Note. The Existing Subordinated Notes shall have been
(or substantially concurrently with funding of the Tranche B Term
Loans on the Closing Date shall be) amended and restated to, among
other things, provide that the Existing Subordinated Notes are
subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and all
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness and Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness (in each case, other than Subordinated Indebtedness)
of the Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary, as applicable, in a
manner reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers. The Administrative
Agent shall have received a copy of the Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Documents with respect to the Subordinated Notes,
certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and
correct, and the terms and conditions of the Subordinated Notes,
and the provisions of the Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents with respect thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Arrangers.
(p)
Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance
. The Closing Date Common Equity Issuance shall have
occurred (or substantially concurrently with the funding of the
Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall occur), and the
Borrower shall have received (or substantially concurrently with
the funding of the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
receive) gross cash proceeds of not less than $4,999,998.50
therefrom. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
definitive agreements relating to the Closing Date Common Equity
Issuance, together with all closing deliverables thereunder,
certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as complete and
correct.
(q)
Closing Date Preferred Equity
Issuance
. The Borrower shall have issued and sold (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche B Term
Loans on the Closing Date shall issue and sell) the Closing Date
Preferred Stock to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (or an entity
majority-owned and Controlled by Holcombe T. Green, Jr.), and the
Borrower shall have received (or substantially concurrently with
the funding of the Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date shall
receive) gross cash proceeds of not less than $14,700,000
therefrom. The Arrangers shall have received a copy of the
definitive agreements relating to the Closing Date Preferred Stock,
together with all closing deliverables relating thereto, all of
which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Arrangers and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
complete and correct.
(r)
Escrow Cash Collateral
Arrangement
. The Borrower shall have established the Escrow
Cash Collateral Account (i) in which the Escrow Cash Collateral in
an amount equal to the Escrow Cash Amount shall have been (or
substantially concurrently with the funding of the Tranche B
Term Loans on the Closing Date shall be) deposited to be held as
cash collateral securing the Obligations pending release as
contemplated by Section 9.8(d)(ii) and (ii) that is subject to the
Escrow Cash Collateral Control Agreement, pursuant to which the
Escrow Cash Collateral shall be subject to the sole control and
dominion of the First Lien Representative (as defined in the
Intercreditor Agreement), including as gratuitous bailee and
gratuitous agent for the Collateral Agent in accordance with the
terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
Each
Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement, and
funding its Loans on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have
acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit
Document and each other document required to be approved by any
Agent, the Requisite Lenders or any other Lenders, as applicable,
on the Closing Date.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, solely with respect to the matters expressly identified
in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement, the satisfaction by the
Credit Parties of the foregoing conditions shall not be required on
the Closing Date, and shall not be a condition to the making of the
Credit Extensions on the Closing Date, but shall be required to be
accomplished in accordance with the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement.
3.2.
Each
Credit Extension
. The obligation of each Lender to make any
Credit Extension on any Credit Date, including the Closing Date, is
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section
10.5) of the following conditions precedent (it being understood
and agreed that, in the case of any Loans the proceeds of which are
intended to be applied to finance a Limited Conditionality
Transaction, the conditions precedent set forth in clauses (b) and
(c) below may be satisfied as of the applicable LCT Test Date in
accordance with Section 1.5):
(a)
the Administrative
Agent shall have received a fully completed and executed Funding
Notice;
(b)
the representations
and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Credit
Documents shall be true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified or modified as to
materiality in the text thereof, in all respects and (ii)
otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and as of such
Credit Date, except in the case of any such representation and
warranty that expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case
such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on
and as of such earlier date; and
(c)
at the time of and
immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would result therefrom.
On the
date of any Credit Extension, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
represented and warranted that the conditions specified in Sections
3.2(b) and 3.2(c) have been satisfied.
SECTION
4.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
In
order to induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into this
Agreement and to make each Credit Extension to be made thereby,
each Credit Party represents and warrants to each Agent and each
Lender on the Closing Date and on each Credit Date as
follows:
4.1.
Organization;
Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification
. Each of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite power and
authority (i) to own and operate its properties and to carry
on its business and operations as now conducted and (ii) in the
case of the Credit Parties, to execute and deliver the Credit
Documents to which it is a party and to perform the other
Transactions to be performed by it and (c) is qualified to do
business and in good standing under the laws of every jurisdiction
where its assets are located or where such qualification is
necessary to carry out its business and operations, except, in each
case referred to in clauses (a) (other than with respect to
the Borrower), (b)(i) and (c), where the failure so to be or so to
have, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2.
Equity
Interests and Ownership
.
Schedule 4.2
sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the name and jurisdiction of
organization of, and the percentage of each class of Equity
Interests owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in, (a) each
Subsidiary and (b) each joint venture and other Person in which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary owns any Equity Interests, and
identifies each Designated Subsidiary and each Material Subsidiary.
The Equity Interests owned by any Credit Party in any Subsidiary
have been duly authorized and validly issued and, to the extent
such concept is applicable, are fully paid and non-assessable.
Except as set forth on
Schedule
4.2
, as of the Closing Date (i) there are no Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding that upon
exercise, conversion or exchange would require the issuance by any
Restricted Subsidiary of any additional Equity Interests or other
Securities exercisable for, convertible into, exchangeable for or
evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase any Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) there are no
existing options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or other
agreements to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a
party requiring the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of any
additional Equity Interests or other Securities exercisable for,
convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to
subscribe for or purchase any Equity Interests in any Restricted
Subsidiary.
4.3.
Due
Authorization
. The Transactions to be entered into by each
Credit Party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
or other organizational and, if required, stockholder, shareholder
or other equityholder action on the part of such Credit
Party.
4.4.
No
Conflict
. The Transactions do not and will not (a) violate
any applicable law, including any order of any Governmental
Authority, except to the extent any such violation, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, (b) violate the Organizational Documents
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) violate or result
(alone or with notice or lapse of time, or both) in a default under
any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any
payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, or give rise to a right of, or result in,
any termination, cancelation or acceleration or right of
renegotiation of any obligation thereunder, except to the extent
any such violation, default, right or result, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (d) except for Liens created under the
Credit Documents or the First Lien Credit Documents, result in or
require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
4.5.
Governmental
Approvals
. The Transactions do not and will not require any
registration with, consent or approval of, notice to, or other
action by any Governmental Authority, except (a) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) filings
and recordings with respect to the Collateral necessary to perfect
Liens created under the Credit Documents or the First Lien Credit
Documents and (c) filings and registrations under applicable
securities laws relating to the Disposition by the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement of Collateral that
constitute Securities.
4.6.
Binding
Obligation
. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and
delivered by each Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the
legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party,
enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting
creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles
relating to enforceability.
4.7.
Historical
Financial Statements; Projections; Pro Forma Financial
Statements
. (a) The Historical Borrower Financial Statements
were prepared in conformity with GAAP and present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof
and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each of the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to
changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and the
absence of footnotes. The Historical Acquired Company Financial
Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of the Acquired Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations
and cash flows of the Acquired Company and its Subsidiaries for
each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such
unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and
normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes. As of the
Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any
contingent liability or liability for Taxes, long-term lease or
unusual forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected in
the Historical Borrower Financial Statements, the Historical
Acquired Company Financial Statements or the notes thereto and
that, in any such case, is material in relation to the business,
operations, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b)
The Projections
have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were
believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it
being understood and agreed that the Projections are not a
guarantee of financial performance and actual results may differ
therefrom and such differences may be material.
(c)
The Pro Forma
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared by the Borrower in good
faith based on assumptions that were believed by the Borrower to be
reasonable at the time made and are believed by the Borrower to be
reasonable on the Closing Date, (ii) accurately reflect in all
material respects all adjustments necessary to give effect to the
Transactions as contemplated by such Pro Forma Financial Statements
and (iii) present fairly, in all material respects, the pro
forma financial position and results of operations of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries as of the date and for the period stated
therein as if the Transactions as contemplated by such Pro Forma
Financial Statements had occurred on such date or at the beginning
of such period, as the case may be.
4.8.
No
Material Adverse Effect
. Since December 31, 2017, there
has been no event or condition that has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.9.
Adverse
Proceedings
. There are no Adverse Proceedings that
(a) individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) in any manner
question the validity or enforceability of any of the Credit
Documents or otherwise involve any of the Credit Documents or the
Transactions.
4.10.
Payment
of Taxes
. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5.3,
all Tax returns and reports of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and all
Taxes shown on such Tax returns to be due and payable, and all
assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries and upon their properties, income, businesses
and franchises that are due and payable, have been paid when due
and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books reserves with
respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent
that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.11.
Properties
.
(a)
Title
. The
Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has (i) good, sufficient
and marketable title to (in the case of fee interests in real
property), (ii) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of
leasehold interests in real or personal property), (iii) valid
licensed rights in (in the case of licensed interests in
Intellectual Property) and (iv) good title to (in the case of all
other personal property) all of their material assets reflected in
the Historical Borrower Financial Statements or the Historical
Acquired Company Financial Statements, as applicable, or, after the
first delivery thereof, in the consolidated financial statements of
the Borrower most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.1,
in each case except for assets disposed of since the date of such
financial statements in the ordinary course of business or as
otherwise permitted by this Agreement (including the Fusion Global
Arrangement and the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business) and
except for Permitted Liens and defects that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of the affected
property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
(b)
Real Estate
. Set forth on
Schedule
4.11(b)
is true and complete list, as of the Closing Date,
of all Real Estate Assets owned in fee by any Credit Party,
identifying each Material Real Estate Asset, if any, and the proper
jurisdiction for the filing of a Mortgage in respect
thereof.
(c)
Intellectual Property
. The
Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to
use, all Intellectual Property that is necessary for the conduct of
its business as currently conducted, and without conflict with the
rights of any other Person, except to the extent any such conflict,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Intellectual Property used by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the operation of its
business infringes upon the rights of any other Person, except for
any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No claim or litigation regarding any Intellectual Property owned or
used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
threatened in writing against the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.12.
Environmental
Matters
. Except with respect to any matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary (a) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law
or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other
approval required under any Environmental Law, (b) has become
subject to any Environmental Liability, (c) has received
notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or
(d) knows of any basis for any Environmental
Liability.
4.13.
No
Defaults
. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
4.14.
Investment
Company Act
. None of the Credit Parties is a
“registered investment company” or a company
“controlled” by a “registered investment
company” or a “principal underwriter” of a
“registered investment company” as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4.15.
Federal
Reserve Regulations
. (a) None of the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important
activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock
or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock.
(b)
No portion of the
proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used, directly or
indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation (including on
the part of any Lender) of any of the regulations of the Board of
Governors, including Regulations U and X. Not more than 25% of the
value of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
subject to any restrictions on the sale, pledge or other
Disposition of assets under this Agreement, any other Credit
Document or any other agreement to which any Lender or Affiliate of
a Lender is party will at any time be represented by Margin
Stock.
4.16.
Employee
Benefit Plans
. The Borrower, each Restricted Subsidiary and
each of their respective ERISA Affiliates is in compliance with all
applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, and has
performed all its obligations under each Employee Benefit Plan,
except where such failure to comply or perform, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to
qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has
received a favorable determination letter or opinion letter from
the IRS indicating that such Employee Benefit Plan is so qualified
and nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of such
determination letter or opinion letter which would cause such
Employee Benefit Plan to lose its qualified status. No liability to
the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the IRS, any
Employee Benefit Plan or any trust established under Title IV of
ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by the Borrower, any
Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event or
Foreign Plan Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except to the extent
required under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code or
similar state laws, no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or
welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise)
for any retired or former employee of the Borrower, any Restricted
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. The present
value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each Pension Plan
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any
Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates
(determined as of the end of the most recent plan year on the basis
of assumptions used for purposes of Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 715), did not exceed the aggregate current value
of the assets of such Pension Plan. As of the most recent valuation
date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial report is
available, the potential liability of the Borrower, the Restricted
Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates for a complete
withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of
Section 4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential
liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans,
based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA
is zero. The Borrower, each Restricted Subsidiary and each of their
respective ERISA Affiliates is not in material
“default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA)
with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan. None of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold
“plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR §
2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA).
4.17.
Solvency
.
On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the borrowing of the
Tranche B Term Loans hereunder and the other Transactions to
occur on such date), the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, are Solvent.
4.18.
Compliance
with Laws
. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance
with all applicable laws, including all orders and other
restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority, in respect of
the conduct of its business and the ownership and operation of its
properties (including compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws), except where such failure to comply, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.19.
Disclosure
.
None of the Lender Presentation, any other documents, certificates
or statements or any other written information (other than
financial projections (including financial estimates, budgets,
forecasts and other forward-looking information) and information of
general economic or industry-specific nature) furnished to any
Arranger, any Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary in connection with the negotiation of or pursuant
to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light
of the circumstances under which they were made (after giving
effect to all supplements theretofore provided);
provided
that, with respect to
financial projections, financial estimates, budgets, forecasts and
other forward-looking information, the Credit Parties represent
only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon
estimates and assumptions believed by the Credit Parties to be
reasonable at the time such information is so furnished (it being
understood that such information is not a guarantee of financial or
other performance and actual results may differ therefrom and that
such differences may be material). There are no facts known to the
Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than matters of a general
economic or industry-specific nature) that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect and that have not been disclosed in such documents,
certificates, statements or other information.
4.20.
Collateral
Matters
. (a) The Pledge and Security Agreement, upon
execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create
in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a valid and enforceable security interest in the
Collateral (as defined therein) and (i) when the Collateral
(as defined therein) constituting certificated securities (as
defined in the UCC) is delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its
gratuitous bailee) without “notice of any adverse
claims” (all within the meaning of the UCC), together with
instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the security
interest created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will
constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title
and interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral, prior
and superior in right to any other Person (subject to the
Intercreditor Agreement, any other Senior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement and any Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement), and
(ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed
in the applicable filing offices, the security interest created
under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a fully
perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the
Credit Parties in the remaining Collateral (as defined therein) to
the extent perfection can be obtained by filing UCC financing
statements, prior and superior in right to any other Person, but
subject to Permitted Liens.
(b)
Each Mortgage, upon
execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create
in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all
the applicable mortgagor’s right, title and interest in and
to the Real Estate Asset subject thereto and the proceeds thereof,
and when the Mortgages have been filed in the jurisdictions
specified therein, the Mortgages will constitute fully perfected
security interests in all right, title and interest of the
mortgagors in the Real Estate Assets subject thereto and the
proceeds thereof, prior and superior in right to any other Person,
but subject to the Permitted Liens.
(c)
Upon the
recordation of the Intellectual Property Security Agreements with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, as applicable, and the filing of the financing
statements referred to in Section 4.20(a), the security interest
created under the Pledge and Security Agreement will constitute a
fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest
of the Credit Parties in the Intellectual Property in which a
security interest may be perfected by filing in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office, in
each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, but
subject to Permitted Liens (it being understood that subsequent
recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the
United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a
security interest in such Intellectual Property acquired by the
Credit Parties after the Closing Date).
(d)
Each Collateral
Document, other than any Collateral Document referred to in the
preceding paragraphs of this Section 4.20, upon execution and
delivery thereof by the parties thereto and the making of the
filings and taking of the other actions provided for therein, will
be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid
and enforceable security interest in the Collateral subject
thereto, and will constitute a fully perfected security interest in
all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in the
Collateral subject thereto to the extent perfection may be achieved
by making the filings and taking the other actions provided for
therein, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person,
except for rights secured by Permitted Liens.
4.21.
Sanctioned
Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; PATRIOT Act
. None of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
directors, officers or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, employees, agents or Affiliates is a Sanctioned Person
or otherwise the subject of any sanctions or economic embargoes
administered or enforced by the US Department of State or the
US Department of Treasury (including OFAC), the United Nations
Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member
state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any
other applicable sanctions authority (collectively,
“
Sanctions
”, and
the associated laws, rules, regulations and orders, collectively,
“
Sanctions
Laws
”). Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and
their respective directors, officers, and, to the knowledge of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, employees, agents or Affiliates is in
compliance, in all material respects, with (a) all Sanctions
Laws, (b) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom and any other applicable
anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, rules, regulations and orders
(collectively, “
Anti-Corruption Laws
”) and
(c) the PATRIOT Act and any other applicable terrorism and
money laundering laws, rules, regulations and orders. No part of
the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, (i)
for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with
any Person or in any country or territory that at such time is the
subject of any Sanctions, (ii) for any payments to any governmental
official or employee, political party, official of a political
party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an
official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or
obtain any improper advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption
Law or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of
any Sanctions Laws applicable to any party hereto.
4.22.
Communications
Regulatory Matters
.
(a)
The businesses of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are being conducted in compliance
with all Communications Laws, except as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries possess all
Licenses required to conduct their businesses in the ordinary
course, and all such Licenses are in full force and
effect
.
(b)
There is no
condition, event or occurrence existing, nor, to the knowledge of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is there any proceeding being
conducted or threatened by any Governmental Authority, which would
reasonably be expected to cause the termination, revocation,
forfeiture, suspension, cancellation, adverse modification or
non-renewal of any of the Licenses held by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, or the imposition of any penalty or fine by any
Governmental Authority with respect to any such Licenses or the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case which, individually or in
the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(c)
There is no (i)
outstanding decree, decision, judgment, or order that has been
issued by the FCC or a State PUC against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any License held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
(ii) notice of violation, order to show cause, complaint,
investigation, inquiry or other administrative or judicial
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, threatened by or before the FCC or a State PUC against
the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any License held by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary that, assuming an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, in the case of each of (i) or (ii) above, would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(d)
Each of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries have filed with the FCC and State
PUCs all necessary reports, documents, instruments, information or
applications required to be filed pursuant to the Communications
Laws, and have paid all fees, assessments and other charges
required to be paid pursuant to the Communications Laws, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)
Except as has been
obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Date, no consent,
approval, authorization, order or waiver of, or filing with, the
FCC, the State PUCs or any other Governmental Authority is required
under the Communications Laws to be obtained or made by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary for (i) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or (ii)
the consummation of the Merger and the other
Transactions.
SECTION
5.
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable
hereunder shall have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants
and agrees with the Agents and the Lenders that:
5.1.
Financial
Statements and Other Reports
. The Borrower will deliver to
the Administrative Agent and, where applicable, to the
Lenders:
(a)
Annual Financial Statements
.
Commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2018, as
soon as available, and in any event within 95 days after the
end of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and
the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal
Year, together with a report thereon of EisnerAmper LLP or an
independent registered public accounting firm of recognized
national standing (which report shall not contain a “going
concern” or like statement, qualification, exception or
emphasis or any qualification, exception or emphasis as to the
scope of audit,
provided
that such report may
contain a “going concern” statement solely as a result
of an impending maturity within 12 months of any Loans or any
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness or any prospective (but not actual) failure to comply
with Section 6.7(a) or any financial maintenance covenant set
forth in any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Documents in
respect of any Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness), and
shall state that such consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates
indicated and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the periods indicated in
conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years
(except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and
that the examination by such accounting firm in connection with
such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards;
(b)
Quarterly Financial Statements
.
Commencing with the first such Fiscal Quarter ending after the
Closing Date, as soon as available, and in any event within
45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal
Quarters of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter
and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter (in the case of such
statements of operations) and for the period from the beginning of
the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding periods of (or, in the case of the
balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year, together
with a Financial Officer Certification with respect
thereto;
(c)
Compliance Certificate and
Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statements
. Together
with each delivery of the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b),
a completed Compliance Certificate executed by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower and, if any Subsidiary shall be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, with respect to each such financial
statement an Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement
(which may be in a footnote form), which shall be accompanied by a
Financial Officer Certification;
(d)
Statements of Reconciliation after
Change in Accounting Principles
. If, as a result of any
change in GAAP or in the application thereof since the date of the
most recent balance sheet delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)
or 5.1(b) (or, prior to the first such delivery, since December 31,
2017), the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) will differ in any
material respect from the consolidated financial statements that
would have been delivered pursuant to such Section had no such
change occurred, then, together with the first delivery of such
financial statements after such change, one or more statements of
reconciliation specifying in reasonable detail the effect of such
change on such financial statements, including those for the prior
period;
(e)
Notice of Default and Material Adverse
Effect
. Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of any event or condition
set forth below, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower setting forth the details of such event or condition and
any action the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has taken, is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto:
(i)
the occurrence of
any Default or Event of Default; or
(ii)
any
event or condition that has had, or would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect;
(f)
Notice of Adverse Proceedings
.
Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of (i) any Adverse Proceeding that
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
that in any manner questions the validity or enforceability of
any of the Credit Documents or otherwise involves any of the Credit
Documents or (ii) any material and adverse development in any
Adverse Proceeding referred to in clause (i) above, in each case
where such development has not previously been disclosed in writing
by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting forth
the details of such Adverse Proceeding or development;
(g)
[Reserved]
;
(h)
Employee Benefit Plans
. (i)
Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any ERISA Event
or Foreign Plan Event, a written notice specifying the nature
thereof, what action the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action
taken or threatened by the IRS, the Department of Labor, the PBGC
or any other Governmental Authority with respect thereto; and
(ii) with reasonable promptness after written request by the
Administrative Agent, copies of (A) all material written
notices received by the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan
sponsor concerning an ERISA Event and (B) copies of such other
material documents or governmental reports or filings relating to
any Employee Benefit Plan with respect to which such ERISA Event
has occurred as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in
writing;
(i)
Financial Plan
. As soon as
available and in any event no later than 120 days after the
beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and financial
forecast for such Fiscal Year, including (i) a forecasted
consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements
of comprehensive income and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, and an explanation of the
assumptions on which such forecasts are based,
and (ii) forecasted
consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter of such
Fiscal Year;
(j)
Information Regarding Credit Parties
and Collateral
. Prompt written notice of any change in
(i) any Credit Party’s legal name, (ii) any Credit
Party’s form of organization, (iii) any Credit
Party’s jurisdiction of organization, (iv) the location of
the chief executive office of any Credit Party and (v) any
Credit Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or
state organizational identification number;
(k)
Collateral Verification
.
Commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2018, together
with each delivery of the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 5.1(a), a
completed Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire executed by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments
contemplated thereby;
(l)
Filed or Distributed
Information
. Promptly upon their becoming available, copies
of all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements
and prospectuses, if any, filed by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary with the SEC or any Governmental Authority performing
similar functions;
(m)
Notice of Modifications of Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Documents and Junior Indebtedness
Documents
. Promptly upon the effectiveness thereof, notice
of any execution and delivery of any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness Document or any credit agreement, indenture or other
agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the rights of the
holders of any Junior Indebtedness or of any amendment, waiver or
other modification of any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness
Document or any such credit agreement, indenture or other agreement
or instrument evidencing or governing the rights of the holders of
any Junior Indebtedness, together with a copy thereof;
and
(n)
Other Information
. Promptly
after any request therefor, such other information regarding the
business, operations, assets, liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Credit
Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.
The
Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders
may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be
delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or otherwise are being
distributed through the Platform, any document or notice that the
Borrower has indicated contains Private-Side Information will not
be posted on the portion of the Platform that is designated for
Public Lenders,
provided
that the Borrower
shall make any disclosure required so that each Unrestricted
Subsidiary Reconciliation Statement shall be suitable for
distribution to Public Lenders. The Borrower agrees to clearly
designate all information provided to any Agent by or on behalf of
any Credit Party that contains only Public-Side Information, and by
doing so shall be deemed to have represented that such information
contains only Public-Side Information. If the Borrower has not
indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this
Section 5.1 contains Private-Side Information, the Administrative
Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on
the portion of the Platform that is designated for Private
Lenders.
Information
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) or
5.1(l) shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information,
or one or more annual or quarterly reports containing such
information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on
the Platform or shall be available on the website of the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov or on the website of the Borrower at
http://www.fusionconnect.com,
provided
, in each case, that
the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent that such
information is available on such website and, if requested by the
Administrative Agent, shall have provided hard copies to the
Administrative Agent. Information required to be delivered pursuant
to this Section 5.1 may also be delivered by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no
obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies
of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no
responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with this
Section 5.1. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely
accessing posted documents and maintaining its copies of such
documents.
5.2.
Existence,
Licenses, Etc
. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary
will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect (a)
its existence and (b) all rights, franchises, licenses (including
all Licenses) and permits necessary for the ordinary conduct of the
business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that
(i) other than in the case of clause (a) above with respect to
the Borrower, the foregoing shall not apply to the extent the
failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii)
the foregoing shall not prohibit any transaction permitted under
Section 6.8.
5.3.
Payment
of Taxes
. The Borrower and each Subsidiary will pay all
Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties prior to the time
when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto;
provided
that no
such Tax need be paid if (a) it is being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
conducted so long as an adequate reserve or other appropriate
provision, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP, shall have
been made therefor or (b) the failure to make such payment
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.4.
Maintenance
of Properties
. (a) The Borrower and each Restricted
Subsidiary will maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair,
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all
properties used or useful in the business of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to
be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof,
in each case except where the failure to do so would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
The Borrower and
each Restricted Subsidiary will take all actions reasonably
necessary to protect all Intellectual Property used or useful in
the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,
including (i) protecting the secrecy and confidentiality of the
confidential information and trade secrets of the Borrower and each
Restricted Subsidiary by having and enforcing a policy requiring
all employees, consultants, licensees, vendors and contractors to
execute confidentiality agreements, (ii) taking all actions
reasonably necessary to ensure that none of the trade secrets of
the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary shall fall or has fallen
into the public domain and (iii) protecting the secrecy and
confidentiality of the source code of all computer software
programs and applications owned or licensed by the Borrower and any
Restricted Subsidiary by having and enforcing a policy requiring
any licensees of such source code (including any licensees under
any source code escrow agreement) to enter into license agreements
with appropriate use and nondisclosure restrictions, except in each
case where the failure to take any such action, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
5.5.
Insurance
.
The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will maintain or cause
to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies, such public liability insurance, third-party property
damage insurance, business interruption insurance and casualty
insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect
of the assets and businesses of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under
similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged
in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar
locations, in each case in such amounts (with no greater risk
retention), covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and
conditions as shall be customary for such Persons. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries will maintain or cause to be maintained, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies, flood
insurance with respect to each Flood Hazard Property that is
located in a community that participates in the Flood Program, in
each case in compliance with any applicable regulations of the
Board of Governors or other applicable law. Each such policy of
insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Credit Parties shall
(a) in the case of liability insurance policies (other than
workers’ compensation and other policies for which such
endorsements are not customary), name the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder
and (b) in the case of business interruption and casualty insurance
policies, contain a lender’s loss payable clause or
endorsement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Collateral Agent, that names the Collateral Agent, for the benefit
of the Secured Parties, as the lender’s loss payee
thereunder, and shall provide that it shall not be canceled or not
renewed (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium upon not less than
10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the
Collateral Agent (giving the Collateral Agent the right to cure
defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason
upon not less than 30 days’ (or such shorter number of days
as may be agreed to by the Collateral Agent or as may be the
maximum number of days permitted by applicable law) prior written
notice thereof by the insurer to the Collateral Agent.
5.6.
Books
and Records; Inspections
. The Borrower and each Restricted
Subsidiary will keep proper books of record and accounts in which
full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material
respects with GAAP and applicable law are made of all dealings and
transactions in relation to its business and activities. The
Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary will permit the
Administrative Agent or any Lender (pursuant to a request made
through the Administrative Agent) (or their authorized
representatives, agents or advisors) to visit and inspect any of
its properties, to examine, copy and make extracts from its
financial and accounting records and to discuss its business,
operations, assets, liabilities (including contingent liabilities)
and condition (financial or otherwise) with its officers and
independent registered public accounting firm, all upon reasonable
notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours
and as often as may reasonably be requested;
provided
, that so long as no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing such
visits and inspections to be limited to not more than one visit and
inspection for the Administrative Agent and all Lenders
(coordinated through the Administrative Agent) in any Fiscal
Year.
5.7.
Lenders
Meetings
. The Borrower will, upon the request of the
Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders, participate in a
telephonic conference with the Administrative Agent and Lenders
once during each Fiscal Quarter to be held at such time as may be
agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
5.8.
Compliance
with Laws
. The Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary will
comply with all applicable laws (including all Environmental Laws
and all orders of any Governmental Authorities), except (a) in
the case of Sanctions Laws, the PATRIOT Act and other applicable
anti-terrorism and money laundering laws and Anti-Corruption Laws,
where failure to comply, individually or in the aggregate, is not
material and (b) otherwise, where failure to comply,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.9.
Environmental
Matters
. (a)
Environmental Disclosure
. The
Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
promptly upon the occurrence thereof, written notice describing in
reasonable detail (i) any material Release required to be
reported to any Governmental Authority under any applicable
Environmental Laws, (ii) any remedial action taken by the
Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Person in response
to any Release of Hazardous Materials Activities or any
Environmental Liability that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
(iii) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary obtaining
knowledge of any occurrence or condition on any Material Real
Estate Asset that would cause any Facility or any part thereof to
be subject to any material restrictions on the ownership,
occupancy, transferability or use thereof under any Environmental
Laws, and (iv) any Environmental Liability involving the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(b)
Environmental Response
. The
Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, take
promptly any and all actions necessary to (i) cure any violation of
applicable Environmental Laws by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) make an
appropriate response to any claim pursuant to Environmental Law
against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and discharge any
obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to
do so would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10.
Subsidiaries
.
If any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower not theretofore a Designated
Subsidiary becomes a Designated Subsidiary, including as a result
of a designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted
Subsidiary or any Subsidiary becoming a Material Subsidiary), the
Borrower will, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within
30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may
agree to in writing), notify the Administrative Agent in writing
thereof and cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be
satisfied with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary (if such
Restricted Subsidiary is a Designated Subsidiary) and with respect
to any Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of such Restricted
Subsidiary owned by any Credit Party.
5.11.
Additional
Collateral
. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative
Agent prompt written notice of (a) the acquisition by any
Credit Party of a Material Real Estate Asset after the Closing Date
and (b) the acquisition by any Credit Party of any other
material assets (other than any assets constituting Excluded
Property) after the Closing Date, other than any such assets
constituting Collateral under the Collateral Documents in which the
Collateral Agent shall have a valid, legal and perfected security
interest (with the priority contemplated by the applicable
Collateral Document) upon the acquisition thereof. The Borrower
will, as promptly as practicable and in any event within 60 days
(or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree to in
writing), cause the requirements of clause (g) of the Collateral
and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such
Material Real Estate Asset.
5.12.
Further
Assurances
. Each Credit Party will execute any and all
further documents, financing statements, agreements and
instruments, and take any and all further actions (including the
filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings,
mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), that may be
required under any applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent
or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to cause the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied at
all times (to the extent applicable, subject to the grace periods
set forth in Sections 5.10 and 5.11) or otherwise to effectuate the
provisions of the Credit Documents, all at the expense of the
Credit Parties. The Borrower will provide to the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, from time to time upon request,
evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent, as applicable, as to the perfection and priority
of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral
Documents.
5.13.
Maintenance
of Ratings
. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable
efforts to maintain continuously a public corporate family rating
(or comparable public ratings) from Moody’s and a public
corporate credit rating (or comparable public rating) from S&P,
in each case in respect of the Borrower, and a public credit rating
from each of Moody’s and S&P in respect of the Tranche B
Term Loans (in each case, with no requirement as to any minimum
rating).
5.14.
Use
of Proceeds
. (a) The Borrower and the other Restricted
Subsidiaries will use the proceeds of the Loans made hereunder
solely for the purposes set forth in Section 2.5 and in
compliance with Section 4.15(b).
(b)
The Borrower will
not request any Loans and no part of the proceeds of the Loans will
be used, directly or indirectly, (i) for the purpose of financing
any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country
or territory that at such time is the subject of any Sanctions,
(ii) for any payments to any governmental official or employee,
political party, official of a political party, candidate for
political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in
order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper
advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law or (iii) in any
manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions Laws
applicable to any party hereto.
5.15.
Post-Closing
Matters
. The Credit Parties shall satisfy each of the
requirements set forth in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement on or
before the date specified in the Post-Closing Letter Agreement for
each such requirement, or such later date as may be permitted with
respect thereto pursuant to the terms of the Post-Closing Letter
Agreement.
SECTION
6.
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable
hereunder shall have been paid in full, each Credit Party covenants
and agrees with the Agents and the Lenders that:
6.1.
Indebtedness
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will, directly
or indirectly, incur or remain liable with respect to any
Indebtedness, except:
(a)
Indebtedness
created under the Credit Documents, including pursuant to
Sections 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25;
(b)
Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Indebtedness shall not have been transferred to any Person other
than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such
Indebtedness shall be evidenced by the Intercompany Note, and, if
owing to a Credit Party, shall have been pledged pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, (iii) such Indebtedness owing
by a Credit Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit
Party shall be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to
the payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the
Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(iv) such Indebtedness is permitted as an Investment under
Section 6.6(d);
(c)
Guarantees incurred
in compliance with Section 6.6(e);
(d)
Indebtedness
existing on the date hereof and set forth on
Schedule 6.1
and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(e)
(i) Indebtedness
of the Credit Parties under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or
under any documents governing First Lien Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount at any
time outstanding, when taken together with the aggregate principal
amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause
(ii) below, not to exceed the sum of (A) $595,000,000,
less
(B) the
aggregate principal amount of “Tranche B Term Loans”
prepaid under the First Lien Credit Agreement pursuant to Section
2.13(d) thereof,
plus
(C) the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to
Section 2.23 of the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any comparable
successor provision);
provided
that if the First Lien
Credit Agreement is amended, modified, waived or supplemented or
replaced following the Closing Date, this clause (C) shall in
no event allow on any date of determination an aggregate principal
amount of Indebtedness to be incurred pursuant to this
clause (C) that is in excess of the aggregate principal amount
that could have been incurred on such date pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.23 in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in
effect on the Closing Date;
provided
that, in the case of
any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (e)(i), (I) such
Indebtedness shall constitute Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness, Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, Permitted
Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness or Permitted Unsecured
Indebtedness and (II) other than in the case of any such
Indebtedness incurred under (or incurred pursuant to commitments
existing under) the First Lien Credit Agreement on the Closing
Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate,
dated the date such Indebtedness is incurred and signed by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the
conditions set forth in clause (i) above and, if such Indebtedness
or any portion thereof is being incurred in reliance on
clause (i)(C) above, setting forth a reasonably detailed
calculation of the amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
under such clause; and (ii) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of
any Indebtedness permitted under clause (i) above or under this
clause (ii);
(f)
(i) Indebtedness of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) incurred to finance
the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or
capital assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
including Capital Lease Obligations,
provided
that such Indebtedness
is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or
the completion of such construction or improvement and the
principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of
acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets,
or (B) assumed in connection with the acquisition of any fixed
or capital assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided
, in the
case of this clause (i), that at the time of incurrence of such
Indebtedness and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use
of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness then outstanding under this clause (i), together with
the aggregate principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness then
outstanding under clause (ii) below and with the aggregate
principal amount of Capital Lease Obligations outstanding under
Section 6.1(n), shall not exceed the greater of (x)
$42,000,000 and (y) 8.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period; and (ii) any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted
under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
(g)
(i) Indebtedness of
any Person that becomes (other than as a result of a redesignation
of an Unrestricted Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any
Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated
with or into a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted
hereunder) after the date hereof, or Indebtedness of any Person
that is assumed or incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary after the date hereof in connection with an Acquisition
permitted hereunder consummated by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary after the date hereof (other than the Specified
Acquisition),
provided
, in the case of this
clause (i), that at the time of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary becoming liable with respect to such Indebtedness
(whether as a result of such Person becoming a Restricted
Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assumption),
and after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the
proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness
then outstanding under this clause (i), together with the aggregate
principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness then outstanding under
clause (ii) below, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000
and (y) 6.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the
then most recently ended Test Period; and (ii) any Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted under clause
(i) above or under this clause (ii);
provided
further
that the aggregate
principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under this clause
(g) incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit
Parties, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties
outstanding under Section 6.1(o), shall not at any time exceed
$12,000,000;
(h)
so long as, after
giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and
the use of proceeds thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds
of such Indebtedness (and any other Indebtedness incurred
substantially concurrently therewith), no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower shall be in
compliance with the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(a), determined as of the last day of the then most
recently ended Test Period (
provided
that to the extent the
proceeds of such Indebtedness are intended to be applied to finance
a Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option of the
Borrower, the foregoing conditions may be tested in accordance with
Section 1.5), (i) Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness,
Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness and Permitted Unsecured
Indebtedness;
provided
that (A) the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness incurred under this clause (h)(i) on any
date shall not exceed the Incremental Amount as of such date, (B)
the stated final maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be earlier
than the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date such
Indebtedness is incurred, (C) the weighted average life to maturity
of any such Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the longest
remaining weighted average life to maturity of any Class of Loans
outstanding as of the date of the incurrence thereof (and, for
purposes of determining the weighted average life to maturity of
any such Class of Loans, the effects of any prepayments made prior
to the date of the determination shall be disregarded), (D) in
the case of Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness, the Weighted
Average Yield, determined as of the date of incurrence of such
Indebtedness, shall not be greater than the Weighted Average Yield
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans, determined as of such
date (giving effect to any amendments to the Weighted Average Yield
on the Tranche B Term Loans that became effective subsequent to the
Closing Date but prior to such date, but excluding the effect of
any increase in interest margins with respect thereto pursuant to
this clause (D)), plus 0.50% per annum unless the Applicable Rate
(together with, as provided in the proviso below, the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors) with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans is increased, or fees to Lenders then holding the
Tranche B Term Loans are paid, so as to cause the Weighted Average
Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans to equal the
Weighted Average Yield with respect to such Indebtedness minus
0.50%,
provided
that any increase in the effective Weighted Average Yield with
respect to the Tranche B Term Loans due to the application of an
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness
shall be effected solely through an increase in the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate floor applicable to the Tranche B Term
Loans and only to the extent an increase in such floor with respect
to the Tranche B Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest
rate then in effect with respect thereto, (E) such Indebtedness
satisfies the Specified Permitted Indebtedness Documentation
Requirements and (F) the Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the date such Indebtedness is incurred and
signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, confirming the
absence of Events of Default as required above and compliance with
the conditions set forth in clause (A) above, setting forth a
reasonably detailed calculation of compliance with Section 6.7(a)
on a Pro Forma Basis and, if such Indebtedness or any portion
thereof is being incurred in reliance on clause (b) of the
definition of the term “Incremental Amount”, setting
forth a reasonably detailed calculation of the Incremental Amount
under such clause;
provided
further
that such Indebtedness
may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit
facility intended to be extended, renewed or refinanced with
Long-Term Indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit
facility shall be deemed to satisfy clauses (B) and (C) above so
long as (x) such credit facility includes customary
“rollover” provisions that are subject to no conditions
precedent other than (I) the occurrence of the date specified for
the “rollover” and (II) that no payment or bankruptcy
event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y)
assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such
“rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility
would comply with clauses (B) and (C) above); and (ii) any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted
under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
(i)
so long as, after
giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and
the use of proceeds thereof (but without netting the Cash proceeds
of such Indebtedness (and any other Indebtedness incurred
substantially concurrently therewith), no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower shall be in
compliance with the financial covenant set forth in
Section 6.7(a), determined as of the last day of the then most
recently ended Test Period, (i) Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness, Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness and
Permitted Unsecured Indebtedness that, in each case, refinances, in
whole or in part, any Loans;
provided
that (A) the original
aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed
the aggregate principal amount of such Loans being refinanced
(except by an amount no greater than accrued and unpaid interest on
such Loans, any original issue discount or upfront fees applicable
to such Indebtedness and any reasonable fees, premiums and expenses
relating to such refinancing), (B) the stated final maturity of
such Indebtedness shall not be earlier than the Maturity Date of
the Class of Loans being refinanced in effect at the time such
Indebtedness is incurred, (C) the weighted average life to
maturity of such Indebtedness (if other than in the form of
revolving loans) shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted
average life to maturity of the Class of Loans being refinanced
(and, for purposes of determining the weighted average life to
maturity of such Class of Loans being refinanced, the effects of
any prepayments made prior to the date of the determination shall
be disregarded), (D) in the case of Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness (and only if, after giving effect to any substantially
concurrent refinancing of Loans, any Tranche B Term Loans shall
remain outstanding), the Weighted Average Yield, determined as of
the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, shall not be greater
than the Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term
Loans, determined as of such date (giving effect to any amendments
to the Weighted Average Yield on the Tranche B Term Loans that
became effective subsequent to the Closing Date but prior to such
date, but excluding the effect of any increase in interest margins
with respect thereto pursuant to this clause (D)), plus 0.50% per
annum unless the Applicable Rate (together with, as provided in the
proviso below, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and Base Rate floors)
with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans is increased, or fees to
Lenders then holding the Tranche B Term Loans are paid, so as to
cause the Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B Term
Loans to equal the Weighted Average Yield with respect to such
Indebtedness minus 0.50%,
provided
that any increase in
the effective Weighted Average Yield with respect to the Tranche B
Term Loans due to the application of an Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or
Base Rate floor to such Indebtedness shall be effected solely
through an increase in the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or Base Rate
floor applicable to the Tranche B Term Loans and only to the extent
an increase in such floor with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans
would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect with
respect thereto, (E) such Loans being refinanced shall be repaid or
prepaid substantially concurrently on the date such Indebtedness is
incurred, (F) such Indebtedness satisfies the Specified
Permitted Indebtedness Documentation Requirements and (G) the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the
date such Indebtedness is incurred and signed by an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower, confirming the absence of Events of
Default as required above and setting forth a reasonably detailed
calculation of compliance with Section 6.7(a) on a Pro Forma Basis;
provided
further
that such
Indebtedness may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other
interim credit facility intended to be extended, renewed or
refinanced with Long-Term Indebtedness (and such bridge or other
interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clauses (B) and
(C) above so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary
“rollover” provisions that are subject to no conditions
precedent other than (I) the occurrence of the date specified for
the “rollover” and (II) that no payment or bankruptcy
event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y)
assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such
“rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility
would comply with clauses (B) and (C) above); and (ii) any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Indebtedness permitted
under clause (i) above or under this clause (ii);
(j)
to the extent
constituting Indebtedness, indemnification obligations (other than
in respect of any Indebtedness) incurred in connection with any
Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 6.6 or any
Disposition permitted by Section 6.8;
(k)
Indebtedness in
respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise
arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or
in connection with any automated clearing-house transfers of funds,
overdraft or any similar services, in each case in the ordinary
course of business;
(l)
Indebtedness in
respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar
instruments issued for the account of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) under
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, health,
disability or other employee benefits and other social security
laws and (ii) under bids, trade contracts, leases (other than
Capital Lease Obligations), supply and service agreements with
vendors, statutory obligations, surety, litigation and appeal
bonds, performance bonds and obligations of a like
nature;
(m)
Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any other Credit Party in the form of purchase price
adjustments, earnouts, deferred compensation or other similar
arrangements incurred in connection with any Acquisition
consummated prior to the Closing Date or any Acquisition
consummated after the Closing Date that is permitted by Section
6.6;
provided
that
such Indebtedness is not secured by any Liens on the assets of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(n)
Capital Lease
Obligations arising under any Sale/Leaseback Transaction incurred
in compliance with Section 6.9,
provided
that at the time of
the consummation of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction and after
giving Pro Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds
thereof, (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then
outstanding under this clause (n) shall not exceed the greater of
(A) $18,000,000 and (B) 3.5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period and (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding under
this clause (n), together with the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness outstanding under Section 6.1(f), shall not
exceed the greater of (A) $42,000,000 and (B) 8.0% of Consolidated
Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended
Test Period;
(o)
other unsecured
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided
that at
the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto and the use of the proceeds thereof, the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding under
this clause (o), shall not exceed the greater of (i) $60,000,000
and (ii) 12.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of
the then most recently ended Test Period;
provided
further
that the aggregate
principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under this clause
(o) incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit
Parties, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties
outstanding under Section 6.1(g), shall not at any time exceed
$12,000,000;
(p)
unsecured
Indebtedness owed to current or former officers, directors,
employees or consultants of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary (or their respective estates, heirs, family members,
spouses and former spouses, domestic partners and former domestic
partners or beneficiaries under their respective estates) to
finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests in the
Borrower permitted by Section 6.4;
provided
that the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under this clause (p)
shall not exceed $6,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(q)
(i) Indebtedness of
the Credit Parties under the New Subordinated Note and Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect thereof,
provided
that (A) the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness under this clause (q)(i) shall not
exceed $10,000,000 and (B) the stated final maturity of such
Indebtedness shall not be earlier than 91 days after the latest
Maturity Date, and such Indebtedness shall not require any
mandatory or scheduled prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or
other repayments of principal thereof prior to such stated final
maturity, and (ii) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties under the
Existing Subordinated Notes and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
thereof,
provided
that (A) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under this
clause (q)(ii) shall not exceed (x) $3,276,175.38
plus
(y) all interest on
such Indebtedness paid-in-kind by the addition thereof to the
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness after the Closing
Date and (B) such Indebtedness shall not require any mandatory or
scheduled prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or other repayments
of principal thereof (other than regularly scheduled amortization
payments required by the terms of the Existing Subordinated Notes
as in effect on the Closing Date) prior to the stated final
maturity thereof;
provided
further
, in the case of any
Indebtedness under this clause (q), (I) such Indebtedness shall not
be secured by any Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, and shall not be Guaranteed by any Person other than
the Credit Parties, (II) in the case of any such Refinancing
Indebtedness, the terms of such Indebtedness (excluding interest
rates (whether fixed or floating), interest margins, benchmark rate
floors, fees, original issue discounts and any “call
protection”) are, when taken as a whole, not more favorable
to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than (x)
those applicable to the New Subordinated Note or the Existing
Subordinated Notes, as applicable, as in effect on the Closing
Date, when taken as a whole, or (y) those applicable under this
Agreement when taken as a whole,
provided
that a certificate of
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the
Administrative Agent (with the Administrative Agent agreeing to
provide a copy thereof, together with any drafts referred to below,
to the Lenders promptly upon receipt) at least five Business Days
prior to the incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness, together
with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms of
such Refinancing Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation
relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good
faith that such terms satisfy the requirements of this clause (II)
shall be conclusive evidence that such terms satisfy such
requirement unless the Administrative Agent or the Requisite
Lenders notify the Borrower in writing within such five Business
Day period that it or they disagree with such determination
(including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it or
they disagree), and (III) such Indebtedness is subordinated in
right of payment to the Obligations and all Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness, Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness (in
each case, other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Borrower or
any Guarantor Subsidiary, as applicable, on terms no less favorable
to the Secured Parties than the subordination terms applicable to
the New Subordinated Note or the Existing Subordinated Notes, as
applicable, as of the Closing Date;
(r)
Indebtedness
consisting of the financing of insurance premiums or take or pay
obligations contained in supply arrangements that do not constitute
Guarantees, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of
business; and
(s)
to the extent
constituting Indebtedness, all premiums (if any), interest
(including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and
additional or contingent interest on obligations described in this
Section 6.1.
For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.1 (subject
to the final sentence of each of the definitions of
“Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness”,
“Permitted Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” and
“Permitted Junior Lien Secured Indebtedness”), (i) in
the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more
than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in this
Section 6.1, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify
such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and may include
the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the
above clauses, and the Borrower may later reclassify such item of
Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and include it in another of
such clauses in which it could have been included at the time it
was incurred (but not into any clause under which it could not have
been included at the time it was incurred);
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Subordinated Notes and any Refinancing
Indebtedness in respect thereof may only be incurred in reliance on
Section 6.1(q) and may not be reclassified and (ii) for purposes of
assessing whether any Dollar limit set forth in any clause of this
Section 6.1 has been observed in connection with incurrence of any
Indebtedness, any other Indebtedness contemporaneously incurred
pursuant to and in accordance with the other available clauses of
this Section 6.1 that do not require such other Indebtedness to
observe such Dollar limit shall be disregarded, even if such other
Indebtedness is of the same tranche or series as such Indebtedness
being incurred under such Dollar limit.
6.2.
Liens
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will, directly
or indirectly, incur or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect
to any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired or licensed, or assign or sell any
income, profits or revenues (including accounts receivable and
royalties) or rights in respect of any thereof,
except:
(a)
Liens created under
the Credit Documents;
(b)
Permitted
Encumbrances;
(c)
any Lien on any
asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the
date hereof and set forth on
Schedule 6.2
,
and any extensions, renewals and replacements thereof;
provided
that (i) such
Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, other than to proceeds and products of, and
after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into, the
assets covered by such Lien, and (ii) such Lien shall secure
only those obligations that it secures on the date hereof and any
extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase
the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by an amount not
greater than accrued and unpaid interest on such obligations and
any reasonable fees, premiums and expenses relating to such
extension, renewal or refinancing) and, in the case of any such
obligations constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under
Section 6.1(d) as Refinancing Indebtedness in respect
thereof;
(d)
Liens on fixed or
capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Liens secure only Indebtedness outstanding under
Section 6.1(f) and obligations relating thereto not
constituting Indebtedness and (ii) such Liens shall not apply
to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
other than to proceeds and products of, and after-acquired property
that is affixed or incorporated into, the assets covered by such
Liens;
provided
further
that
individual financings of equipment or other fixed or capital assets
otherwise permitted to be secured hereunder provided by any Person
(or its Affiliates) may be cross-collateralized to other such
financings provided by such Person (or its
Affiliates);
(e)
any Lien existing
on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes
(other than as a result of a redesignation of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not
previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into
a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after
the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated), and any extensions,
renewals and replacements thereof;
provided
that (i) such
Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such
acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or
such merger or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply
to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
(other than, in the case of any such merger or consolidation, the
assets of any special purpose merger Restricted Subsidiary that is
a party thereto), other than to proceeds and products of, and
after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into, the
assets covered by such Lien or becomes subject to such Lien
pursuant to an after-acquired property clause as in effect on the
date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated), and
(iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it
secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated),
and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not
increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by an
amount not greater than accrued and unpaid interest, fees and
premiums (if any) with respect to such original obligations and
reasonable fees and expenses arising from such extension, renewal
or refinancing) and, in the case of any such obligations
constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under
Section 6.1;
(f)
Liens on the
Collateral securing (i) Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness,
(ii) “Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations” (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
or any comparable term in any other Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness Documents, (iii) “Specified Hedge
Obligations” (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
or any comparable term in any other Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness Documents and (iv) obligations relating to any of the
foregoing not constituting Indebtedness;
(g)
Liens on the
Collateral securing Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness
and obligations relating thereto not constituting
Indebtedness;
(h)
Liens on the
Collateral securing Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and obligations relating thereto not constituting
Indebtedness;
(i)
in connection with
any Disposition permitted under Section 6.8, customary rights
and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such
Disposition pending the completion thereof;
(j)
in the case of (i)
any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or
(ii) the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted
Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), any
encumbrance, restriction or other Lien, including any put and call
arrangements, related to the Equity Interests in such Restricted
Subsidiary or such other Person set forth (A) in its Organizational
Documents or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or
similar agreement, in each case so long as such encumbrance or
restriction is applicable to all holders of the same class of
Equity Interests or is otherwise of the type that is customary for
agreements of such type or (B) in the case of clause (ii) above, in
any agreement or document governing Indebtedness of such
Person;
(k)
any Lien on assets
of any CFC or CFC Holding Company that is not a Designated
Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) such
Lien shall not apply to any Collateral (including any Equity
Interests in any Subsidiary that constitute Collateral) or any
other assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is
not a CFC or CFC Holding Company and (ii) such Lien shall
secure only Indebtedness or other obligations of such CFC or CFC
Holding Company permitted hereunder;
(l)
Liens solely on any
cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar
arrangements made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for any
Acquisition or Investment permitted hereunder;
(m)
nonexclusive
outbound licenses of Intellectual Property and leases or sub-leases
of equipment or real property, in each case granted by the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business
that do not materially detract from the value of the affected asset
or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(n)
any Lien in favor
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Liens on
assets of any Credit Party in favor of a Restricted Subsidiary that
is not a Credit Party);
(o)
Liens on fixed or
capital assets subject to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction permitted
under Section 6.9;
provided
that (i) such Liens
secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(n) and
obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness and (ii)
such Liens shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary, other than to proceeds and products of,
and after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into,
the assets covered by such Liens;
(p)
(i) deposits made
in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations to
insurance carriers providing casualty, liability or other insurance
to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens
on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the
financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(q)
Cash deposits not
to exceed $6,000,000 at any time securing letters of credit, bank
guarantees and similar instruments issued in currencies other than
Dollars; and
(r)
other Liens
securing Indebtedness or other obligations;
provided
that the aggregate
outstanding amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured by
Liens permitted by this clause (r) shall not exceed
$30,000,000.
6.3.
No
Further Negative Pledges
. Neither the Borrower nor any
Restricted Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into,
incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or
permit to exist any Lien upon any of its assets, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, to secure any Obligations;
provided
that the foregoing
shall not apply to (a) restrictions and conditions imposed by
law or by any Credit Document, (b) restrictions and conditions
existing on the date hereof identified on
Schedule
6.3
, and amendments, modifications, extensions and renewals
thereof (including any such extension or renewal arising as a
result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of any Indebtedness
containing such restriction or condition),
provided
, in each case, that
the scope of any such restriction or condition shall not have been
expanded as a result thereof, (c) in the case of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or the Equity
Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), restrictions and
conditions imposed by the Organizational Documents of such
Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint
venture, shareholders’ or similar agreement,
provided
, in each case, that
such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted
Subsidiary and to any Equity Interests in such Restricted
Subsidiary or to the Equity Interests in such other Person
(including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), as applicable,
(d) restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement or
document governing secured Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(f)
or 6.1(n) or governing Liens permitted by Section 6.2(d), 6.2(l),
6.2(o), 6.2(p)(i) or 6.2(q) or by clause (c), (d) or (m) of the
definition of “Permitted Encumbrances”,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness
or subject to such Liens, (e) restrictions and conditions
imposed by agreements relating to Indebtedness assumed in reliance
on Section 6.1(g)(i) or Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof
incurred in reliance on Section 6.1(g)(ii),
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to Persons that are permitted under such
Sections to be obligors in respect of such Indebtedness and are not
less favorable to the Lenders than the restrictions and conditions
imposed by such Indebtedness (or, in the case of any Refinancing
Indebtedness, by the applicable Original Indebtedness) at the time
such Indebtedness first became subject to Section 6.1, (f) in
connection with the sale of any Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or
any other assets, customary restrictions and conditions contained
in agreements relating to such sale pending the completion thereof,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or the
other assets to be sold and such sale is permitted under Section
6.8, (g) restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement or
document governing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that
is not, and is not required to become, a Credit Party hereunder,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted
Subsidiary, (h) restrictions and conditions imposed by customary
provisions in leases, licenses and other agreements restricting the
assignment thereof or, in the case of any lease or license,
permitting to exist any Lien on the assets leased or licensed
thereunder, (i) customary restrictions in respect of Intellectual
Property contained in licenses or sublicenses of, or other grants
of rights to use or exploit, such Intellectual Property,
(k) restrictions and conditions contained in any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document or any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Document, in each case, as in effect on the Closing
Date and amendments, modifications, extensions and renewals
thereof,
provided
,
in each case, that the scope of any such restriction or condition
shall not have been expanded as a result thereof, and (l)
restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement or
instrument evidencing or governing any Indebtedness permitted by
Section 6.1(e), 6.1(g) (other than in respect of existing
Indebtedness assumed in reliance thereon), 6.1(h), 6.1(i) or 6.1(o)
to the extent, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, such
restrictions and conditions are on customary market terms for
Indebtedness of such type and so long as the Borrower has
determined in good faith that such restrictions and conditions
would not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect
the ability of the Credit Parties to meet their obligations under
the Credit Documents. Nothing in this Section 6.3 shall be deemed
to modify the requirements set forth in the definition of the term
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” or the
obligations of the Credit Parties under Sections 5.10, 5.11 or
5.12 or under the Collateral Documents.
6.4.
Restricted
Junior Payments
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will declare or pay or make, or agree to declare or pay
or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Junior Payment, or
incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except
that:
(a)
each of the
Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary may declare and pay
dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in
additional Equity Interests in such Person to the extent not
otherwise prohibited hereunder;
(b)
any Restricted
Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other
distributions with respect to its capital stock, partnership or
membership interests or other similar Equity Interests, and declare
and make other Restricted Junior Payments in respect of its Equity
Interests, in each case ratably to the holders of such Equity
Interests (or, if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries);
(c)
the Borrower may
make payments in respect of, or repurchases of its Equity Interests
deemed to occur upon the “cashless exercise” of, stock
options, stock purchase rights, stock exchange rights or other
equity-based awards if such payment or repurchase represents a
portion of the exercise price of such options, rights or awards or
withholding taxes, payroll taxes or other similar taxes due upon
such exercise;
(d)
the Borrower may
make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares
representing Equity Interests in the Borrower in connection with
the exercise of warrants, options or other Securities convertible
into or exchangeable for common stock in the Borrower;
(e)
the Borrower may
make Restricted Junior Payments in respect of its Equity Interests
pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other
benefit plans or agreements for, or otherwise make Restricted
Junior Payments to redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire
any of its Equity Interests held by, future, present or former
directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that (i) the aggregate
amount of the Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance on this
clause (e) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed the sum of
(A) $2,400,000
plus
(B) an amount equal to any
unutilized portion of such amount in clause (A) in any
preceding Fiscal Year ended after the Closing Date and (ii)
Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance on this clause (e)
during any Fiscal Year shall be deemed to use, first, the amount
set forth in clause (A) above for such Fiscal Year and, second, any
portion of the amount set forth in clause (A) above for any
preceding Fiscal Year that has been carried over to such Fiscal
Year pursuant to clause (B) above;
(f)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Junior
Payments;
provided
that, immediately prior to the making thereof, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, including to any related
incurrence of Indebtedness, (i) no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio,
determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test
Period, shall not exceed 1.40:1.00 and (iii) the Borrower shall be
in compliance with Section 6.7(a);
(g)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make (i) regularly scheduled
interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any
Junior Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of Subordinated
Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof,
and (ii) prepayments in respect of any Junior Indebtedness to the
extent required by Section 2.14(c);
(h)
the Borrower and
the other Credit Parties may refinance any Junior Indebtedness with
the proceeds of other Indebtedness to the extent permitted under
Section 6.1;
(i)
so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may make other
Restricted Junior Payments;
provided
that the aggregate
amount of Restricted Junior Payments made in reliance on this
clause (i) since the Closing Date shall not exceed
$1,200,000;
(j)
the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Junior
Payments;
provided
that (i) immediately prior to the making thereof, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, including to any related
incurrence of Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio
shall not be greater than the lesser of (x) 1.65:1.00 and
(y) the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the
financial covenant set forth in Section 6.7(a), in each case,
determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended Test
Period, (ii) the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment
shall not exceed the Available Basket Amount at the time such
Restricted Junior Payment is made and (iii) the Borrower shall have
delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that all the
requirements set forth in this clause (j) have been satisfied with
respect to such Restricted Junior Payment and including reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating satisfaction of the
requirements set forth in clauses (i)(B) and (ii)
above;
(k)
any Restricted
Junior Payment arising solely on account of any Permitted Holder
using its Equity Interests in the Borrower to satisfy such
Permitted Holders’ payment obligations under the Acquired
Company Indemnity Letter Agreement;
(l)
any Restricted
Junior Payment required to be made to consummate the Iqmax
Disposition; and
(m)
the Borrower may
redeem the Closing Date Preferred Stock solely with the Net
Proceeds received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower
substantially concurrently with the making of such redemption from
any issuance and sale of Equity Interests in the Borrower (other
than any Disqualified Equity Interests and other than any Equity
Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of the Borrower);
provided
that,
immediately prior to the making of such redemption, and immediately
after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto, no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.
6.5.
Restrictions
on Subsidiary Distributions
. Neither the Borrower nor any
Restricted Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into,
incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of
any Restricted Subsidiary (a) to pay dividends or make other
distributions on its Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, (b) to repay or prepay any Indebtedness
owing by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, (c) to make loans or advances to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee the
Obligations or (d) to transfer, lease or license any of its assets
to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that the foregoing
shall not apply to (i) restrictions and conditions imposed by
law or by any Credit Document, (ii) restrictions and
conditions existing on the date hereof identified on
Schedule
6.5
, and amendments, modifications, extensions or renewals
thereof (including any such extension or renewal arising as a
result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of any Indebtedness
containing such restriction or condition),
provided
, in each case, that
the scope of any such restriction or condition shall not have been
expanded as a result thereof, (iii) in the case of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
or, in the case of restrictions and conditions referred to in
clause (d) above, the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary),
restrictions and conditions imposed by agreements and documents
governing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary or such Person
or its Organizational Documents or any related joint venture,
shareholders’ or similar agreement,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary or, in the
case of restrictions and conditions referred to in clause (d)
above, to any Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary or
such other Person (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary), as
applicable, (iv) in the case of restrictions and conditions
referred to clause in (d) above, restrictions and conditions
imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted
by Section 6.1(f) or 6.1(n) or governing Liens permitted by Section
6.2(d), 6.2(l), 6.2(o), 6.2(p)(i) or 6.2(q) or by clause (c), (d)
or (m) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances”,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the assets securing such
Indebtedness or subject to such Liens, (v) restrictions and
conditions imposed by any agreement or document relating to
Indebtedness assumed in reliance on Section 6.1(g)(i) or
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred in reliance on
Section 6.1(g)(ii),
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to Persons that are permitted under such
Section to be obligors in respect of such Indebtedness and are not
less favorable to the Lenders than the restrictions and conditions
imposed by such Indebtedness (or, in the case of any Refinancing
Indebtedness, by the applicable Original Indebtedness) at the time
such Indebtedness first became subject to Section 6.1, (vi) in
connection with the sale of any Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or
any other assets, customary restrictions and conditions contained
in agreements relating to such sale pending the completion thereof,
provided
that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or the
other assets to be sold and such sale is permitted under Section
6.8, (vii) in the case of restrictions or conditions referred to in
clauses (c) and (d) above, restrictions and conditions imposed by
any agreement or document governing Indebtedness of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not, and is not required to become, a Credit
Party hereunder,
provided
that such restrictions
and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary, (viii) in
the case of restrictions and conditions referred to in clause (d)
above, restrictions and conditions imposed by customary provisions
in leases, licenses and other agreements restricting the assignment
thereof or, in the case of any lease or license, permitting to
exist any Lien on the assets leased or licensed thereunder,
(ix) restrictions on cash or deposits or net worth imposed by
customers, suppliers or landlords under agreements entered into in
the ordinary course of business, (x) in the case of restrictions
and conditions referred to in clause (d) above, customary
restrictions in respect of Intellectual Property contained in
licenses or sublicenses of, or other grants of rights to use or
exploit, such Intellectual Property, (xi) restrictions and
conditions contained in any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness
Document or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Document, in
each case, as in effect on the Closing Date and amendments,
modifications, extensions and renewals thereof,
provided
, in each case, that
the scope of any such restriction or condition shall not have been
expanded as a result thereof, (xii) restrictions and
conditions contained in any agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing any Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(e), 6.1(g)
(other than in respect of existing Indebtedness assumed in reliance
thereon), 6.1(h), 6.1(i) or 6.1(o) so long as the Borrower has
determined in good faith that such restrictions and conditions
would not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect
the ability of the Credit Parties to meet their obligations under
the Credit Documents, and (xiii) in the case of restrictions and
conditions referred to in clause (d) above, restrictions and
conditions imposed by the Vector Facility Arrangements on the
assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights under the
Vector Subordinated Note. Nothing in this Section 6.5 shall be
deemed to modify the requirements set forth in the definition of
the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” or the
obligations of the Credit Parties under Sections 5.10, 5.11 or
5.12 or under the Collateral Documents.
6.6.
Investments
.
Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will purchase or
acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any
Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower prior thereto), hold, make or otherwise permit to exist
any Investment in any other Person, or make any Acquisition,
except:
(a)
Investments in Cash
and Cash Equivalents;
(b)
Investments
existing on the date hereof that are set forth on
Schedule 6.6
(but not any additions thereto (including any capital
contributions) made after the date hereof);
(c)
Investments by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in
their Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided
that (i) such
investees are Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such Investments (or
such Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary are held as the
result of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) any such Equity Interests held by a
Credit Party shall be pledged in accordance with the requirements
of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee
Requirement” and (iii) the aggregate amount of such
Investments by the Credit Parties in, and loans and advances under
clause (d) below by the Credit Parties to, and Guarantees under
clause (e) by the Credit Parties of Indebtedness and other
obligations of, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties
(excluding all such Investments, loans, advances and Guarantees
existing on the date hereof and permitted by clause (b) above)
shall not exceed $24,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(d)
loans or advances
made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary;
provided
that (i) the
Indebtedness resulting therefrom is permitted by
Section 6.1(b) and (ii) the amount of such loans and
advances made by the Credit Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that
are not Credit Parties shall be subject to the limitation set forth
in clause (c) above;
(e)
Guarantees by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including
any such Guarantees arising as a result of any such Person being a
joint and several co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit
or letter of guaranty);
provided
that (i) a Restricted
Subsidiary shall not Guarantee any Junior Indebtedness unless (A)
such Restricted Subsidiary has Guaranteed the Obligations pursuant
hereto and (B) in the case of Junior Indebtedness that is
Subordinated Indebtedness such Guarantee is subordinated to such
Guarantee of the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the
Lenders than the subordination provisions of such Subordinated
Indebtedness, (ii) a Subsidiary that has not Guaranteed the
Obligations pursuant hereto shall not Guarantee any Indebtedness of
any Credit Party and (iii) the aggregate amount of
Indebtedness and other obligations of Subsidiaries that are not
Credit Parties that is Guaranteed by any Credit Party shall be
subject to the limitation set forth in clause (c)
above;
(f)
(i) Investments
received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of obligations
thereof from financially troubled account debtors and
(ii) deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers made
in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past
practices of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(g)
Investments made as
a result of the receipt of noncash consideration from any
Disposition of any asset in compliance with
Section 6.8;
(h)
Investments by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that result solely from the
receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any of
its Subsidiaries of a dividend or other Restricted Junior Payment
in the form of Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other
Securities (but not any additions thereto made after the date of
the receipt thereof);
(i)
Investments in the
form of Hedge Agreements permitted under Section 6.12;
(j)
payroll, travel and
similar advances to directors, officers, employees and consultants
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances to be treated as expenses
of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary for accounting
purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of
business;
(k)
loans or advances
to directors, officers, employees and consultants (or their
respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses and former
spouses, domestic partners and former domestic partners or
beneficiaries under their respective estates) of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Person’s
purchase of Equity Interests in the Borrower;
provided
that the aggregate
amount of Investments permitted by this clause (k) (other than any
such loan or advance where no Cash or Cash Equivalent is actually
advanced by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) shall not
exceed $6,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(l)
Permitted
Acquisitions;
provided
that the Acquisition
Consideration with respect to any such Acquisition of Subsidiaries
that do not become Guarantor Subsidiaries, or any Acquisitions by
Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, shall not cause the aggregate
amount of all Acquisition Consideration paid in connection with all
such Permitted Acquisitions made in each case in reliance on this
clause (l) to exceed $6,000,000;
(m)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment (other than Investments between or
among the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries);
provided
that, immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not be
greater than the lesser of (A) 2.15:1.00 and (B) the maximum Total
Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set forth
in Section 6.7(a), in each case, determined as of the last day of
the then most recently ended Test Period;
provided
further
that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option of the
Borrower, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above
may be tested in accordance with Section 1.5;
(n)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment;
provided
that (i) immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and (B) the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not be
greater than the lesser of (x) 2.15:1.00 and (y) the maximum
Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under the financial covenant set
forth in Section 6.7(a), in each case, determined as of the
last day of the then most recently ended Test Period, (ii) the
Acquisition Consideration with respect to any such Acquisition or
the amount of any such other Investment, in each case made in
reliance on this clause (n), shall not exceed the Available Basket
Amount at the time of the consummation thereof and (iii) the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying
that all the requirements set forth in this clause (n) have been
satisfied with respect to such Investment or Acquisition and
including reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating
satisfaction of the requirements set forth in clauses (i) and (ii)
above;
provided
further
that, in
the case of any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option
of the Borrower, the condition set forth in clause (i) above may be
tested in accordance with Section 1.5;
(o)
Investments not
constituting Acquisitions;
provided
that the amount of any
such Investment made in any Fiscal Year and outstanding in reliance
on this clause (o) shall not cause the aggregate amount of all
Investments made in such Fiscal Year and outstanding in reliance on
this clause (o) to exceed for such Fiscal Year the sum of
(i) $1,200,000
plus
(ii) an amount equal to
any unutilized portion of such amount in clause (i) in respect of
any preceding Fiscal Year ended after the Closing Date;
provided
further
that (A)
the aggregate amount of Investments permitted by this clause (o)
shall not exceed $6,000,000 at any time outstanding and (B)
Investments made in reliance on this clause (o) during any Fiscal
Year shall be deemed to use, first, the amount set forth in clause
(i) above for such Fiscal Year and, second, any portion of the
amount set forth in clause (i) above for any preceding Fiscal Year
that has been carried over to such Fiscal Year pursuant to clause
(ii) above;
(p)
Investments (i) by
the Borrower or any other Credit Party in any Restricted Subsidiary
that is not a Credit Party to the extent made with Cash or Cash
Equivalents necessary to fund an Acquisition permitted hereunder or
(ii) consisting of the transfer or contribution to any CFC or
CFC Holding Company of Equity Interests in any other CFC or CFC
Holding Company or exchange of Indebtedness owing by any CFC or CFC
Holding Company for Indebtedness, in a like amount, owing by
another CFC or CFC Holding Company;
(q)
Investments in the
ordinary course of business consisting of (i) endorsements for
collection or deposit and (ii) customary trade arrangements
with customers;
(r)
Guarantees of
obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect
of leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) entered into in
the ordinary course of business;
(s)
Investments held by
a Person that becomes (other than as a result of a redesignation of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any
Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated
with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a
transaction permitted hereunder) after the Closing Date,
provided
that such
Investments exist at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) and are not made in
contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a
Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or
consolidation);
(t)
Investments held by
any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted
Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to
the definition of the term “Unrestricted Subsidiary”,
provided
that such
Investments have not been made in contemplation of or in connection
with such redesignation;
(u)
the
Merger;
(v)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment to the extent consideration
therefor is made with Equity Interests, or with the Net Proceeds
received (and not otherwise applied) by the Borrower within 120
consecutive days prior to the date of consummation of such
Acquisition or Investment from any issuance and sale of Equity
Interests, in each case, in the Borrower (other than any
Disqualified Equity Interests, unless the issuance of such
Disqualified Equity Interests is otherwise permitted hereunder, and
other than any Equity Interests issued or sold to any Subsidiary of
the Borrower);
(w)
any other
Acquisition or other Investment consummated on or prior to
December 31, 2018;
provided
that (i) immediately
prior to the consummation thereof, and immediately after giving Pro
Forma Effect thereto, including to any related incurrence of
Indebtedness, (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and (B) the Total Leverage Ratio shall not be greater
than 3.65:1.00, determined as of the last day of the then most
recently ended Test Period, (ii) the Acquisition Consideration with
respect to any such Acquisition or the amount of any such other
Investment shall not cause the aggregate amount of all Acquisition
Consideration paid in connection with all Acquisitions made,
together with the aggregate amount of all Investments outstanding,
in each case in reliance on this clause (w), to exceed $90,000,000,
(iii) no Acquisition of, or Investment in, Subsidiaries that
do not become Guarantor Subsidiaries, and no acquisition of assets
by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor Subsidiary,
may be made in reliance on this clause (w), (iv) all actions
required to be taken with respect to any Person or assets acquired
pursuant to such Acquisition or other Investment, as the case may
be, in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in clauses (a),
(b), (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Collateral
and Guarantee Requirement” (subject to the discretion of the
Collateral Agent set forth in such definition) shall have been
taken (or arrangements for the taking of such actions satisfactory
to the Collateral Agent shall have been made) (it being understood
that all other requirements set forth in such definition that are
applicable to such Acquisition or Investment shall be required to
be satisfied in accordance with (and within the time periods
provided in) Sections 5.10 and 5.11) and (v) the Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that all the
requirements set forth in this clause (w) have been satisfied with
respect to such Acquisition or Investment and including reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating satisfaction of the
requirements set forth in clause (i) above;
provided
further
that, in the case of
any Limited Conditionality Transaction, at the option of the
Borrower, the condition set forth in clause (i) above may be tested
in accordance with Section 1.5; and
(x)
Investments made by
the Borrower on the Closing Date in the Vector Subordinated
Note.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 6.6, neither the Borrower
nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall make any Investment that
results in or facilitates in any manner any Restricted Junior
Payment not permitted under Section 6.4.
6.7.
Financial
Covenants
. (a) Total Net Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will
not permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as of the last day of any
Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30,
2018, to exceed the correlative ratio set forth below:
Fiscal Quarter Ending
|
Total Net Leverage Ratio
|
June
30, 2018 and September 30, 2018
|
5.75:1.00
|
December
31, 2018
|
5.175:1.00
|
March
31, 2019 through December 31, 2019
|
4.60:1.00
|
March
31, 2020 through December 31, 2020
|
4.025:1.00
|
March
31, 2021 and thereafter
|
3.45:1.00
|
(b)
Capital Expenditures.
The
Borrower will not permit Consolidated Capital Expenditures in any
Fiscal Year to exceed in the aggregate an amount equal to the
greater of (i) $63,250,000 (such amount for any Fiscal Year
being referred to as the “
Base CapEx Amount
” for such Fiscal
Year) and (ii) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall
have consummated any Material Acquisition (excluding the Merger)
after the Closing Date, the Material Acquisition CapEx Amount for
such Fiscal Year (determined as of the date of consummation of the
Material Acquisition most recently consummated after the Closing
Date and on or prior to the last day of such Fiscal Year);
provided
that (A)
commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2018, the
portion of the Base CapEx Amount for any Fiscal Year that has not
been expended to make Consolidated Capital Expenditures during such
Fiscal Year (but not in excess of 50% of the Base CapEx Amount for
such Fiscal Year) may be carried over for expenditure in the
immediately following Fiscal Year and (B) Consolidated Capital
Expenditures made during any Fiscal Year shall be deemed to use,
first, the Base CapEx Amount for such Fiscal Year and, second, any
portion of the Base CapEx Amount for the immediately preceding
Fiscal Year that has been carried over to such Fiscal Year pursuant
to clause (A) above.
For
purposes of the foregoing:
“
Material Acquisition CapEx Amount
”
means, as of any date of determination for any Fiscal Year, an
amount equal to 10% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent period of 12
consecutive months prior to the consummation of the Material
Acquisition (other than the Merger) most recently consummated for
which financial statements are available as of such date of
determination, determined on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to
such Material Acquisition (and each other Material Acquisition that
shall have been consummated during such period).
6.8.
Fundamental
Changes; Disposition of Assets; Equity Interests of
Subsidiaries.
(a) Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will merge or consolidate with or into any other Person,
or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution), and neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary shall Dispose (whether in one transaction or in a series
of transactions) of assets that represent all or substantially all
of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, except that:
(i)
any Person may
merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is
the surviving Person;
(ii)
any
Person (other than the Borrower) may merge or consolidate with or
into any Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the
surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary (and if any party to
such merger or consolidation is a Guarantor Subsidiary, the
surviving Person is a Guarantor Subsidiary);
(iii)
any
Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into any
Person (other than the Borrower) in a transaction permitted under
Section 6.8(b) in which, after giving effect to such
transaction, the surviving Person is not a Subsidiary, except to
the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment in a
Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party permitted by
Section 6.6;
(iv)
any
Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower
determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in
the best interests of the Borrower and is not disadvantageous to
the Lenders in any material respect;
(v)
the Borrower or any
other Credit Party may Dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets to the Borrower or to another Credit Party; and
(vi)
the
Merger may be consummated;
provided
that, in the case of
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, any such merger or consolidation
shall not be permitted unless it, and each Investment resulting
therefrom, is also permitted under Section 6.6.
(b)
Neither the
Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary will Dispose of, or
exclusively license, any asset, including any Equity Interest,
owned by it, except:
(i)
Dispositions of (A)
inventory and obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment in the
ordinary course of business, (B) leasehold improvements to
landlords pursuant to the terms of leases in respect of any
Leasehold Property and (C) Cash and Cash
Equivalents;
(ii)
Dispositions,
and exclusive licenses, to any Credit Party;
(iii)
Investments
made in compliance with Sections 6.6 and 6.10;
(iv)
Dispositions
of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise or
collection thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice and not as part of any accounts receivables
financing transaction;
(v)
Dispositions of
Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other Securities of, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary,
provided
that all Dispositions
made in reliance on this clause (v) shall be made for fair value
(as determined reasonably and in good faith by the
Borrower);
(vi)
leases
and licenses entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary as a licensor or lessor in the ordinary course of
business,
provided
that such leases or license do not adversely affect in any material
respect the value of the properties subject thereto (including the
value thereof as Collateral) or interfere in any material respect
with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary;
(vii)
Dispositions
of assets in any Insurance/Condemnation Event;
(viii)
to
the extent constituting Dispositions, Restricted Junior Payments
made in compliance with Section 6.4;
(ix)
other
Dispositions of assets that are not permitted by any other clause
of this Section 6.8(b);
provided
that (A) all
Dispositions made in reliance on this clause (ix) shall be made for
fair value and at least 75% Cash consideration, (B) the Net
Proceeds thereof shall be applied as required by Section 2.13
and (C) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing at the time such Disposition is made or would result
therefrom; and
(x)
the Iqmax
Disposition.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) neither the Borrower
nor any Restricted Subsidiary will sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary unless
(A) such Equity Interests constitute all the Equity Interests
in such Restricted Subsidiary held by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall otherwise be in compliance with Section 6.6
and (ii) no Restricted Subsidiary will issue any additional Equity
Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary other than (A) to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with
Section 6.4, (B) directors’ qualifying shares and
(C) other nominal amounts of Equity Interests that are
required to be held by other Persons under applicable
law.
(d)
The Borrower will
not permit any Person other than the Borrower, or one or more of
its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a CFC or CFC Holding
Company, to own any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary
that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Domestic Subsidiary
that itself is a CFC Holding Company).
6.9.
Sales
and Leasebacks
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction unless
(a) any Capital Lease Obligations arising in connection therewith
are permitted under Section 6.1(n) and (b) any Liens arising
in connection therewith (including Liens deemed to arise in
connection with any such Capital Lease Obligations) are permitted
under Section 6.2(o).
6.10.
Transactions
with Affiliates
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to
exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any
Affiliate of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary on terms
that are less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would prevail in an
arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties;
provided
that the
foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) transactions between
or among the Credit Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (b)
any Restricted Junior Payment permitted under Section 6.4, (c)
issuances by the Borrower of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Equity Interests) and receipt by the Borrower of
capital contributions, (d) compensation and indemnification
arrangements for directors, officers, employees and consultants of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into in the
ordinary course of business (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
grants of stock options, stock purchase rights, stock exchange
rights or other equity-based awards to directors, employees and
officers and any “key-man” insurance policy maintained
by a Credit Party), (e) loans and advances permitted under Section
6.6(j) or 6.6(k), (f) the Transactions and the payment of fees and
expenses in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,
(g) the Acquired Company Indemnity Letter Agreement and
(h) the transactions set forth on
Schedule 6.10
(without giving effect to any amendment, restatement, supplement or
other modification thereto after the Closing Date that could
reasonably be expected to be adverse in any material respect to the
Lenders).
6.11.
Conduct
of Business
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will engage in any business other than the businesses
engaged in by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the
Closing Date (for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to
the distribution of the Consumer/SMB Business as contemplated by
Section 3.1(m) and the consummation of the Fusion Global
Arrangement as contemplated by Section 3.1(n)),
provided
that the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to engage in any
business that is similar, complementary or related to, or a
reasonable extension of, the business engaged in by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date (giving effect
to the foregoing parenthetical).
6.12.
Hedge
Agreements
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will enter into any Hedge Agreement, except
(a) Hedge Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks
to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has actual
exposure (other than in respect of Equity Interests or Indebtedness
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) and (b) Hedge
Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or
exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one
floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect
to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary.
6.13.
Amendments
or Waivers of Organizational Documents and Certain
Agreements
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted
Subsidiary will agree to any amendment, restatement, supplement or
other modification to, or waiver of any of its rights under, (a)
its Organizational Document, (b) any certificate of designation or
other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing the Closing
Date Preferred Stock or (c) any agreement or instrument governing
or evidencing Junior Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent such
amendment, modification or waiver could reasonably be expected to
be adverse in any material respect to the Lenders, it being
understood that any Junior Indebtedness may be modified to permit
any extension or refinancing thereof to the extent otherwise
permitted by this Agreement.
6.14.
Fiscal
Year
. Neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary
will change its Fiscal Year to end on a date other than December
31.
SECTION
7.
GUARANTEE
7.1.
Guarantee
of the Obligations
. The Guarantors jointly and severally
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the due and
punctual payment in full of all Obligations when and as the same
shall become due. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantors
hereby jointly and severally agree that upon the failure of the
Borrower or any other Person to pay any of the Obligations when and
as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by
required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including
amounts that would become due but for the operation of the
automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or
any similar provision of, or stay imposed under, any other Debtor
Relief Law), the Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be
paid, in Cash, to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit
of Secured Parties, an amount equal to the sum of all Obligations
then due as aforesaid.
7.2.
Indemnity
by the Borrower; Contribution by the Guarantors
. (a) In
addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as any
Guarantor Subsidiary may have under applicable law (but subject to
Section 7.5), the Borrower agrees that (i) in the event a payment
shall be made by any Guarantor Subsidiary under its Obligations
Guarantee, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor Subsidiary
for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor Subsidiary
shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such
payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (ii)
in the event any Collateral provided by any Guarantor Subsidiary
shall be sold pursuant to any Collateral Document to satisfy in
whole or in part any Obligations, the Borrower shall indemnify such
Guarantor Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value of
the assets so sold.
(b)
The Guarantor
Subsidiaries desire to allocate among themselves, in a fair and
equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Section 7
and under the Collateral Documents. Accordingly, in the event any
payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor
Subsidiary under its Obligations Guarantee such that its Aggregate
Payments exceed its Fair Share as of such date (such Guarantor
Subsidiary being referred to as a “
Claiming Guarantor
”) and the
Borrower does not indemnify such Claiming Guarantor in accordance
with Section 7.2(a), such Claiming Guarantor shall be entitled to a
contribution from each other Guarantor Subsidiary in an amount
sufficient to cause each Guarantor Subsidiary’s Aggregate
Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date (and for all
purposes of this Section 7.2(b), any sale or other
dispositions of Collateral of a Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to an
exercise of remedies under any Collateral Document shall be deemed
to be a payment by such Guarantor Subsidiary under its Obligations
Guarantee in an amount equal to the fair market value of such
Collateral, less any amount of the proceeds of such sale or other
dispositions returned to such Guarantor Subsidiary).
“
Fair Share
”
means, with respect to any Guarantor Subsidiary as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to (i) the ratio of (A) the
Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Guarantor
Subsidiary to (B) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution
Amounts with respect to all Guarantor Subsidiaries
multiplied by
(ii) the
aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all
Claiming Guarantors under their Obligations Guarantees.
“
Fair Share Contribution
Amount
” means, with respect to any Guarantor
Subsidiary as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate
amount of the obligations of such Guarantor Subsidiary under its
Obligations Guarantee that would not render its obligations
thereunder subject to avoidance as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or conveyance or transfer at undervalue under Section 548
of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable applicable provisions of
state or foreign law;
provided
that solely for
purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution
Amount” with respect to any Guarantor Subsidiary for purposes
of this Section 7.2(b), any assets or liabilities of such
Guarantor Subsidiary arising by virtue of any rights to
subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or
obligations of contribution under this Section 7 shall not be
considered as assets or liabilities of such Guarantor Subsidiary.
“
Aggregate
Payments
” means, with respect to any Guarantor
Subsidiary as of any date of determination, an amount equal to
(A) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions
made on or before such date by such Guarantor Subsidiary in respect
of its Obligations Guarantee (including any payments and
distributions made under this Section 7.2(b)),
minus
(B) the aggregate
amount of all payments received on or before such date by such
Guarantor Subsidiary from the Borrower pursuant to
Section 7.2(a) or the other Guarantor Subsidiaries pursuant to
this Section 7.2(b). The amounts payable under this
Section 7.2(b) shall be determined as of the date on which the
related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Claiming
Guarantor. The allocation among Guarantor Subsidiaries of their
obligations as set forth in this Section 7.2(b) shall not be
construed in any way to limit the liability of any Guarantor
Subsidiary hereunder or under any Collateral Document.
7.3.
Liability
of Guarantors Absolute
. Each Guarantor agrees that its
obligations under this Section 7 are irrevocable, absolute,
independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance that constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a
guarantor or surety other than payment in full in Cash of the
Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting
the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as
follows:
(a)
its Obligations
Guarantee is a guarantee of payment when due and not of
collectability and is a primary obligation of such Guarantor and
not merely a contract of surety;
(b)
the Administrative
Agent may enforce its Obligations Guarantee upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default notwithstanding the existence of any dispute
between the Borrower and any Secured Party with respect to the
existence of such Event of Default;
(c)
the obligations of
each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of the
Borrower or of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor)
of the Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought
and prosecuted against such Guarantor whether or not any action is
brought against the Borrower, any such other Guarantor or any other
Person and whether or not the Borrower, any such other Guarantor or
any other Person is joined in any such action or
actions;
(d)
payment by any
Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Obligations shall in no
way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s
liability for any portion of the Obligations that has not been paid
(and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the
Administrative Agent is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to
enforce any Guarantor’s covenant to pay a portion of the
Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such
Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Obligations
that is not the subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not,
except to the extent satisfied by such Guarantor, limit, affect,
modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder
in respect of the Obligations);
(e)
any Secured Party
may, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or
demand and without affecting the validity or enforceability of the
Obligations Guarantees or giving rise to any reduction, limitation,
impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s
liability under this Section 7, at any time and from time to time
(i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest
on, or otherwise change the time, place, manner or terms of payment
of the Obligations, (ii) settle, compromise, release or discharge,
or accept or refuse any offer of performance with respect to, or
substitutions for, the Obligations or any agreement relating
thereto, and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment
of any other obligations, (iii) request and accept other
guarantees of the Obligations and take and hold security for the
payment of the Obligations, (iv) release, surrender, exchange,
substitute, compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate
or modify, with or without consideration, any security for payment
of the Obligations, any other guarantees of the Obligations or any
other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with
respect to the Obligations, (v) enforce and apply any security
now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of such Secured Party
in respect of the Obligations and direct the order or manner of
sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such
Secured Party may have against any such security, in each case as
such Secured Party in its discretion may determine consistent
herewith and any applicable security agreement, including
foreclosure on any such security or exercise of a power of sale
pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or
not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable, and
even though such action operates to impair or extinguish any right
of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any
Guarantor against any other Credit Party or any security for the
Obligations, and (vi) exercise any other rights available to
it under the Credit Documents; and
(f)
the Obligations
Guarantees and the obligations of the Guarantors thereunder shall
be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any reduction,
limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any reason,
including the occurrence of any of the following, whether or not
any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them (in
any case other than payment in full in Cash of the Obligations or
release of a Guarantor Subsidiary’s Obligations Guarantee in
accordance with Section 9.8(d)(ii)): (i) any failure or
omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to
assert or enforce, or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by
operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or enforcement of,
any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising
under the Credit Documents, at law, in equity or otherwise) with
respect to the Obligations or any agreement relating thereto, or
with respect to any other guarantee of or security for the payment
of the Obligations, (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or
modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms
or provisions (including provisions relating to events of default)
of any Credit Document or any agreement or instrument executed
pursuant thereto, or of any other guarantee or security for the
Obligations, in each case whether or not in accordance with the
terms hereof or such Credit Document or any agreement relating to
such other guarantee or security, (iii) the Obligations, or
any agreement relating thereto, at any time being found to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect, (iv) the
application of payments received from any source (other than
payments received pursuant to the other Credit Documents under
which any Obligations arose or from the proceeds of any security
for the Obligations, except to the extent such security also serves
as collateral for Indebtedness other than the Obligations) to the
payment of obligations other than the Obligations, even though any
Secured Party could have elected to apply such payment to all or
any part of the Obligations, (v) any Secured Party’s
consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the
corporate structure or existence of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
and to any corresponding restructuring of the Obligations,
(vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of a
security interest in any collateral that secures any of the
Obligations, (vii) any defenses, set-offs or counterclaims
that the Borrower or any other Person may allege or assert against
any Secured Party in respect of the Obligations, including failure
of consideration, breach of warranty, statute of frauds, statute of
limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury, and (viii) any
other act or thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or
thing, that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the
risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the
Obligations.
7.4.
Waivers
by the Guarantors
. Each Guarantor hereby waives, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties: (a) any right to require any
Secured Party, as a condition of payment or performance by such
Guarantor in respect of its obligations under this Section 7, (i)
to proceed against the Borrower, any other guarantor (including any
other Guarantor) of the Obligations or any other Person, (ii) to
proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Borrower, any
such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) to proceed
against or have resort to any balance of any deposit account or
credit on the books of any Secured Party in favor of any Credit
Party or any other Person, or (iv) to pursue any other remedy in
the power of any Secured Party whatsoever; (b) any defense arising
by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or
other defense of the Borrower or any other Guarantor, including any
defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the
unenforceability of the Obligations or any agreement or instrument
relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of
the Borrower or any other Guarantor from any cause other than
payment in full in Cash of the Obligations; (c) any defense based
upon any law that provides that the obligation of a surety must be
neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than
that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Secured
Party’s errors or omissions in the administration of the
Obligations; (e) (1) any principles or provisions of any law
that are or might be in conflict with the terms hereof or any legal
or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations
hereunder, (2) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting
such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement
hereof, (3) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims
and (4) promptness, diligence and any requirement that any
Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security
interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices,
demands, presentments, protests, notices of protest, notices of
dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including
acceptance hereof, notices of default under the Credit Documents or
any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any
renewal, extension or modification of the Obligations or any
agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to
the Borrower or any other Guarantor and notices of any of the
matters referred to in Section 7.3 and any right to consent to
any thereof; and (g) any defenses or benefits that may be derived
from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate
guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms
hereof.
7.5.
Guarantors’
Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, Etc.
Until the
Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in Cash and
the Commitments shall have terminated, each Guarantor hereby waives
any claim, right or remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor
now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower or any other
Guarantor or any of its assets in connection with its Obligations
Guarantee or the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations
thereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy arises
in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or
otherwise and including (a) any right of subrogation, reimbursement
or indemnity that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have
against the Borrower with respect to the Obligations, including any
such right of indemnity under Section 7.2(a), (b) any right to
enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that any
Secured Party now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower,
and (c) any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any
collateral or security now or hereafter held by or for the benefit
of any Secured Party. In addition, until the Obligations shall have
been indefeasibly paid in full in Cash and the Commitments shall
have terminated, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any
right of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other
guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Obligations,
including any such right of contribution under Section 7.2(b). Each
Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or
agreement to withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation,
reimbursement, indemnity and contribution as set forth herein is
found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable
for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or
indemnity such Guarantor may have against the Borrower or against
any collateral or security, and any rights of contribution such
Guarantor may have against any such other Guarantor, shall be
junior and subordinate to any rights any Secured Party may have
against the Borrower or any other Guarantor, to all right, title
and interest any Secured Party may have in any such collateral or
security, and to any right any Secured Party may have against such
other Guarantor. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on
account of any such subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity or
contribution rights at any time when all Obligations shall not have
been indefeasibly paid in full in Cash and all Commitments not
having terminated, such amount shall be held in trust for the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and
shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of Secured Parties, to be credited and applied against the
Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the
terms hereof.
7.6.
Continuing
Guarantee
. The Obligations Guarantee is a continuing
guarantee and shall remain in effect (except, in the case of a
Guarantor Subsidiary, if such Guarantor Subsidiary’s
Obligations Guarantee shall have been released in accordance with
Section 9.8(d)(ii)) until all of the Obligations (excluding
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made) shall
have been paid in full in Cash and the Commitments shall have
terminated. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any right to
revoke its Obligations Guarantee as to future transactions giving
rise to any Obligations.
7.7.
Authority
of the Guarantors or the Borrower
. It is not necessary for
any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of any
Guarantor or the Borrower or any Related Party acting or purporting
to act on behalf of any such Person.
7.8.
Financial
Condition of the Credit Parties
. Any Credit Extension may be
made or continued from time to time without notice to or
authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or
other condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at the time of
any such making or continuation. No Secured Party shall have any
obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its
assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of the financial
condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary. Each Guarantor has
adequate means to obtain information from the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries on a continuing basis concerning the financial
condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and their ability to
perform the Obligations, and each Guarantor assumes the
responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial
condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and of all
circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the
Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty
on the part of any Secured Party to disclose any matter, fact or
thing relating to the business, results of operations, assets,
liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter known by any Secured
Party.
7.9.
Bankruptcy,
Etc.
(a) The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall
not be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended
or terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary,
involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization,
liquidation, arrangement or similar proceeding of the Borrower or
any other Guarantor or by any defense that the Borrower or any
other Guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision
of any court or administrative body resulting from any such
proceeding.
(b)
Each Guarantor
acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the
Obligations that accrues after the commencement of any case or
proceeding referred to in Section 7.9(a) (or, if interest on any
portion of the Obligations ceases to accrue by operation of law by
reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such
interest as would have accrued on such portion of the Obligations
if such case or proceeding had not been commenced) shall be
included in the Obligations because it is the intention of the
Guarantors and the Secured Parties that the Obligations that are
guaranteed by the Guarantors pursuant to this Section 7 should be
determined without regard to any rule of law or order that may
relieve the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any portion of any
Obligations. The Guarantors will permit any trustee in bankruptcy,
receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of
creditors or similar Person to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the benefit of the Secured Parties, or allow the claim of any
Secured Party or of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, in respect of, any such interest accruing
after the date on which such case or proceeding is
commenced.
In the
event that all or any portion of the Obligations are paid by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, the obligations of the Guarantors under
this Section 7 shall continue and remain in full force and effect
or be reinstated, as the case may be (notwithstanding any prior
release of any Obligations Guarantee), in the event that all or any
part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or
indirectly from any Secured Party as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or conveyance or transfer at undervalue or otherwise, and
any such payments that are so rescinded or recovered shall
constitute Obligations for all purposes hereunder.
SECTION
8.
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
8.1.
Events
of Default
. If any one or more of the following conditions
or events shall occur:
(a)
Failure to Make Payments When
Due
. Failure by the Borrower (i) to pay, when due, any
principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration,
by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or
otherwise or (ii) to pay, within five Business Days after the date
due, any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due
hereunder;
(b)
Default in Other Agreements
.
(i) Failure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, to make any payment that
shall have become due and payable (whether of principal, interest
or otherwise) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, or (ii) any
condition or event shall occur that results in any Material
Indebtedness becoming due, or being required to be prepaid,
repurchased, redeemed or defeased, prior to its stated maturity or,
in the case of any Hedge Agreement, being terminated, or that
enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material
Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf, or, in
the case of any Hedge Agreement, the applicable counterparty, with
or without the giving of notice but only after the expiration of
any applicable grace period, to cause such Material Indebtedness to
become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or
defeasance thereof, prior to its stated maturity or, in the case of
any Hedge Agreement, to cause the termination thereof;
provided
that this
clause (b) shall not apply to (A) any secured
Indebtedness becoming due as a result of the voluntary sale or
transfer of the assets securing such Indebtedness; (B) any
Indebtedness becoming due as a result of a voluntary refinancing
thereof permitted under Section 6.1; or (C) any Indebtedness
becoming due as a result of a voluntary (or, to the extent
permitted by Section 2.14(c) or, in the case of Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness, Sections 2.13(a), 2.13(b) and 2.13(e),
mandatory) prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof
permitted hereunder;
provided
further
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, any such failure, condition or event referred to in
clause (i) or (ii) above, in each case, arising under any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Documents in respect of any Permitted
Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness (other than a payment event of
default occurring at the final maturity thereof) shall not
constitute a Default or Event of Default under this clause (b)
unless and until the lenders or other holders of the applicable
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness shall have declared such
Indebtedness or any portion thereof to be immediately due and
payable or commenced the exercise of any remedies thereunder, in
each case, in accordance with the applicable Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness Documents, as a result of such failure,
condition or event;
(c)
Breach of Certain Covenants
.
Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply with any term or
condition contained in Section 2.5, 5.1(e)(i), 5.2 (with respect to
the Borrower only), 5.14 or 6;
(d)
Breach of Representations, Etc
.
Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made
or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in any Credit
Document or in any report, certificate or statement at any time
provided in writing by or on behalf of any Credit Party pursuant to
or in connection with any Credit Document or the Transactions shall
be incorrect in any material respect as of the date made or deemed
made (or if any representation or warranty is expressly stated to
have been made as of a specific date incorrect in any material
respect as of such specific date);
(e)
Other Defaults under Credit
Documents
. Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply
with any term or condition contained herein or in any other Credit
Document, other than any such term or condition referred to in any
other clause of this Section 8.1, and, except as may be
expressly set forth in any such other Credit Document, such failure
shall not have been remedied within 30 days after receipt by the
Borrower of notice from the Administrative Agent or the Requisite
Lenders of such failure;
(f)
Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of
Receiver, Etc
. (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall
enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary in an
involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, which decree or
order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted
under any applicable federal, state or foreign law; or (ii) an
involuntary case shall be commenced against the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary under any
Debtor Relief Laws; or a decree or order of a court having
jurisdiction in the premises for the involuntary appointment of an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered;
or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of
attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued
against all or a substantial part of the property of the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, and any
such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for 60 days
without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged;
(g)
Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of
Receiver, Etc
. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
that is a Material Subsidiary shall have an order for relief
entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under
any Debtor Relief Laws, or shall consent to the entry of an order
for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an
involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any Debtor Relief Laws,
or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by an
interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee,
custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary, or over
all or a substantial part of its property (other than any
liquidation permitted by Section 6.8(a)(iv)); or the Borrower
or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material
Subsidiary shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit
in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become
due; or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary
(or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise
authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to in
this Section 8.1(g) or in Section 8.1(f);
(h)
Judgments and Attachments
. One
or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount
of $12,000,000 or more (other than any such judgment covered by
insurance (other than under a self-insurance program) provided by a
financially sound insurer to the extent a claim therefor has been
made in writing and liability therefor has not been denied in
writing by the insurer), shall be rendered against the Borrower,
any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same
shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days
during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any
action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or
levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
to enforce any such judgment;
(i)
Employee Benefit Plans
. The
occurrence of one or more ERISA Events or Foreign Plan Events that
have had, or could reasonably be expected to result in liability
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(j)
Change of Control
. A Change of
Control shall occur;
(k)
Obligations Guarantees, Collateral
Documents and other Credit Documents
. Any Obligations
Guarantee (other than any Obligations Guarantee by any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary) purported to be
created under the Credit Documents for any reason shall cease to
be, or shall be asserted by any Credit Party not to be, in full
force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms), or
shall be declared to be null and void; any Lien purported to be
created under any Collateral Document shall cease to be, or shall
be asserted by any Credit Party not to be, a valid and perfected
Lien on any material Collateral, with the priority required by the
applicable Collateral Document, except as a result of (i) a
Disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted
under the Credit Documents, (ii) the release thereof as
provided in Section 9.8(d) or (iii) the Collateral Agent’s
failure to maintain possession of any stock certificate, promissory
note or other instrument delivered to it under the Collateral
Documents; or this Agreement or any Collateral Document shall cease
to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its
terms), or shall be declared null and void, or any Credit Party
shall contest the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document
or deny that it has any further liability, including with respect
to future advances by Lenders, under any Credit Document to which
it is a party (other than in accordance with its
terms);
(l)
Intercreditor Agreement
. (i)
Any Credit Party shall knowingly contest, or knowingly support
another Person in any action that seeks to contest, the validity or
effectiveness of the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or
thereof) or (ii) the Intercreditor Agreement, or any other
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement entered into after the date
hereof, shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be
effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable
against any party thereto (other than pursuant to the terms hereof
or thereof); or
(m)
Certain Subordination
Agreements
. (i) Any Credit Party or any holder of Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness shall knowingly contest, or knowingly
support another Person in any action that seeks to contest, the
validity or effectiveness of the subordination of any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness to the Obligations on the terms required
under this Agreement or (ii) any agreement (including any
subordination provisions set forth in the Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness Documents) providing for subordination of any
Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness to the Obligations shall, in
whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be
legally valid, binding and enforceable against any Credit Party or
any holder of such Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness;
THEN
, (i) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), automatically, and (ii) upon
(A) the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of
Default and (B) notice to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent
provided at the request of (or with the consent of) the Requisite
Lenders, (1) the Commitments shall immediately terminate, (2) the
unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loans and
all other Obligations shall immediately become due and payable, in
each case without presentment, demand, protest or other requirement
of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each
Credit Party, and (3) the Administrative Agent may cause the
Collateral Agent to enforce any and all Liens created pursuant to
the Collateral Documents.
SECTION
9.
AGENTS
9.1.
Appointment
of Agents
. Wilmington Trust is hereby appointed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents, and each Lender hereby authorizes
Wilmington Trust to act as the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and of the
other Credit Documents. Each such Agent hereby agrees to act in its
capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and
in the other Credit Documents, as applicable. Other than Sections
9.7 and 9.8(d), the provisions of this Section 9 are solely for the
benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, and no Credit Party shall
have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such
provisions. In performing its functions and duties hereunder, no
Agent assumes, and shall not be deemed to have assumed, any
obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for
the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
9.2.
Powers
and Duties
. Each Lender irrevocably authorizes each Agent to
take such actions and to exercise such powers, rights and remedies
hereunder and under the other Credit Documents as are specifically
delegated or granted to such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof,
together with such actions, powers, rights and remedies as are
reasonably incidental thereto. Each Agent shall have only those
duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified herein and
in the other Credit Documents. No Agent shall have, by reason
hereof or of any of the other Credit Documents, a fiduciary
relationship in respect of any Lender or any other Person
(regardless of whether or not a Default or an Event of Default has
occurred), it being understood and agreed that the use of the term
“agent” (or any other similar term) herein or in any
other Credit Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended
to connote any fiduciary or other implied obligations arising under
any agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is
used as a matter of market custom; and nothing herein or in any of
the other Credit Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or
shall be so construed as to impose upon any Agent any obligations
in respect hereof or of any of the other Credit Documents except as
expressly set forth herein or therein. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, no Agent shall, except as expressly
set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, have any duty
to disclose, or 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 the Person serving as such Agent
or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
9.3.
General
Immunity
.
(a)
No Responsibility for Certain
Matters
. No Agent shall be responsible to any Lender for (i)
the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity,
enforceability, collectability or sufficiency hereof or of any
other Credit Document; (ii) the creation, perfection, maintenance,
preservation, continuation or priority of any Lien or security
interest created, purported to be created or required under any
Credit Document; (iii) the value or the sufficiency of any
Collateral; (iv) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in
Section 3 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of
items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent; (v) the
failure of any Credit Party, Lender or other Agent to perform its
obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or (vi)
any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made herein
or therein or in any written or oral statements or in any financial
or other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any
other documents furnished or made by any Agent to the Lenders or by
or on behalf of any Credit Party to any Agent or any Lender in
connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions
contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or affairs of
any Credit Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any
Obligations, nor shall any Agent be required to ascertain or
inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of
the Credit Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans
or as to the existence or possible existence of any Default or
Event of Default (nor shall any Agent be deemed to have knowledge
of the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is
a “notice of default”) is given to such Agent by the
Borrower or any Lender) or to make any disclosures with respect to
the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any liability arising from, or
be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the
Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Lender as a result of,
confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans, the calculation
of the Yield Maintenance Amount or the Weighted Average Yield with
respect to any Indebtedness, any exchange rate determination or
currency conversion, the terms and conditions of any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness
Document or of any subordination terms applicable to any Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case except to the extent caused
by such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as
determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(b)
Exculpatory Provisions
. None of
any Agent or any of its Related Parties shall be liable to the
Lenders for any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in
connection with any of the Credit Documents except to the extent
caused by such Agent’s gross negligence or willful
misconduct, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction. Each Agent shall be entitled to
refrain from the taking of any action (including the failure to
take an action) in connection herewith or with any of the other
Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power, discretion or
authority (including the making of any requests, determinations,
judgments, calculations or the expression of any satisfaction or
approval) vested in it hereunder or thereunder unless and until
such Agent shall have received instructions in respect thereof from
the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required, or
as such Agent shall believe in good faith to be required, to give
such instructions under Section 10.5) and upon receipt of such
instructions from the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders, as
the case may be), such Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so
instructed) refrain from acting, or to exercise such power,
discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions;
provided
that such
Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its
opinion, could expose such Agent to liability or be contrary to any
Credit Document or applicable law, including any action that may be
in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Laws.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) each
Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in
relying, upon any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement,
instrument, document or other writing (including any telephonic
notice, electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or
other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or otherwise provided by the proper Person (whether or
not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the
Credit Documents for being the signatory, sender or provider
thereof) and on opinions and judgments of attorneys (who may be
attorneys for the Borrower and the Subsidiaries), accountants,
insurance consultants, architects, engineers and other experts or
professional advisors selected by it, and such Agent shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
reliance on any of the foregoing documents; and (ii) no Lender
shall have any right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a
result of such Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining
from acting hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents in
accordance with the instructions of the Requisite Lenders (or such
other Lenders as may be required, or as such Agent shall believe in
good faith to be required, to give such instructions under Section
10.5). In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to
the making of any Credit Extension that by its terms must be
fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent
may presume the satisfaction of such Lender unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received written notice to the
contrary from such Lender reasonably in advance of such Credit
Extension.
(c)
Delegation of Duties
. Each
Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise any and
all of its powers, rights and remedies under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such of its sub-agents
may perform any and all of its duties and exercise any and all of
its powers, rights and remedies by or through their respective
Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions
set forth in this Section 9.3 and in Sections 9.6 and 10.3 shall
apply to any such sub-agent or Affiliate (and to their respective
Related Parties) as if they were named as such Agent. No Agent
shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any
sub-agent appointed by it except to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction determines in a final, non-appealable
judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent
appointed by any Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party
beneficiary under the exculpatory, indemnification and other
provisions set forth in this Section 9.3 and Sections 9.6 and 10.3
and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party
beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce
such provisions directly, without the consent or joinder of any
other Person, against any or all of the Credit Parties and the
Lenders and (ii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to
such Agent, and not to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other
Person, and no Credit Party, Lender or any other Person shall have
any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or
otherwise, against such sub-agent.
(d)
Concerning Arrangers and Certain Other
Indemnitees
. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, none of the Arrangers, the Syndication Agent or any of
the co-agents, bookrunners or managers listed on the cover page
hereof shall have any duties or responsibilities under this
Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its
capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent or a Lender hereunder or, in the case of any
Auction Manager or any other Person appointed under the Credit
Documents to serve as an agent or in a similar capacity, the duties
and responsibilities that are expressly specified in the applicable
Credit Documents with respect thereto, but all such Persons shall
have the benefit of the exculpatory, indemnification and other
provisions set forth in this Section 9 and in Section 10.3 and
shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party
beneficiary with respect thereto, including an independent right of
action to enforce such provisions directly, without the consent or
joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Credit
Parties and the Lenders. The exculpatory, indemnification and other
provisions set forth in this Section 9 and in Section 10.3 shall
apply to any Affiliate or other Related Party of any Arranger or
any Agent in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the
credit facilities provided for herein (including pursuant to
Section 2.23, 2.24 and 2.25) and any amendment, supplement or
modification hereof or of any other Credit Document (including in
connection with any Extension/Modification Offer), as well as
activities as an Agent.
9.4.
Acts
in Individual Capacity
. Nothing herein or in any other
Credit Document shall in any way impair or affect any of the rights
and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent
in its individual capacity as a Lender hereunder. With respect to
its Loans, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers
hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as if it
were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it
hereunder. Each 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, financial advisory, commodity, derivative or
other business with the Borrower or any of its Affiliates as if it
were not performing the duties and functions specified herein, and
may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower and its
Affiliates for services in connection herewith and otherwise, in
each case without having to account therefor to the Lenders. Each
Agent and its Affiliates, when acting under any agreement in
respect of any such activity or under any related agreements, will
be acting for its own account as principal and will be under no
obligation or duty as a result of such Agent’s role in
connection with the credit facility provided herein or otherwise to
take any action or refrain from taking any action (including
refraining from exercising any right or remedy that might be
available to it).
9.5.
Lenders’
Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgments
. (a) Each
Lender represents and warrants that it has made, and will continue
to make, its own independent investigation of the financial
condition and affairs of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in
connection with Credit Extensions or taking or not taking action
under or based upon any Credit Document, in each case without
reliance on any Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective
Related Parties. No Agent shall have any duty or responsibility,
either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such
investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of Lenders or to
provide any Lender with any credit or other information with
respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the
making of the Credit Extensions or at any time or times
thereafter.
(b)
Each Lender, by
delivering its signature page to this Agreement,
an Assignment Agreement, a
Refinancing Facility Agreement or an Incremental Facility Agreement
and funding its Loans on the Closing Date or by funding any
Refinancing Loan or any Incremental Loan, as the case may be, shall
be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and
approved, each Credit Document and each other document required to
be approved by any Agent, the Requisite Lenders or any other
Lenders, as applicable, on the Closing Date or as of the date of
funding of such Refinancing Loans or Incremental
Loans.
(c)
Each Lender
acknowledges and agrees that Wilmington Trust or one or more of its
Affiliates will be acting as the administrative agent and
collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement and may (but
is not obligated to) act as administrative agent, collateral agent
or a similar representative for the holders of any other Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness and, in its capacity as the administrative agent and
collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement, is a party
to the Intercreditor Agreement and, in such other capacities, may
be a party to a Permitted Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender and
Credit Party waives any conflict of interest, now contemplated or
arising hereafter, in connection therewith and agrees not to assert
against Wilmington Trust or any of its Affiliates any claims,
causes of action, damages or liabilities of whatever kind or nature
relating to any such conflict of interest.
9.6.
Right
to Indemnity
. Each Lender, in proportion to its applicable
Pro Rata Share (determined as set forth below), severally agrees to
indemnify each Agent and each Related Party thereof, to the extent
that such Agent or such Related Party shall not have been
reimbursed by any Credit Party (and without limiting any Credit
Party’s obligations under the Credit Documents to do so), for
and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses
(including fees, expenses and other charges of counsel) or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent or any such Related
Party in exercising the powers, rights and remedies, or performing
the duties and functions, of such Agent under the Credit Documents
or any other documents contemplated by or referred to therein or
otherwise in relation to its capacity as an Agent;
provided
that no Lender shall
be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final,
non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. 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
that in no event shall
this sentence require any Lender to indemnify such Agent against
any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, claim, action,
judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such
Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share thereof; and
provided
further
that this sentence
shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify such Agent
against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, claim,
action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in
the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. For purposes of
this Section 9.6, “Pro Rata Share” shall be determined
as of the time that the applicable indemnity payment is sought (or,
in the event at such time all the Commitments shall have terminated
and all the Loans shall have been repaid in full, as of the time
most recently prior thereto when any Loans or Commitments remained
outstanding).
9.7.
Successor
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
. Subject to the
terms of this Section 9.7, the Administrative Agent may resign at
any time from its capacity as such. In connection with such
resignation, the Administrative Agent shall give notice of its
intent to resign to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of
any such notice of resignation, the Requisite Lenders, subject to,
unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing,
the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed), shall have the right to appoint
a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the
Requisite Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within
30 days after the resigning Administrative Agent gives notice of
its intent to resign, then the resigning Administrative Agent may,
on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor;
provided
that in no event shall
any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender or a
Disqualified Institution. If the Administrative Agent shall be a
Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of such
term, the Requisite Lenders may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent remove the Administrative Agent in its
capacity as such and, subject to, unless an Event of Default shall
have occurred and is continuing, the prior written consent of the
Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed),
appoint a successor. Any resignation or removal of the
Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be a resignation of the
Collateral Agent, and any successor Administrative Agent appointed
pursuant to this Section 9.7 shall, upon its acceptance of such
appointment, become the successor Collateral Agent for all purposes
of the Credit Documents. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the resigning or
removed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a
successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be the
same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed by
the Borrower and such successor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event (a) no successor to a resigning Administrative Agent shall
have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment
within 30 days after the resigning Administrative Agent gives
notice of its intent to resign, the resigning Administrative Agent
may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the
Lenders and the Borrower or (b) no successor to a removed
Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have
accepted such appointment by the day that is 30 days following of
the issuance of a notice of removal, the removal shall become
effective on such 30th day, and on the date of effectiveness of
such resignation or removal, as the case may be, (i) the resigning
or removed Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents,
provided
that, solely for
purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the
Collateral Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, the resigning or removed Collateral Agent
shall continue to be vested with such security interest as
collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, in the
case of any Collateral in the possession of the Collateral Agent,
shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such
time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed and accepts such
appointment in accordance with this paragraph (it being understood
and agreed that the resigning or removed Collateral Agent shall
have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any
Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the
perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Requisite
Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
provided
that (A) all payments
required to be made hereunder or under any other Credit Document to
the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than
the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and
(B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated
to be given or made to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender.
Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s and
Collateral Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the
provisions of this Section 9 and of Section 10.3 shall continue in
effect for the benefit of such resigning or removed Agent, its
sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was
acting as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable,
and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under
clause (a) above.
9.8.
Collateral
Documents and Obligations Guarantee
. (a)
Agents under Collateral Documents and
the Obligations Guarantee
. Each Secured Party hereby further
authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to be
the agent for and representative of the Secured Parties with
respect to the Guarantees purported to be created under the Credit
Documents, the Collateral and the Credit Documents and authorizes
the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute and
deliver, on behalf of such Secured Party, any Collateral Documents
that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent determines in
its discretion to execute and deliver in connection with the
satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (and
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
any power of attorney that may be required under any applicable law
in connection with such execution and delivery on behalf of such
Secured Party).
(b)
Right to Realize on Collateral and
Enforce Obligations Guarantee
. Notwithstanding anything
contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary, the
Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and
each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) except with respect
to the exercise of set-off rights of any Lender or with respect to
a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in any
proceeding under the Debtor Relief Laws, no Secured Party shall
have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral
or to enforce any Guarantees purported to be created under the
Credit Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers,
rights and remedies under the Credit Documents may be exercised
solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as
applicable, for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance
with the terms thereof and that all powers, rights and remedies
under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in
accordance with the terms thereof and (ii) in the event of a
foreclosure, exercise of a power of sale or similar enforcement
action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to
a public or private sale or other disposition (including pursuant
to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other
applicable section of the Bankruptcy Code, any analogous Debtor
Relief Laws or any law relating to the granting or perfection of
security interests), the Collateral Agent (or any Lender, except
with respect to a “credit bid” pursuant to Section
363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other applicable
section of the Bankruptcy Code any analogous Debtor Relief Laws or
any law relating to the granting or perfection of security
interests) 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 the Secured Parties (but
not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual
capacities) shall be entitled, upon instructions from the Requisite
Lenders (subject to procedures reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent), for the purpose of bidding and making settlement
or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the
Collateral sold or licensed at any such sale or other 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. In connection with any
such bid referred to in clause (ii) above, (A) the Collateral
Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles
to make a bid, (B) the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to
adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition
vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Collateral
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 Requisite Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this
Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions
by the Requisite Lenders contained in Section 10.5(a), (C) the
Collateral Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant
Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata among 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.
(c)
[Reserved]
.
(d)
Release of Collateral and Obligations
Guarantees
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
or in any other Credit Document:
(i)
When all
Obligations (excluding contingent obligations as to which no claim
has been made) have been paid in full and all Commitments have
terminated, upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or
consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be
required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to
release all Guarantees provided for in any Credit
Document.
(ii)
(A)
If (x) any Guarantor Subsidiary shall have been designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof or (y)
all the Equity Interests in any Guarantor Subsidiary held by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be sold or otherwise disposed
of (including by merger or consolidation) in any transaction
permitted by this Agreement, and as a result of such sale or other
disposition such Guarantor Subsidiary shall cease to be a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, such Guarantor Subsidiary shall, upon
effectiveness of such designation, or the consummation of such sale
or other disposition, automatically be discharged and released from
its Obligations Guarantee and all security interests created by the
Collateral Documents in Collateral owned by such Guarantor
Subsidiary shall be automatically released, without any further
action by any Secured Party or any other Person;
provided
that no such discharge
or release shall occur unless substantially concurrently therewith,
such Subsidiary shall have been discharged and released from its
Guarantee of all Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, all
Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, all Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness and all Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness, and all Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary
securing any such Indebtedness shall have been
released.
(B)
Upon any sale or
other transfer by any Credit Party (other than to the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary) of any Collateral in a transaction
permitted under this Agreement, or upon the effectiveness of any
written consent to the release of the security interest created
under any Collateral Document in any Collateral pursuant to
Section 10.5, the security interests in such Collateral
created by the Collateral Documents shall be automatically
released, without any further action by any Secured Party or any
other Person;
provided
that no such release
shall occur unless substantially concurrently therewith, such
Collateral shall cease to be subject to any security interests
securing any Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted
Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness.
(C)
The Escrow Cash
Collateral shall be released from the Escrow Cash Collateral
Account as provided in Section 9.8(d)(ii) of the First Lien Credit
Agreement and upon such release, the Escrow Cash Collateral Control
Agreement shall be terminated and all security interests created by
the Escrow Cash Collateral Control Agreement or any other
Collateral Document in the Escrow Cash Collateral shall be
automatically released, without any further action by any Secured
Party or any other Person.
(D)
The Vector
Subordinated Note Collateral, including any Cash or Cash
Equivalents on deposit in the Vector Subordinated Note Cash
Collateral Account, and all security interests created by the
Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral Account Control Agreement
or any other Collateral Document in any Vector Subordinated Note
Collateral shall be automatically released, without any further
action by any Secured Party or any other Person, upon release of
thereof under the First Lien Credit Documents, including as
provided in Section 9.8(d)(ii) of the First Lien Credit
Agreement.
(iii)
Each
Secured Party authorizes the Collateral Agent to subordinate, at
the request of the Borrower, any Lien on any property granted to or
held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the
holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by
Section 6.2(d) or 6.2(o);
provided
that no such
subordination shall occur unless substantially concurrently
therewith, any Lien on such property securing any Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness and any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness
shall also be so subordinated.
(iv)
In
connection with any termination, release or subordination pursuant
to this Section 9.8(d), the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent shall execute and deliver to any Credit Party, at such Credit
Party’s expense, all documents that such Credit Party shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination, release or
subordination. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to
this Section 9.8(d) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
(e)
Additional Exculpatory
Provisions
. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible
for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation
or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of any
Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral
Agent’s Lien on any Collateral or any certificate prepared by
any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Collateral
Agent be responsible or liable to the Secured Parties for any
failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the
Collateral.
(f)
Acceptance of Benefits
. Each
Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by
its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral or the Guarantees
purported to be created under the Credit Documents, to have agreed
to the provisions of this Section 9 (including the authorization
and the grant of the power of attorney pursuant to Section 9.8(a)),
Section 10.24 and all the other provisions of this Agreement
relating to Collateral, any such Guarantee or any Collateral
Document and to have agreed to be bound by the Credit Documents as
a Secured Party thereunder. It is understood and agreed that the
benefits of the Collateral and any such Guarantee to any Secured
Party are made available on an express condition that, and is
subject to, such Secured Party not asserting that it is not bound
by the appointments and other agreements expressed herein to be
made, or deemed herein to be made, by such Secured
Party.
9.9.
Withholding
Taxes
. To the extent required by any applicable law, the
Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an
amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the IRS or
any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the
Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts
paid to or for the account of any Lender because the appropriate
form was not delivered or was not properly executed or because such
Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in
circumstance which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of,
withholding Tax ineffective or for any other reason, or if the
Administrative Agent reasonably determines that a payment was made
to a Lender pursuant to this Agreement without deduction of
applicable withholding Tax from such payment, such Lender shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid,
directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or
otherwise, including any penalties or interest and together with
all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs
and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred.
9.10.
Administrative
Agent May File Bankruptcy Disclosure and Proofs of Claim
. In
case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws
with respect to any Credit 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
rule’s 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,
the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any other
Secured Party (including any claim under Sections 2.7, 2.9, 2.15,
2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 10.2 and 10.3) 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 proceeding is hereby authorized
by each Lender and each other Secured Party 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 or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the
Administrative Agent any amount due to the Administrative Agent, in
such capacity or in its capacity as the Collateral Agent, or to its
Related Parties under the Credit Documents (including under
Sections 10.2 and 10.3). To the extent that the payment of any such
amounts due to the Administrative Agent, in such capacity or in its
capacity as the Collateral Agent, or to its Related Parties 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 property that the Lenders or the other Secured
Parties 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 vote in respect of the claim of any
Lender in any such proceeding.
9.11.
Certain
ERISA Matters
.
(a)
Each Lender (x)
represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender
party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person
became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a
Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent
and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the
avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any
other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will
be true:
(i)
such Lender is not
using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR
§ 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or
more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the
Commitments,
(ii)
the
transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE
84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by
independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a
class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance
company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain
transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts),
PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving
bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption
for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is
applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into,
participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans,
the Commitments and this Agreement,
(iii)
(A)
such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified
Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of
PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the
investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into,
participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments
and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in,
administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and
this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b)
through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of
such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE
84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance
into, participation in, administration of and performance of the
Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv)
such
other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in
writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion,
and such Lender.
(b)
In addition, unless
sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with
respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another
representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause
(iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further
(x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a
Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such
Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases
being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative
Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not,
for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower
or any other Credit Party, that:
(i)
none of the
Administrative Agent or the Arrangers or any of their respective
Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender
(including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any
rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, the Loans
or any documents related to hereto or thereto),
(ii)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is
independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is
a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a
broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management
or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as
described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),
(iii)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is
capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in
general and with regard to particular transactions and investment
strategies (including in respect of the Obligations),
(iv)
the
Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with
respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of
and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement is
a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the
Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for
exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions
hereunder, and
(v)
no fee or other
compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent or
the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates for investment advice
(as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the
Commitments or this Agreement.
(c)
The Administrative
Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates hereby
informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to
provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a
fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest
in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an
Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with
respect to the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may
recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Commitments for an
amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans
or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or
other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring
fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront
fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative
agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage
fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate
transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out
premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early
termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
9.12.
Concerning
the Vector Facility Arrangements
. Each Lender and Credit
Party acknowledges and agrees that Goldman Sachs or one or more of
its Affiliates will be the Vector Senior Loan Facility Lender party
to the Vector Facility Arrangements, and that any Vector Collateral
provided as collateral to secure obligations of the Vector Lenders
thereunder (including any such assets in the form of “Tranche
B Term Loans” made under the First Lien Credit Agreement held
by any Vector Lenders) is held by Goldman Sachs or any such
Affiliate solely in its individual capacity, for its own benefit,
and not in its capacity as an Agent for the benefit of any Secured
Party. Each Lender and Credit Party further acknowledges and agrees
that in exercising rights and remedies with respect to any Vector
Collateral or otherwise in respect of the Vector Facility
Arrangements, Goldman Sachs or any of its Affiliates may enforce
the provisions of the Vector Facility Arrangements and exercise its
rights thereunder, including enforcing the subordination provisions
under the Vector Subordinated Note, directing the voting by any
Vector Lender of its “Tranche B Term Loans” made under
the First Lien Credit Agreement and making determinations of the
current market value of the “Tranche B Term Loans” made
under the First Lien Credit Agreement, and exercise remedies
thereunder and under applicable law, all in such order and in such
manner as it may determine in its sole discretion and as if it were
not an Agent (or an Affiliate of an Agent) hereunder (and
notwithstanding the fact that such exercise of rights and
enforcement of remedies could have an adverse effect on the value
of the loan made by the Borrower under the Vector Subordinated Note
or its ability to obtain the repayment thereof), and will be under
no obligation or duty as a result of its (or its Affiliate’s)
role as an Agent or Lender hereunder to take any action or refrain
from taking any action (including refraining from enforcing or
exercising any right or remedy that might be available to it) in
respect of the Vector Facility Arrangements (and that as a result
of exercising rights and remedies with respect to any Vector
Collateral, Goldman Sachs or any of its Affiliates may foreclose
upon (and become and be a lender under the First Lien Credit
Agreement holding a significant portion of the “Tranche B
Term Loans” made under the First Lien Credit Agreement),
and/or may assign or cause the assignment to any eligible assignee
under the First Lien Credit Agreement of, all or any part of the
“Tranche B Term Loans” made under the First Lien Credit
Agreement held by the Vector Lenders that constitute Vector
Collateral), and each Lender agrees not to assert, and hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to
demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of
any marshalling or other similar right that may be available under
applicable law with respect to the Vector Collateral. Each Lender
and Credit Party waives any conflict of interest, now contemplated
or arising hereafter, in connection with the Vector Facility
Arrangements and agrees not to assert against Goldman Sachs or any
of its Affiliates any claims, causes of action, damages or
liabilities of whatever kind or nature relating to any such
conflict of interest.
SECTION
10.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1.
Notices
.
Notices Generally
.
(a) Any notice or other communication hereunder given to any Credit
Party, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender
shall be given to such Person at its address, fax number or e-mail
address as set forth on
Schedule
10.1
or, in the case of any Lender, at such address, fax
number or e-mail address as shall have been provided by such Lender
to the Administrative Agent in writing;
provided
that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, no notice or other communication hereunder may be
provided to any Credit Party by means of a fax. Except in the case
of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given
by telephone and as otherwise provided in Section 10.1(b),
each notice or other communication hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be delivered in person or sent by e-mail, courier service
or certified or registered United States mail or, except for
notices or other communications to any Credit Party, facsimile and
shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by
courier service and signed for against receipt thereof, when sent
by facsimile as shown on the transmission report therefor (or, if
not sent during normal business hours for the recipient, at the
opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient), as
provided in Section 10.1(b) if sent by e-mail or upon receipt if
sent by United States mail;
provided
that no notice or
other communication given to the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent shall be effective until received by it; and
provided
further
that any
such notice or other communication shall, at the request of the
Administrative Agent, be provided to any sub-agent appointed
pursuant to Section 9.3(c) from time to time. Any party hereto
may change its address (including its e-mail address, fax or
telephone number) for notices and other communications hereunder by
notice to each of the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower.
(b)
Electronic
Communications
.
(i)
Notices and other
communications to any Lender hereunder 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 Lender pursuant to Section 2
if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is
incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic
communication. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral
Agent and 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
or rescinded by such Person by notice to each other such Person;
provided
,
further
, that
notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent may be delivered to it at the e-mail address
specified in Section 10.1(a). Unless the Administrative Agent
otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address, if not sent during the normal business
hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been sent at the
opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient; and
(B) 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 (A) of notification that such notice or
communication is available and identifying the website address
therefor.
(ii)
Each
party hereto 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, as determined by a
final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(iii)
THE
PLATFORM AND ANY APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED
“AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. NONE OF THE
AGENTS OR ANY OF THEIR RELATED PARTIES WARRANTS AS TO THE ACCURACY,
ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
OR THE PLATFORM, AND EACH OF THE AGENTS AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE
PLATFORM AND THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. 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 OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE PLATFORM OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS.
(iv)
Each
Credit Party and each Lender agrees that the Administrative Agent
may, but shall not be obligated to, store any Approved Electronic
Communications on the Platform in accordance with the
Administrative Agent’s customary document retention
procedures and policies.
(c)
Private Side Information
Contacts
. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one
individual at or acting on behalf of such Public Lender to at all
times have selected the “Private Side Information” or
similar designation on the content declaration screen of the
Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in
accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures
and applicable law, including United States federal and state
securities laws, to make reference to information that is not made
available through the “Public Side Information” portion
of the Platform and that may contain Private-Side Information. In
the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself not to
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) none of any Credit
Party or any Agent has any responsibility for such Public
Lender’s decision to limit the scope of the information it
has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit
Documents.
10.2.
Expenses
.
The Borrower agrees to pay promptly (a) all reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the
reasonable fees, expenses and other charges of counsel) incurred by
any Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates in
connection with the structuring, arrangement and syndication of the
credit facilities provided for herein and any credit or similar
facility refinancing, extending or replacing, in whole or in part,
the credit facilities provided herein, including the preparation,
execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the other
Credit Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the
provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions
contemplated thereby shall be consummated) or any other document or
matter requested by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, (b) all
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of
creating, perfecting, recording, maintaining and preserving Liens
in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes,
stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, title insurance premiums
and reasonable fees, expenses and other charges of counsel to the
Collateral Agent and of counsel providing any opinions that the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request
in respect of the Collateral or the Liens created pursuant to the
Collateral Documents, (c) all reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket costs, fees, expenses and other charges of any
auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers of any Agent or
Arranger, (d) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and
expenses (including the reasonable fees, expenses and other charges
of any appraisers, consultants, advisors and agents employed or
retained by the Collateral Agent and its counsel) in connection
with the custody or preservation of any of the Collateral or any
insurance process, and (e) after the occurrence and during the
continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, all out-of-pocket
costs and expenses, including reasonable fees, expenses and other
charges of counsel and costs of settlement, incurred by any Agent,
Arranger or Lender in enforcing any Obligations of or in collecting
any payments due from any Credit Party hereunder or under the other
Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event of Default
(including in connection with the sale, lease or license of,
collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or
the enforcement of any Obligations Guarantee) or in connection with
any refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements
provided hereunder in the nature of a “work-out” or
pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy cases or proceedings;
provided
that, in
the case of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, costs and expenses
with respect to counsel shall be limited to one firm of primary
counsel, one firm of regulatory counsel and, if reasonably
necessary, one firm of local counsel in each applicable
jurisdiction for all Persons entitled to reimbursement under this
Section 10.2 (and, if any such Person shall have advised the
Borrower that there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest,
one additional firm of primary counsel, one additional firm of
regulatory counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one additional
firm of local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for each
group of affected Persons that are similarly situated) (in each
case, excluding allocated costs of in-house counsel). All amounts
due under this Section 10.2 shall be payable promptly after written
demand therefor.
10.3.
Indemnity
.
(a) In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section
10.2, each Credit Party agrees to defend (subject to the applicable
Indemnitee’s selection of counsel), indemnify, pay and hold
harmless each Agent (and each sub-agent thereof), Arranger and
Lender and each of their respective Related Parties (each, an
“
Indemnitee
”),
from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities.
THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY
WHETHER OR NOT SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO
ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF
STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY OR OUT OF
ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY INDEMNITEE
;
provided
that no
Credit Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnitee hereunder
with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such
Indemnified Liabilities have been found by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from
(i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee
or its Related Parties, (ii) a material breach in bad faith by such
Indemnitee or its Related Parties of its express obligations under
this Agreement or (iii) any action, investigation, claim,
litigation or proceeding not involving an act or omission by any
Credit Party or the equityholders or Affiliates of any Credit Party
(or the Related Parties of any Credit Party) that is brought by an
Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against any Agent
or any Arranger (or any holder of any other title or role) in its
capacity as such). This Section 10.3(a) shall not apply with
respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent Indemnified
Liabilities arising from any non-Tax claim.
(b)
To the extent
permitted by applicable law, no Credit Party shall assert, and each
Credit Party hereby waives, any claim against any Agent, any
Arranger or any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing
on any theory of liability, for indirect, consequential, special or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether
or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or any duty
imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in
connection with, as a result of, or in any way related to this
Agreement or any other Credit Document or any agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or
therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, any Loan
or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event
occurring in connection therewith, and each Credit Party hereby
waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for
indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages, whether or
not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its
favor.
(c)
Each Credit Party
agrees that no Agent, Arranger or Lender or any Related Party of
any of the foregoing will have any liability to any Credit Party or
any Person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of any Credit
Party or any other Person in connection with or as a result of this
Agreement or any other Credit Document or any agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or
therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan
or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event
occurring in connection therewith except (but subject to Section
10.3(b)), in the case of any Credit Party, to the extent that any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses have been found by
a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from (i) the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Agent, Arranger or Lender or its Related
Parties in performing its obligations under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document or (ii) a material breach in bad faith by
such Agent, Arranger or Lender or its Related Parties of its
express obligations under this Agreement.
10.4.
Set-Off
.
In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable
law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default each
Lender is hereby authorized by each Credit Party at any time or
from time to time, without notice to any Credit Party, any such
notice being hereby expressly waived, to set-off and to appropriate
and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including
Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured
or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other
Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the
credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on account of
the obligations and liabilities of any Credit Party to such Lender
hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, including all
claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected
hereto or thereto, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender
shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the
interest on the Loans or any other amounts due hereunder shall have
become due and payable and although such obligations and
liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured. Each
Lender agrees to notify 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.
10.5.
Amendments
and Waivers
. (a)
Requisite Lenders’
Consent
. Except as provided in Section 2.23, 2.24 or
2.25, none of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any
provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified, and
no consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom may be
made, except, subject to the additional requirements of Sections
10.5(b) and 10.5(c) and as otherwise provided in Sections 10.5(d)
and 10.5(e), in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an
agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and
the Requisite Lenders and, in the case of any other Credit
Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered
into by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as
applicable, and the Credit Party or Credit Parties that are parties
thereto, in each case with the consent of the Requisite
Lenders.
(b)
Affected Lenders’
Consent
. In addition to any consent required pursuant to
Section 10.5(a), without the written consent of each Lender
that would be directly affected thereby, no waiver, amendment or
other modification of this Agreement or any other Credit Document,
or any consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom,
shall be effective if the effect thereof would be to:
(i)
increase any
Commitment or postpone the scheduled expiration date of any
Commitment (it being understood that no waiver, amendment or other
modification of any condition precedent, covenant, Default or Event
of Default shall constitute an increase in any Commitment of any
Lender);
(ii)
extend
the scheduled final maturity date of any Loan;
(iii)
[Reserved];
(iv)
waive,
reduce or postpone any scheduled amortization payment (but not any
voluntary or mandatory prepayment) of any Loan;
(v)
reduce the rate of
interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the
interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.9 or
Section 2.23(b)(iii)) or any fee or any premium payable hereunder
(other than under Section 2.23(b)(iii)), or waive or postpone the
time for payment of any such interest, fee or premium;
(vi)
reduce
the principal amount of any Loan;
(vii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify any provision of this Section 10.5(b),
Section 10.5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document that expressly provides that the consent of
all Lenders is required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any
rights thereunder or to make any determination or grant any consent
thereunder (including such provision set forth in Section
10.6(a));
(viii)
amend
the percentage specified in the definition of the term
“Requisite Lenders” or amend the term “Pro Rata
Share” or waive, amend or otherwise modify Section 2.16
hereof or Section 5.02 of the Pledge and Security Agreement (and
any comparable provision of any other Collateral Document) in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required
thereby;
provided
that additional extensions of credit made pursuant to Section 2.23,
2.24 or 2.25 shall be included, and with the consent of the
Requisite Lenders other additional extensions of credit pursuant
hereto may be included, in the determination of “Requisite
Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share” on substantially the
same basis as the Commitments and the Loans are included on the
Closing Date; or
(ix)
release
all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the
Collateral Documents, or all or substantially all the Guarantor
Subsidiaries from the Guarantees created under the Credit Documents
(or limit liability of all or substantially all the Guarantor
Subsidiaries in respect of any such Guarantee), in each case except
as expressly provided in the Credit Documents or any Senior Lien
Intercreditor Agreement and except in connection with a
“credit bid” undertaken by the Collateral Agent at the
direction of the Requisite Lenders pursuant to section 363(k),
section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other section of the
Bankruptcy Code or any other sale or other disposition of assets in
connection with other Debtor Relief Laws or an enforcement action
with respect to the Collateral permitted pursuant to the Credit
Documents (in which case only the consent of the Requisite Lenders
will be required for such release) (it being understood that
(A) an amendment or other modification of the type of
obligations secured by the Collateral Documents or Guaranteed
hereunder or thereunder shall not be deemed to be a release of the
Collateral from the Liens of the Collateral Documents or a release
or limitation of any such Guarantee and (B) an amendment or
other modification of Section 6.8 shall only require the consent of
the Requisite Lenders);
provided
that, for the
avoidance of doubt, all Lenders shall be deemed directly affected
by any waiver, amendment or other modification, or any consent,
described in the preceding clauses (vii), (viii) and
(ix).
(c)
Other Consents
. No waiver,
amendment or other modification of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document, or any consent to any departure by any Credit
Party therefrom, shall:
(i)
(A) waive, amend or
otherwise modify Section 2.14 or any other provision of any Credit
Document in a manner that by its terms would disproportionately and
adversely affect the rights or duties of Lenders of any Class
differently than Lenders of any other Class, without the consent of
Lenders representing a Majority in Interest of each affected Class,
provided
that the
Requisite Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment of
Loans hereunder so long as the application, as between Classes, of
any portion of such prepayment that is still required to be made is
not altered, or (B) waive, amend or otherwise modify this Section
10.5(c)(i) or any other provision of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document that expressly provides that the consent of all
Lenders of any Class or a Majority in Interest of Lenders of any
Class is required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any rights
thereunder or to make any determination or grant any consent
thereunder, in each case without the consent of each Lender of such
Class or a Majority in Interest of the Lenders of such Class, as
the case may be;
provided
that nothing in this
Section 10.5(c)(i) shall be deemed to restrict the amendments
contemplated by Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25;
(ii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify the rights, duties, privileges,
protections, indemnities, immunities or obligations of, or any fees
or other amounts payable to, any Agent without the prior written
consent of such Agent; or
(iii)
waive,
amend or otherwise modify the provisions of Section 9.12 without
the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs (and Goldman Sachs shall
be a third party beneficiary of such provisions and this Section
10.5(c)(iii) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a
third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action
to enforce such provisions and this Section 10.5(c)(iii) directly,
without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or
all of the Credit Parties and the Lenders).
(d)
Class Amendments
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.5(a),
any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, or any consent to any departure by any
Credit Party therefrom, that by its terms affects the rights or
duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of a particular Class or
Classes (but not Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an
agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and
the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected
Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under
this Section 10.5 if such Class of Lenders were the only Class
of Lenders hereunder at the time.
(e)
Certain Permitted Amendments
.
Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Credit Document to
the contrary:
(i)
any provision of
this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to cure any obvious error or any ambiguity,
omission, defect or inconsistency of a technical nature, so long as
the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’
prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not
have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice
to the Lenders, a written notice from the Requisite Lenders stating
that the Requisite Lenders object to such amendment;
(ii)
in
connection with any transaction permitted by Section 2.23, 2.24 or
2.25, this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended
or modified as contemplated by Section 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25,
including to add any covenant applicable to the Borrower and/or the
Restricted Subsidiaries or any other provisions for the benefit of
the Lenders;
(iii)
in
connection with the incurrence of any Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness,
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent to add any covenant applicable to the Borrower
and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Previously Absent
Financial Maintenance Covenant) or any other provisions for the
benefit of the Lenders;
(iv)
the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may, without the
consent of any other Secured Party, (A) consent to a departure by
any Credit Party from any covenant of such Credit Party set forth
in this Agreement or any other Credit Document to the extent such
departure is consistent with the authority of the Collateral Agent
set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and
Guarantee Requirement” or (B) waive, amend or modify any
provision in any Credit Document (other than this Agreement), or
consent to a departure by any Credit Party therefrom, to the extent
the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent determines that
such waiver, amendment, modification or consent is necessary in
order to eliminate any conflict between such provision and the
terms of this Agreement;
(v)
any provision of
this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be amended by an
agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders that will remain parties
hereto after giving effect to such amendment if (A) by the terms of
such agreement the Commitments of each Lender not consenting to the
amendment provided for therein shall be reduced to zero upon the
effectiveness of such amendment and (B) at the time such amendment
becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives
payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each
Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for
its account under this Agreement; and
(vi)
this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended in the
manner provided in Section 10.24, and the Collateral Documents may
be amended as set forth the Intercreditor Agreement or any other
Senior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Each
Lender hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent and/or
the Collateral Agent to enter into any waiver, amendment or other
modification of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents
contemplated by this Section 10.5(e).
(f)
Requisite Execution of Amendments,
Etc
. With the concurrence of any Lender, the Administrative
Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, execute waivers,
amendments, modifications or consents on behalf of such Lender. Any
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which it is given. No notice to or
demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit
Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances. Any amendment, modification, waiver or consent
effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding
upon each Person that is at the time thereof a Lender and each
Person that subsequently becomes a Lender.
10.6.
Successors
and Assigns; Participations
. (a)
Generally
. This Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby. No Credit
Party’s rights or obligations under the Credit Documents, and
no interest therein, may be assigned or delegated by any Credit
Party (except, in the case of any Guarantor Subsidiary, any
assignment or delegation by operation of law as a result of any
merger or consolidation of such Guarantor Subsidiary permitted by
Section 6.8) without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, and any attempted assignment
or delegation without such consent 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, the
participants referred to in Section 10.6(g) (to the extent provided
in clause (iii) of such Section) and, to the extent expressly
contemplated hereby, Affiliates of any Agent or any Lender, the
other Indemnitees and other express third party beneficiaries
hereof) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by
reason of this Agreement.
(b)
Register
. The Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall
deem and treat the Persons recorded as Lenders in the Register as
Lenders hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the
holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Loans
recorded therein for all purposes hereof. No assignment or transfer
of any Commitment or Loan shall be effective unless and until
recorded in the Register, and following such recording, unless
otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent (such
determination to be made in the sole discretion of the
Administrative Agent, which determination may be conditioned on the
consent of the assigning Lender and the assignee), shall be
effective notwithstanding any defect in the Assignment Agreement
relating thereto. Each assignment and transfer shall be recorded in
the Register following receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
fully executed Assignment Agreement, together with the required
forms and certificates regarding tax matters and any fees payable
in connection therewith, in each case as provided in Section
10.6(d);
provided
that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to accept such
Assignment Agreement or so record the information contained therein
if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that such
Assignment Agreement lacks any written consent required by this
Section 10.6 or is otherwise not in proper form, it being
acknowledged that the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or
obligation (and shall incur no liability) with respect to obtaining
(or confirming the receipt) of any such written consent or with
respect to the form of (or any defect in) such Assignment
Agreement, any such duty and obligation being solely with the
assigning Lender and the assignee. Each assigning Lender and the
assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment Agreement,
shall be deemed to have represented to the Administrative Agent
that all written consents required by this Section 10.6 with
respect thereto (other than the consent of the Administrative Agent
and the Borrower, if applicable) have been obtained and that such
Assignment Agreement is otherwise duly completed and in proper
form. The date of such recordation of an assignment and transfer is
referred to herein as the “
Assignment Effective Date
” with
respect thereto. Any request, authority or consent of any Person
that, at the time of making such request or giving such authority
or consent, is recorded in the Register as a Lender shall be
conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or
transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans.
(c)
Right to Assign
. Each Lender
shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or
a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement,
including all or a portion of its Commitment or Loans or other
Obligations owing to it to:
(i)
any Eligible
Assignee of the type referred to in clause (a) of the definition of
the term “Eligible Assignee” upon the giving of notice
to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; or
(ii)
any
Eligible Assignee of the type referred to in clause (b) of the
definition of the term “Eligible Assignee”, upon (A)
the giving of notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
and (B) except in the case of assignments made by or to any
Arranger or any Affiliate thereof during the primary syndication of
any credit facilities established hereunder, receipt of prior
written consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) of (1) the Borrower,
provided
that the consent of
the Borrower to any assignment (x) shall not be required if an
Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing pursuant to
Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) and (y) shall be deemed to
have been granted unless the Borrower shall have objected thereto
by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business
Days after having received notice thereof and (2) the
Administrative Agent;
provided
that:
(A)
in the case of any
such assignment or transfer (other than to any Eligible Assignee
meeting the requirements of clause (i) above), the amount of the
Commitment or Loans of any Class of the assigning Lender subject
thereto shall not be less than $1,000,000 (with concurrent
assignments to Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates or Related
Funds thereof to be aggregated for purposes of the foregoing
minimum assignment amount requirements) or, in each case, such
lesser amount as shall be agreed to by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent or as shall constitute the aggregate amount of
the Commitments or Loans of the applicable Class of the assigning
Lender,
provided
that the consent of the Borrower to any lesser amount (x) shall not
be required if an Event of Default shall have occurred and is
continuing pursuant to Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) and (y)
shall be deemed to have been granted if notice shall be given to
the Borrower requesting its consent to a lesser amount and the
Borrower shall not have objected thereto by written notice to the
Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received
such request; and
(B)
each partial
assignment or transfer shall be of a uniform, and not varying,
percentage of all rights and obligations of the assigning Lender
hereunder;
provided
that a Lender may assign or transfer all or a portion of its
Commitment or of the Loans owing to it of any Class without
assigning or transferring any portion of its Commitment or of the
Loans owing to it, as the case may be, of any other
Class.
(d)
Mechanics
. Assignments and
transfers of Loans and Commitments by Lenders shall be effected by
the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of an
Assignment Agreement. In connection with all assignments, there
shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent such forms,
certificates or other evidence, if any, with respect to United
States federal income tax withholding matters as the assignee
thereunder may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.19(g),
together with payment to the Administrative Agent by the assignor
or the assignee of a registration and processing fee of $3,500
(except that no such registration and processing fee shall be
payable (i) in connection with an assignment by or to any Arranger
or any Affiliate thereof during the primary syndication of any
credit facilities established hereunder, (ii) in the case of an
assignee that is an Affiliate or Related Fund of a Lender or a
Person under common management with a Lender, (iii) in connection
with an assignment by or to Goldman Sachs or any Affiliate thereof
or (iv) otherwise waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole
discretion).
(e)
Representations and Warranties of
Assignee
. Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof
(or of any Incremental Facility Agreement or Refinancing Facility
Agreement) or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and
Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the
Closing Date (or, in the case of any Incremental Facility Agreement
or Refinancing Facility Agreement, as of the date of the
effectiveness thereof) or as of the applicable Assignment Effective
Date, as applicable, that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee, (ii) it
has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in
commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans,
as the case may be, (iii) it will make or invest in, as the
case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own account in the
ordinary course and without a view to distribution of such
Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act or other United States federal securities laws (it
being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section
10.6, the disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests
therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control) and
(iv) it will not provide any information obtained by it in its
capacity as a Lender to the Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any
Affiliate of the Borrower. In the case of any assignment by or to
any Vector Lender, the assignee or the assignor (in each case, if
not a Vector Lender), as the case may be, acknowledges and agrees
that in connection with such assignment, (A) such Vector Lender and
its Affiliates may have MNPI (as defined below), (B) such assignee
or assignor, as applicable, has independently, without reliance on
such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any
of their respective Affiliates, made its own analysis and
determination to participate in such assignment notwithstanding
such assignee’s or assignor’s lack of knowledge of any
such MNPI, (C) none of such Vector Lender, the Administrative
Agent, the Arrangers or any of their respective Affiliates shall
have any liability to such assignee or assignor, as the case may
be, and such assignee or assignor, as applicable, hereby waives and
releases, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any claims it
may have against such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the
Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, under applicable law or
otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of any such MNPI and
(D) such MNPI may not be available to the Administrative Agent, the
Arrangers or the other Lenders. “
MNPI
” means material non-public
information (for purposes of United States federal, state or other
applicable securities laws) with respect to the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries and their respective Securities, it being understood
that MNPI may include information that is not available to Lenders,
including Private Lenders. It is understood and agreed that the
Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely, and
shall incur no liability for relying, upon the representations and
warranties and the acknowledgments and agreements of an assignee or
assignor, as applicable, set forth in this Section 10.6(e) and in
the applicable Assignment Agreement.
(f)
Effect of Assignment
. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Section 10.6, as of the
Assignment Effective Date with respect to any assignment and
transfer of any Commitment or Loan, (i) the assignee thereunder
shall have the rights and obligations of a “Lender”
hereunder to the extent of its interest in such Commitment or Loan
as reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto
and a “Lender” for all purposes hereof, (ii) the
assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned and transferred to the
assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights that survive
the termination hereof under Section 10.8) and be released from its
obligations hereunder (and, in the case of an assignment covering
all the remaining rights and obligations of an assigning Lender
hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto as a
“Lender” on such Assignment Effective Date,
provided
that such
assigning Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of
all rights that survive the termination hereof under Section 10.8),
and
provided
further
that except
to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties,
no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or
release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such
Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender, and (iii) the
assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness thereof or as
promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes
(if any) to the Administrative Agent for cancellation, and
thereupon the Borrower shall issue and deliver new Notes, if so
requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee
and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to
reflect the new Commitments and/or outstanding Loans of the
assignee and/or the assigning Lender.
(g)
Participations
.
(i)
Each Lender shall
have the right at any time to sell one or more participations to
any Eligible Assignee in all or any part of its Commitments or
Loans or in any other Obligation;
provided
that (A) such
Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain
unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to
the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations
and (C) the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each
Lender that sells a participation pursuant to this
Section 10.6(g) shall, acting solely for United States federal
income tax purposes as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower,
maintain a register on which it records the name and address of
each participant to which it has sold a participation and the
principal amounts (and stated interest) of each such
participant’s interest in the Commitments or Loans or other
rights and obligations of such Lender under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document (the “
Participant Register
”);
provided
that no
Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of
the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of
any participant or any information relating to a
participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or other
rights and obligations under any Credit Document), except to the
extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such
Commitment, Loan or other right or obligation is in registered form
under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury
Regulations. Unless otherwise required by the IRS, any disclosure
required by the foregoing sentence shall be made by the relevant
Lender directly and solely to the IRS. 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 under 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.
(ii)
The
holder of any such participation, other than an Affiliate of the
Lender granting such participation, shall not be entitled to
require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder,
except that any participation agreement may provide that the
participant’s consent must be obtained with respect to the
consent of such Lender to any waiver, amendment, modification or
consent that is described in Section 10.5(b) that affects such
participant or requires the approval of all the
Lenders.
(iii)
The
Credit Parties agree that each participant shall be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.17(c), 2.18 and 2.19 (subject to the
requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements
under Section 2.19(g) (it being understood that the documentation
required under Section 2.19(g) shall be delivered to the
participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender
and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section
10.6(c);
provided
that such participant (x) agrees to be subject to the provisions of
Sections 2.20 and 2.22 as if it were an assignee under Section
10.6(c) and (y) such participant shall not be entitled to receive
any greater payment under Section 2.18 or 2.19 with respect to any
participation than the applicable Lender would have been entitled
to receive with respect to such participation sold to such
participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a
greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the
participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent
permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the
benefits of Section 10.4 as though it were a Lender,
provided
that such participant
agrees to be subject to Section 2.16 as though it were a
Lender.
(h)
Certain Other Assignments and
Participations
. In addition to any other assignment or
participation permitted pursuant to this Section 10.6, any Lender
may assign, pledge and/or grant a security interest in all or any
portion of its Loans or the other Obligations owed to such Lender,
and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender,
including to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security
pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any
operating circular issued by any Federal Reserve Bank or to any
other central bank;
provided
that no Lender, as
between the Borrower and such Lender, shall be relieved of any of
its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment and
pledge; and
provided
further
that in no event shall
the applicable Federal Reserve Bank, other central bank, pledgee or
trustee be considered to be a “Lender”
hereunder.
(i)
Loan Repurchases
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
10.6 or any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower may
repurchase outstanding Loans, and each Lender shall have the right
at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or a portion of its
Loans to the Borrower, on the following basis:
(i)
Loan Repurchase Auctions
. The
Borrower may conduct one or more modified Dutch auctions (each, an
“
Auction
”) to
repurchase all or any portion of the Loans of any Class,
provided
that (A)
the Borrower delivers a written notice of such Auction to the
Auction Manager and the Administrative Agent (for distribution to
the Lenders of such Class) no later than 12:00 p.m.
(New York City time) at least five
Business Days in advance of a proposed commencement date of such
Auction (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the
Administrative Agent), which notice shall specify (x) the
dates on which such Auction will commence and conclude, (y) the
maximum principal amount of Loans and the Class thereof that the
Borrower desires to repurchase in such Auction and (z) the range of
discounts to par at which the Borrower would be willing to
repurchase such Loans, (B) the maximum dollar amount of such
Auction shall be no less than an aggregate $10,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (C) such Auction
shall be open for at least two Business Days after the date of the
commencement thereof, (D) such Auction shall be open for
participation by all the Lenders of such Class on a ratable basis,
(E) a Lender of such Class that elects to participate in such
Auction will be permitted to tender for repurchase all or a portion
of such Lender’s Loans of such Class, (F) each repurchase of
Loans of any Class shall be of a uniform, and not varying,
percentage of all rights of the assigning Lender hereunder with
respect thereto (and shall be allocated among the Loans of such
Class of such Lender in a manner that would result in such
Lender’s remaining Loans of such Class being included in each
Borrowing in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share
thereof), (G) at the time of the commencement and conclusion of
such Auction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (H) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of
revolving loans constituting Permitted 6.1(e) Indebtedness to make
such repurchase and (I) such Auction shall be conducted pursuant to
such procedures as the Auction Manager may establish, so long as
such procedures are consistent with this Section 10.6(i) and are
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
In connection with any Auction, the Auction Manager and the
Administrative Agent may request one or more certificates of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in clauses (G) and (H)
above.
(ii)
Open
Market Purchases
. The Borrower may repurchase all or any
portion of the Loans of any Class on a non pro rata basis through
open market purchases (each an “
Open Market Purchase
”),
provided
that (A)
the Borrower delivers a written notice of such Open Market Purchase
to the Administrative Agent promptly upon consummation thereof, (B)
each repurchase of Loans of any Class shall be of a uniform, and
not varying, percentage of all rights of the assigning Lender
hereunder with respect thereto (and shall be allocated among the
Loans of such Class of such Lender in a manner that would result in
such Lender’s remaining Loans of such Class being included in
each Borrowing in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share
thereof), (C) at the time of and immediately following such
Open Market Purchase, no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing and (D) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of
revolving loans constituting Permitted 6.1(e) Indebtedness to make
such repurchase. In connection with any Open Market Purchase, the
Administrative Agent may request one or more certificates of an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in clauses (C) and (D)
above.
(iii)
Concerning
the Repurchased Loans
. Repurchases by the Borrower of Loans
pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) shall not constitute voluntary
prepayments for purposes of Section 2.11 or 2.13. The aggregate
principal amount of the Loans of any Class repurchased by the
Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) shall, in the case of
Loans of any Class subject to scheduled amortization of principal,
be applied to reduce any subsequent Installments to be paid
pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to Loans of such Class
in an inverse order of maturity. Upon the repurchase by the
Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i) of any Loans, such
Loans shall, without further action by any Person, automatically be
deemed cancelled and no longer outstanding (and may not be resold
by the Borrower) for all purposes of this Agreement and the other
Credit Documents, including with respect to (A) the making of, or
the application of, any payments to the Lenders under this
Agreement or any other Credit Document, (B) the making of any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or
(C) the determination of Requisite Lenders, or for any similar
or related purpose, under this Agreement or any other Credit
Document. The Administrative Agent is authorized to make
appropriate entries in the Register to reflect any cancelation of
the Loans repurchased and cancelled pursuant to this
Section 10.6(i). Any payment made by the Borrower in
connection with a repurchase permitted by this Section 10.6(i)
shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.15, 2.16 or
2.17(c). Failure by the Borrower to make any payment to a Lender
required to be made in consideration of a repurchase of Loans
permitted by this Section 10.6(i) shall not constitute a Default or
an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a). Each Lender shall, to the
extent that its Loans shall have been repurchased and assigned to
the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.6(i), relinquish its
rights in respect thereof.
10.7.
Independence
of Covenants
. All covenants hereunder shall be given
independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is
not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be
permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the
limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of
a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or
condition exists.
10.8.
Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
. All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the
Credit Parties in the Credit Documents and in the certificates or
other documents delivered in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be considered to have
been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the
execution and delivery of the Credit Documents and the making of
any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other
party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent, Arranger
or Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event
of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any
Credit Document is executed and delivered or any credit is extended
hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as
the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or
any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and
unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or
terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.17(c), 2.18, 2.19, 9,
10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 shall survive and remain in full force and
effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans or the termination
of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
10.9.
No
Waiver; Remedies Cumulative
. No failure or delay on the part
of any Agent, Arranger or Lender in the exercise of any power,
right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document
shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a
waiver thereof or of any Default or Event of Default or
acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such power, right or privilege, or any abandonment or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such power, right or privilege,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other power, right or privilege. The powers, rights, privileges
and remedies of the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders hereunder
and under the other Credit Documents are cumulative and shall be in
addition to and independent of all powers, rights, privileges and
remedies they would otherwise have. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the making of any Loan hereunder shall not be construed as a waiver
of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any
Agent, Arranger or Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default or Event of Default at the time.
10.10.
Marshalling;
Payments Set Aside
. None of the Agents, the Arrangers or the
Lenders shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in
favor of any Credit Party or any other Person or against or in
payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any
Credit Party makes a payment or payments to any Agent, Arranger or
Lender (or to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, on
behalf of any Agent, Arranger or Lender), or any Agent, Arranger or
Lender enforces any security interests or exercises any right of
set-off, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such
enforcement or set-off or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent, preferential or at
undervalue, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Laws, any other
state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, 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 set-off had not
occurred.
10.11.
Severability
.
In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other
Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or
obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
10.12.
Independent
Nature of Lenders’ Rights
. Nothing contained herein or
in any other Credit 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
hereunder and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose.
10.13.
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.
10.14.
APPLICABLE
LAW
.
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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
.
10.15.
CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION
.
SUBJECT TO
CLAUSE (E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY
PARTY HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY
IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY
HERETO, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES,
IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS (SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E)
BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES
THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED
IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION
OVER THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN
EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS AND
THE LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY
IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE
EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY CREDIT DOCUMENT OR ANY EXERCISE OF
REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS
TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH COURT.
10.16.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
.
EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF
ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR
UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN
THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE
LENDER/BORROWER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER
IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP,
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 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 10.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER
CREDIT 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.
10.17.
Confidentiality
.
Each Agent and each Lender shall hold all Confidential Information
(as defined below) obtained by such Agent or such Lender in
accordance with such Agent’s and such Lender’s
customary procedures for handling confidential information of such
nature, it being understood and agreed by the Borrower that, in any
event, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may
disclose Confidential Information to the Lenders and the other
Agents and that each Agent and each Lender may disclose
Confidential Information (a) to Affiliates of such Agent or Lender
and to its and their respective Related Parties, independent
auditors and other advisors, experts or agents who need to know
such Confidential Information (and to other Persons authorized by a
Lender or Agent to organize, present or disseminate such
information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in
accordance with this Section 10.17) (it being understood that the
Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Confidential Information and instructed
to keep such Confidential Information confidential or shall
otherwise be subject to an obligation of confidentiality), (b) to
any potential or prospective assignee, transferee or participant in
connection with the contemplated assignment, transfer or
participation of any Loans or other Obligations or any
participations therein or to any direct or indirect contractual
counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap
or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of its
Affiliates and their obligations (
provided
that such assignees,
transferees, participants, counterparties and advisors are advised
of and agree to be bound by either the provisions of this Section
10.17 or other provisions at least as restrictive as this Section
10.17 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent, the Collateral Agent or the applicable Lender, as the case
may be, and the Borrower, including pursuant to the confidentiality
terms set forth in the Confidential Information Memorandum or other
marketing materials relating to the credit facilities governed by
this Agreement; and
provided
further
that without the
Borrower’s prior written consent, no such disclosure may be
made to any Disqualified Institution), (c) on a confidential basis,
to any rating agency, (d) on a confidential basis, to the CUSIP
Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the
issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans,
(e) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence”
defense or in connection with the exercise of any remedies
hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (f) as required by
law or pursuant to legal or judicial process (in which case, unless
specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, such
Agent or such Lender shall make reasonable efforts to notify the
Borrower promptly thereof), (g) as required or requested by any
Governmental Authority or by any regulatory or quasi-regulatory
authority (including any self-regulatory organization) having
jurisdiction or claiming to have jurisdiction over such Agent or
such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, (h) received by
it on a non-confidential basis from a source (other than the
Borrower or its Affiliates or Related Parties) not known by it to
be prohibited from disclosing such information to such persons by a
legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation, (i) to the extent that
such information was already in possession of such Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, or any of its Affiliates or is
independently developed by it or any of its Affiliates and (j) with
the consent of the Borrower. For purposes of the foregoing,
“
Confidential
Information
” means, with respect to any Agent or any
Lender, any non-public information regarding the business, assets,
liabilities and operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
obtained by such Agent or Lender under the terms of this Agreement
and identified as confidential by the Borrower. In addition, each
Agent and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement
and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors,
similar services providers to the lending industry, and service
providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the
administration and management of this Agreement and the other
Credit Documents. It is agreed that, notwithstanding the
restrictions of any prior confidentiality agreement binding on any
Arranger or any Agent, such parties
may disclose
Confidential Information as provided in this
Section 10.17.
10.18.
Usury
Savings Clause
. Notwithstanding any other provision herein,
the aggregate interest rate charged with respect to any of the
Obligations, including all charges or fees in connection therewith
deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined
without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at
any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of
the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful
Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the
amount of interest that 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 that 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 that
would have been paid if the Highest Lawful 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. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for,
charges, or receives any consideration that constitutes interest in
excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be
cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such
Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the
Loans made hereunder or be refunded to the Borrower.
10.19.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but
one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic
format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
10.20.
Effectiveness;
Entire Agreement
. Subject to Section 3, this Agreement shall
become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and there shall have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent counterparts hereof that, when taken together,
bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT
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 (BUT DO NOT SUPERSEDE ANY PROVISIONS OF ANY
ENGAGEMENT LETTER OR FEE LETTER BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY CREDIT PARTIES
AND ANY AGENT OR ARRANGER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING
THAT BY THE TERMS OF SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE STATED TO SURVIVE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT, ALL OF WHICH PROVISIONS SHALL
REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT)
.
10.21.
PATRIOT
Act
. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself
and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Credit Party
that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act it is required
to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each
Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of
each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender
or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Credit
Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.
10.22.
Electronic
Execution of Assignments
. The words “execution”,
“signed”, “signature” and words of like
import in any Assignment Agreement 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.
10.23.
No
Fiduciary Duty
. Each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender and
their respective Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of
this paragraph, the “
Lenders
”) may have economic
interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties, their
equityholders and/or their Affiliates. Each Credit Party agrees
that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to
create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary
or other implied duty between any Agent, Arranger or Lender, on the
one hand, and such Credit Party or its equityholders or its
Affiliates, on the other. The Credit Parties acknowledge and agree
that (a) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents
(including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and
thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between
the Agents, Arrangers and Lenders, on the one hand, and the Credit
Parties, on the other, and (b) in connection therewith and with the
process leading thereto, (i) no Agent, Arranger or Lender has
assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any
Credit Party, its equityholders or its Affiliates with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or
remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto
(irrespective of whether any Agent, Arranger or Lender has advised,
is currently advising or will advise any Credit Party, its
equityholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other
obligation to any Credit Party except the obligations expressly set
forth in the Credit Documents and (ii) each Agent, Arranger and
Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or
fiduciary of any Credit Party, its management, equityholders,
creditors or any other Person. Each Credit Party acknowledges and
agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors
to the extent it has deemed appropriate and that it is responsible
for making its own independent judgment with respect to such
transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Credit Party
agrees that it will not assert, and hereby waives to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, any claim that any Agent,
Arranger or Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or
respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to such Credit Party,
in connection with any such transaction or the process leading
thereto.
10.24.
Permitted
Intercreditor Agreements
. (a) Each of the Lenders and the
other Secured Parties acknowledges that obligations of the Credit
Parties under the First Lien Credit Agreement are, and under any
other Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness may be, secured by Liens on assets of the
Credit Parties that constitute Collateral and that the relative
Lien priority and other creditor rights of the Secured Parties and
the secured parties under the First Lien Credit Agreement will be
set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, and the relative Lien
priority and other creditor rights of the Secured Parties and the
secured parties under any other Permitted Section 6.1(e)
Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness
will be set forth in the applicable Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement. Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby
acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor
Agreement. Each of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties hereby
irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of
such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization
or other action by such Secured Party, (i) on the Closing
Date, the Intercreditor Agreement and any documents relating
thereto and (ii) from time to time upon the request of the
Borrower, in connection with the establishment, incurrence,
amendment, refinancing or replacement of any Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness,
any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized
and directed to determine the terms and conditions of any such
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement as contemplated by the definition
of the terms “Intercreditor Agreement”, “Junior
Lien Intercreditor Agreement”, “Pari Passu
Intercreditor Agreement” and “Senior Lien Intercreditor
Agreement”) and any documents relating thereto.
(b)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably (i) consents to
the treatment of Liens to be provided for under any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that, upon the execution and
delivery thereof, such Secured Party will be bound by the
provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a
signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the
provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) agrees
that no Secured Party shall have any right of action whatsoever
against the Administrative Agent or any Collateral Agent as a
result of any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 10.24 or in accordance
with the terms of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, (iv)
authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent to carry out the provisions and intent of each such document
and (v) authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent to take such actions as shall be required to
release Liens on the Collateral in accordance with the terms of any
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement.
(c)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes
and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to
execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party
and without any further consent, authorization or other action by
such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other
modifications of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement that the
Borrower may from time to time request and that are reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent (i) to give effect to any
establishment, incurrence, amendment, extension, renewal,
refinancing or replacement of any Obligations, any Permitted
Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness, (ii) to confirm for any party that such Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement is effective and binding upon the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent on behalf of the
Secured Parties or (iii) to effect any other amendment, supplement
or modification so long as the resulting agreement would constitute
a Permitted Intercreditor Agreement if executed at such time as a
new agreement.
(d)
Each of the Lenders
and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes
and directs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to
execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party
and without any further consent, authorization or other action by
such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other
modifications of any Collateral Document to add or remove any
legend that may be required pursuant to any Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement.
(e)
Each of the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have the
benefit of the provisions of Sections 9, 10.2 and 10.3 with respect
to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section 10.24 or
in accordance with the terms of any Permitted Intercreditor
Agreement to the full extent thereof.
(f)
The provisions of
this Section 10.24 are intended as an inducement to the secured
parties under the First Lien Credit Documents or under any other
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Documents, any Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness to extend credit to the Borrower thereunder
and such secured parties are intended third party beneficiaries of
such provisions.
10.25.
Acknowledgement
and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or
in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among the
parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability
of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document,
to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the
Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and
agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound
by:
(a)
the application of
any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority
to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to
it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution;
and
(b)
the effects of any
Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if
applicable:
(i)
a reduction in full
or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii)
a
conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or
other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution,
its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued
to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other
instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any
rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or
any other Credit Document; or
(iii)
the
variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the
exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA
Resolution Authority.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first written above.
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, as Borrower
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
Name: Kevin
Dotts
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
FUSION NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION LLC
FUSION BCHI ACQUISITION LLC
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND, INC.
CBEYOND COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
BIRCH MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH TELECOM, LLC
BIRCH TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN HOLDINGS, LLC
PRIMUS HOLDINGS, INC.
FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION CORP.
, as Guarantors
|
By:
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
Name: Kevin
Dotts
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
-167-
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the
Administrative Agent
and the Collateral
Agent,
|
By:
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
-168-
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,
as a
Lender,
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Ehudin
|
|
Authorized
Signatory
Rober
Ehudin
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement]
EXHIBIT
A
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
This
Assignment and Assumption Agreement (this “
Assignment
”) is dated as of the
Assignment Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by
and between the Assignor identified below and the Assignee
identified below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Second Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement identified below (as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby
acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set
forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and
incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment
as if set forth herein in full.
For an
agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and
assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably
purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in
accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in
Annex 1 attached hereto and the Credit Agreement, as of the
Assignment Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as
contemplated below, (a) the interest in and to all of the
Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender
under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments
delivered pursuant thereto that represents the amount and
percentage interest identified below of all of the Assignor’s
outstanding rights and obligations under the facility identified
below (including any Guarantees included in such facilities) and
(b) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law,
all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the
Assignor in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement
against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in
connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or
instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the Transactions governed
thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing,
including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims,
malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or
in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned
pursuant to clause (a) above (the rights and obligations sold and
assigned by the Assignor to the Assignee pursuant to clauses (a)
and (b) above being referred to herein collectively as the
“
Assigned
Interest
”). Such sale and assignment is without
recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this
Assignment and the Credit Agreement, without representation or
warranty by the Assignor.
1.
|
Assignor:
__________________________
|
|
|
2.
|
Assignee:
__________________________
|
|
|
3.
|
Is the
Assignee a Lender/an Affiliate of a Lender/a Related Fund? Yes:
No:
Specify
if “Yes”.
|
4.
|
Borrower:
Fusion Connect, Inc.
|
|
|
5.
|
Administrative
Agent: Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the
Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement.
|
|
|
6.
|
Credit
Agreement: Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018, among Fusion Connect, Inc., certain Subsidiaries
of Fusion Connect, Inc. party thereto, the Lenders party thereto
and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent.
|
|
|
7.
|
Assigned
Interest:
|
Facility
Assigned
|
Aggregate
Amount of Commitments/Loans of the Applicable Class of all
Lenders
|
Amount
of Commitment/Loans of the Applicable Class Assigned
1
|
Percentage
Assigned of Commitments/Loans of the Applicable Class of all
Lenders
2
|
Tranche
B Term Loans
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
|
$______________
|
$______________
|
____________%
|
8.
Assignment
Effective Date: ______________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH DATE SHALL BE THE ASSIGNMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER
THEREFOR.]
9.
Notice and Wire
Instructions:
|
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
Notices:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
with a
copy to:
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
Wire
Instructions:
|
|
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
Notices:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
with a
copy to:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention:
Facsimile:
Wire
Instructions:
|
The
terms set forth in this Assignment are hereby agreed
to:
ASSIGNOR:
[NAME
OF ASSIGNOR]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
ASSIGNEE:
[NAME
OF ASSIGNEE]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
[Consented
to by:
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
By:_______________________
Name:
[Consented
to and]
5
Accepted by:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
, as
Administrative
Agent
By:_______________________
Authorized
Person
ANNEX
1
STANDARD
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
AGREEMENT
1.
Representations and
Warranties
.
1.1.
Assignor
. The Assignor (a)
represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free
and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii)
it has full power and authority, and has taken all action
necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no
responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or any other Credit Document, other than this Assignment, (ii) the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of any Credit Document, or any collateral
thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, the
Subsidiaries or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other
Person obligated in respect of any Credit Document or (iv) the
performance or observance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any
other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person of any of their
respective obligations under any Credit Document.
1.2.
Assignee
. The Assignee (a)
represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority,
and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this
Assignment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it is an
Eligible Assignee, (iii) it has experience and expertise in
the making of or investing in commitments or loans such as the
Assigned Interest, (iv) it will acquire the Assigned Interest for
its own account in the ordinary course and without a view to
distribution of the Assigned Interest within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other United States federal
securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the
provisions of Section 10.6 of the Credit Agreement, the disposition
of the Assigned Interest or any interests therein shall at all
times remain within its exclusive control), (v) it will not provide
any information or materials obtained by it in its capacity as
Lender to the Borrower, any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate of
the Borrower, (vi) from and after the Assignment Effective
Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement
(including as to each Permitted Intercreditor Agreement) and, to
the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of
a Lender thereunder, (vii) it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Assignment and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the
basis of which it has made such analysis and decision,
(viii) attached to this Assignment is any tax documentation
required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee, and (ix) it
has reviewed the Memorandum for Lenders dated April 30, 2018 (the
“
Lender Memo
”)
posted by Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC (“
Goldman Sachs
”) on the Platform
and (A) acknowledges the information contained therein, including
the respective rights and obligations of the various parties
described therein, and (B) confirms and agrees that none of the
collateral (including any cash collateral) or other credit support
provided by the SPV TLB Lender (as such term is defined in the
Lender Memo) or the TLB Lender (as such term is defined in the
Lender Memo) to Goldman Sachs will secure the Obligations and that
the Assignee shall have no rights thereto or interests therein, and
(b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without
reliance on any Agent, any Arranger, the Assignor or any other
Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall
deem appropriate at that time, continue to make its own credit
decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit
Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit
Documents are required to be performed by it as a
Lender.
1.3.
MNPI
. In the case of any
assignment by or to any Vector Lender, the Assignee or the Assignor
(in each case, if not a Vector Lender), as the case may be,
acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such assignment,
(a) such Vector Lender and its Affiliates may have MNPI (as defined
below), (b) such Assignee or Assignor, as applicable, has
independently, without reliance on such Vector Lender, the
Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any of their respective
Affiliates, made its own analysis and determination to participate
in such assignment notwithstanding such Assignee’s or
Assignor’s lack of knowledge of any such MNPI, (c) none of
such Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any
of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to such
Assignee or Assignor, as the case may be, and such Assignee or
Assignor, as applicable, hereby waives and releases, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any claims it may have against such
Vector Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their
respective Affiliates, under applicable law or otherwise, with
respect to the nondisclosure of any such MNPI and (d) such MNPI may
not be available to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the
other Lenders. “
MNPI
” means material non-public
information (for purposes of United States federal, state or other
applicable securities laws) with respect to the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries and their respective Securities, it being understood
that MNPI may include information that is not available to Lenders,
including Private Lenders.
1.
Payments
. From and after the
Assignment Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all
payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of
principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for
amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Assignment Effective
Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and
after the Assignment Effective Date.
2.
General Provisions
. This
Assignment shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted in accordance with the
Credit Agreement and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature
page of this Assignment by facsimile or other electronic format
(i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment.
THIS ASSIGNMENT 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE
APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
EXHIBIT
B
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
CLOSING DATE CERTIFICATE
May 4,
2018
The
undersigned hereby certifies as follows:
1.
I am an Authorized
Officer of Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”).
2.
I have reviewed the
terms of the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (the “
Credit
Agreement
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent, and in my opinion I have made, or have caused to
be made under my supervision, such examination or investigation as
is reasonably necessary to enable me to certify as to the matters
referred to herein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
3.
Based upon my
review and examination described in paragraph 2 above, I certify,
on behalf of the Borrower, in my capacity as an Authorized Officer
of the Borrower and not in my individual or personal capacity and
without personal liability, that:
(a)
the representations
and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Credit
Documents are true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified or modified as to
materiality in the text thereof, in all respects, and
(ii) otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and
as of the date hereof, except in the case of any such
representation and warranty that expressly relates to an earlier
date, in which case such representation and warranty is so true and
correct on and as of such earlier date;
(b)
no Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any
Credit Extension made by a Lender on the date hereof;
and
(c)
subject to the
final paragraph of Section 3.1 of the Credit Agreement, the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement has been
satisfied.
The
foregoing certifications are made and delivered as of the date
first stated above.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name: [●]
|
|
Title: [●]
|
[Signature
Page to Closing Date Certificate]
EXHIBIT C
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
[The form of this Compliance Certificate has been prepared for
convenience only, and is not to affect, or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting, the terms of the Credit Agreement
referred to below. The obligations of the Borrower and the other
Credit Parties under the Credit Agreement are as set forth in the
Credit Agreement, and nothing in this Compliance Certificate, or
the form hereof, shall modify such obligations or constitute a
waiver of compliance therewith in accordance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of
this Compliance Certificate and the terms of the Credit Agreement,
the terms of the Credit Agreement shall govern and control, and the
terms of this Compliance Certificate are to be modified
accordingly.]
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby certifies, in [his][her] capacity as the chief
financial officer of the Borrower and not in [his][her] individual
capacity, as follows:
1.
I am the chief
financial officer of the Borrower.
2.
[Attached as
Schedule I hereto, pursuant to Section 5.1(a) of the Credit
Agreement, are the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Year ended December
31, 20[ ], and the related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal
Year, together with a report thereon of [EisnerAmper
LLP].]
[or]
[Attached as
Schedule I hereto, pursuant to Section 5.1(b) of the Credit
Agreement, are the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter ended
[ ], 20[ ],
and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter (in the case of such
statements of operations) and for the period from the beginning of
the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding periods of (or, in the case of the
balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year. Such
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results
of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated
in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as
otherwise disclosed in such financial statements), subject to
changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and the
absence of footnotes.]
3.
[Appended to
Schedule I hereto is the Unrestricted Subsidiary Reconciliation
Statement required by Section 5.1(c) of the Credit
Agreement.]
6
[Appended to
Schedule I hereto [is][are] the statement(s) of reconciliation
required by Section 5.1(d) of the Credit Agreement.]
7
[Attached as
Schedule II hereto is the consolidated plan and financial forecast
for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 20[ ] required by Section
5.1(i) of the Credit Agreement, including (a) a forecasted
consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements
of comprehensive income and cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, and an explanation of the
assumptions on which such forecasts are based, and (b) forecasted
consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for each Fiscal Quarter of such
Fiscal Year. Such forecasted consolidated financial statements have
been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are
believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of this
Compliance Certificate.]
8
Set
forth on Annex A hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter ended
[ ], 20[ ].
[Set
forth on Annex B hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
aggregate Consolidated Capital Expenditures made during the Fiscal
Year ended December 31, 20[ ].]
9
[Set
forth on Annex C hereto is a true and accurate calculation of the
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for the Fiscal Year ended December
31, 20[ ], together with a true and accurate calculation of the
aggregate principal amount of prepayment of the Borrowings required
under Section 2.13(e) of the Credit Agreement.]
10
[Enclosed with this
Compliance Certificate is a completed Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire required by Section 5.1(k) of the Credit
Agreement.]
11
I have
reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and I have made, or have
caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable
detail of the transactions and condition of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached
financial statements. The foregoing examination did not disclose,
and I have no knowledge of, the existence of any event or condition
that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default during or at the
end of the accounting period covered by the attached financial
statements or as of the date of this Compliance Certificate, except
as set forth in a separate attachment, if any, to this Compliance
Certificate, describing in detail the nature of the condition or
event, the period during which it has existed and the action that
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has taken, is taking or
proposes to take with respect to each such event or
condition.
The
foregoing certifications are made and delivered on [ ], 20[ ]
pursuant to Section 5.1(c) of the Credit
Agreement.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name: [
]
|
|
Title: [
]
|
ANNEX
A
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
AS OF
THE END OF OR FOR THE PERIOD OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE FISCAL QUARTERS
ENDED ON [mm/dd/yy]
12
1.
|
Consolidated
Net Income:
(i) − (ii)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the net income (or
loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with
GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
to
the extent included in (i):
(a) +
(b) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principles during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
the net income (or
loss) of any Person (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any
Person accounted for under the equity method of accounting) that is
not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary except, in the case of
net income, to the extent of the amount of Cash dividends or
similar Cash distribution actually paid by such Person to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
2.
|
Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA:
13
(i) +
(ii) − (iii) =
14
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
Consolidated Net
Income (see row 1 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
to
the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such
Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case of amounts pursuant to (h)
and (q) below, to the extent not already included in Consolidated
Net Income), the sum for the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries of the following amounts for such period:
15
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) + (j) + (k) + (l) + (m) + (n)
+ (o) + (p) + (q) +
(r) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
total interest
expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest
expense, any losses on Hedge Agreements entered into for the
purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and
gains on such Hedge Agreements, and bank and letter of credit fees
and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing
activities:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
14
Subject to the immediately preceding note, Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA for (A) the Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2017, shall be
deemed to be equal to $37,350,000, (B) the Fiscal Quarter ended
June 30, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to $40,745,000, (C)
the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2017, shall be deemed
to be equal to $39,783,000 and (D) the Fiscal Quarter ended
December 31, 2017, shall be deemed to be equal to
$43,778,000.
|
(b)
provision for
Federal, state and foreign taxes based on income, profits or
capital gains, including in respect of repatriated
funds:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
depreciation and
amortization, including amortization of intangible assets
established through purchase accounting and amortization of
deferred financing fees or costs, but excluding amortization of any
other prepaid cash expense that was paid and not expensed in a
prior period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
non-cash charges,
including impairment charges and any other write-down or write-off
of assets, noncash fair value adjustments of Investments
and noncash stock-based and similar incentive-based
compensation (including with respect to any profits interest
relating to membership interests in any partnership or limited
liability company), but excluding any such noncash charge or loss
to the extent that it represents an amortization of a prepaid cash
expense that was paid and not expensed in a prior period or
write-down or write-off with respect to accounts receivable
(including any addition to bad debt reserves or bad debt expense)
or inventory:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
extraordinary
losses, determined in conformity with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
unusual or
non-recurring charges, including, in each case, to the extent
unusual or non-recurring, operating expenses directly attributable
to the implementation of cost savings initiatives, merger costs,
severance costs, relocation costs, integration and
facilities’ opening costs, signing costs, retention or
completion bonuses, transition costs, costs related to
closure/consolidation of facilities, costs associated with tax
projects/audits and costs consisting of professional, consulting or
other fees relating to any of the foregoing;provided that the
aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (f) and
pursuant to clauses (g), (m) and, other than with respect to the
Approved Cost Savings
16
, (h) for any Test Period shall not
exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or prior to December
31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period
and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case of each of
clauses (A) and (B) above, calculated prior to giving effect to any
addback pursuant to this clause (f) or pursuant to clause (g), (h)
or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
restructuring
charges, accruals and reserves (including restructuring charges
related to the Merger or to Acquisitions consummated after the
Closing Date);provided that the aggregate amount added back
pursuant to this clause (g) and pursuant to clauses (f), (m) and,
other than with respect to the Approved Cost Savings, (h) for any
Test Period shall not exceed (A) for any Test Period ending on or
prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for
such Test Period and (B) for any Test Period ending thereafter, 15%
of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period, in the case
of each of clauses (A) and (B), calculated prior to giving effect
to any addback pursuant to this clause (g) or pursuant to clause
(f), (h) or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
the amount of
“run rate” net cost savings, operating expense
reductions and other operating improvements and synergies
reasonably projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized
in connection with the Transactions or any other Pro Forma Event or
the implementation of any operational initiative, including the
termination, abandonment or discontinuance of operations and
product lines (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost
savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements
and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable
Test Period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during
such period from such actions;provided that (A) such cost
savings, operating expense reductions and other operating
improvements and synergies are reasonably identifiable, factually
supportable and reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months
after the Closing Date or within 12 months after the consummation
of such other Pro Forma Event or the adoption of such initiative,
as applicable, (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions
and other operating improvements and synergies shall be added
pursuant to this clause (h) to the extent duplicative of any items
otherwise added in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
whether pursuant to the requirement of Section 1.2(b) of the Credit
Agreement or otherwise, for such period and (C) other than with
respect to the Approved Cost Savings, the aggregate amount added
back pursuant to this clause (h) and pursuant to clauses (f), (g)
and (m) for any Test Period shall not exceed (x) for any Test
Period ending on or prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period and (y) for any Test Period
ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such
Test Period, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y) above,
calculated prior to giving effect to any addback pursuant to this
clause (h) or pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (m):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the amount of any
noncontrolling interest consisting of income of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower attributable to
noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in such Restricted
Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(j)
after-tax losses
attributable to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(k)
the amount of any
net losses from discontinued operations, determined in conformity
with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(l)
(A) transaction
fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
Transactions prior to the Closing Date, (B) transaction fees, costs
and expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000
incurred in connection with the Transactions after the Closing Date
but prior to the one year anniversary of the Closing Date and
(C) transaction fees, costs and expenses in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $1,000,000 incurred on or prior to December
31, 2018 in connection with the Specified Acquisition (whether or
not the Specified Acquisition is consummated):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(m)
transaction fees,
costs and expenses incurred during such period, or any amortization
thereof for such period, in connection with any Acquisition, any
Investment (other than intercompany Investments in the ordinary
course of business), any Disposition (other than Dispositions in
the ordinary course of business), any incurrence, repayment or
refinancing of Indebtedness (or any amendment or other modification
of any Indebtedness) or any issuance of Equity Interests, including
any such transaction consummated prior to the Closing Date and any
such transaction undertaken but not completed;provided that the
aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (m) and
pursuant to clauses (f), (g) and, other than with respect to the
Approved Cost Savings, (h) for any Test Period shall not exceed (A)
for any Test Period ending on or prior to December 31, 2018, 5% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period and (B) for any
Test Period ending thereafter, 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
for such Test Period, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B)
above, calculated prior to giving effect to any addback pursuant to
this clause (m) or pursuant to clause (f), (g) or (h):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(n)
any loss
attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(o)
any unrealized loss
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB Accounting
Standards Codification 815, as amended:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(p)
any unrealized loss
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the
application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(q)
any expenses,
charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other
reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment,
Acquisition or Disposition (other than in the ordinary course of
business) permitted under the Credit Documents or in connection
with any Insurance/Condemnation Event (disregarding the exception
in the definition of such term), including lost profits covered by
business interruption insurance, in each case, to the extent (A)
actually reimbursed by the applicable third party insurer or other
third party during such period or (B) (1) the Borrower has received
notification from the applicable third party insurer or other third
party that it intends to reimburse such expenses, charges or losses
or such lost profits and (2) there exists reasonable evidence that
such expenses, charges or losses or lost profits will in fact be
reimbursed by such insurer or other third party within 270 days
after the related amount is first added to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA pursuant to this clause (q), provided that no amount may be
added pursuant to this clause (q) to the extent that (x) such
insurer or other third party shall have denied in writing
reimbursement for such amount and (y) such amount has not actually
been reimbursed within 270 days after it is first added to
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (q) (with a
deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so
reimbursed within such 270 days):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(r)
any contingent or
deferred payments (including earnout payments, noncompete payments
and consulting payments) actually made to sellers during such
period in connection with any Acquisition, and any losses for such
period arising from the remeasurement of the fair value of any
liability recorded with respect to any earnout or other contingent
or deferred consideration arising from any
Acquisition:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to
the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income
(or, in the case of amounts pursuant to clause (i) below, to the
extent not already deducted from Consolidated Net Income), the sum
for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the following
amounts for such period:
17
(a) + (b) +(c) + (d) + (e)
+ (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
non-cash gains or
items of income (other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary
course), excluding any non-cash items of income in respect of which
Cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
extraordinary gains
or items of income, determined in conformity with
GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
unusual or
non-recurring gains or items of income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
gains attributable
to any Disposition of assets (other than Dispositions in the
ordinary course of business):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the amount of any
net income from discontinued operations, determined in conformity
with GAAP:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
any gain
attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or
obligations under any Hedge Agreement:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
any unrealized gain
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
obligations under any Hedge Agreement pursuant to FASB Accounting
Standards Codification 815, as amended:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
any unrealized gain
attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of
amounts denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the
application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification
830:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the amount of any
noncontrolling interest consisting of losses of any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower attributable to
noncontrolling Equity Interests of third parties in such Restricted
Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
3.
|
Consolidated
Total Net Debt:
18
(i) + (ii) + (iii) + (iv) + (v) + (vi) − (vii) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i) the
sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date, in the amount that would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in
conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a) of the
Credit Agreement), consisting solely of Indebtedness for borrowed
money, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments and purchase money indebtedness:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such
date:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iii)
to the extent the amount thereof would be required to be reflected
on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis
in conformity with GAAP (but subject to Section 1.2(a) of the
Credit Agreement), the aggregate amount of purchase price
adjustments, earnouts, deferred compensation or other similar
arrangements incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with any Acquisition:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(iv)
the aggregate amount outstanding as of such date of unreimbursed
drawings or other disbursements under all letters of credit and
letters of guaranty in respect of which the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is an account party:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(v) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in respect of bankers’ acceptances
outstanding as of such date:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vi)
Guarantees outstanding as of such date by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the type described in
clauses (i) through (v) above of any Person other than the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(vii)
the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date (but
disregarding the proceeds of Indebtedness that is incurred on such
date):
19
|
$[___,___,___]
|
4.
|
Total
Net Leverage Ratio:
(i) / (ii)
=
|
[
]:1.00
|
|
Consolidated
Total Net Debt (see row 3 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA (see row 2 above):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
ANNEX
B
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED [mm/dd/yy]
2.
|
Capital
Expenditures
|
|
|
(i)
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
20
:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
Maximum permitted Consolidated Capital Expenditures:
(a)
+
(b)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the greater of
(1)
and
(2)
(1)
Base CapEx Amount:
|
$[___,___,___]
$63,250,000
|
|
(2) if
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have consummated
any Material Acquisition (excluding the Merger) after the Closing
Date, the Material Acquisition CapEx Amount
21
for such Fiscal Year (determined as of
the date of consummation of the Material Acquisition most recently
consummated after the Closing Date and on or prior to the last day
of such Fiscal Year):
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
permitted carryover
of unused Base CapEx Amount from prior Fiscal Year, if
any
22
:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
20
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;provided that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not
include any expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net
Proceeds reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) of
the Credit Agreement or (b) that constitute an Acquisition
permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement;provided
further that, except for purposes of calculating Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any period, in the event the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated
Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures made
by any Person, business unit, division, product line or line of
business acquired pursuant to such Acquisition, in each case, prior
to the date of the consummation of such
Acquisition.
ANNEX
C
TO
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED [mm/dd/yy]
3.
|
Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow:
(i) − (ii)
=
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i) the
sum, without duplication, of:
(a) +
(b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
Consolidated Net
Income for such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation expense,
amortization expense and deferred tax expense), to the extent
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
the sum of (A) the
amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital decreased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (B) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries increased during such
period, in each case, other than any such decreases or increases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(d)
the aggregate
amount of net non-cash loss on any Disposition of assets by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business), to the extent deducted in
arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the aggregate
amount of cash payments received in respect of Hedge Agreements
during such period, to the extent not included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
the aggregate
amount of any non-cash loss for such period attributable to the
early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedge Agreements, to the
extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
income tax expense,
to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net
Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(ii)
the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) + (f) + (g) + (h) + (i) + (j) + (k)
+ (l) + (m) + (n) + (o) =
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(a)
the aggregate
amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at Consolidated
Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(b)
without duplication
of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (k) below in any prior
period, the Consolidated Capital Expenditures
23
made by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash during such period, except to the extent
financed with Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(c)
the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries repaid or prepaid (including, to the extent of Cash
spent, through repurchases and redemptions) by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period (including
(A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capital
Lease Obligations, (B) scheduled Installments of Loans made
pursuant to Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement and scheduled
installments of term loans made pursuant to Section 2.11 of the
First Lien Credit Agreement (or any comparable provision in any
other Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document), (C) the
amount of any mandatory prepayment of Loans, any Permitted Pari
Passu Secured Indebtedness or any Permitted Senior Lien Secured
Indebtedness actually made with the Net Proceeds of an Asset Sale
or an Insurance/Condemnation Event, in each case, to the extent
such Net Proceeds resulted in an increase to Consolidated Net
Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase, and (D) to
the extent of Cash spent, repurchases by the Borrower of Loans
pursuant to Section 10.6(i)(ii) of the Credit Agreement, but
excluding (1) all other repayments or prepayments (including
repurchases and redemptions) of Loans, Permitted Pari Passu Secured
Indebtedness and Permitted Senior Lien Secured Indebtedness,
(2) all repayments or prepayments (including repurchases and
redemptions) of any revolving credit loans (other than in respect
of any revolving credit facility to the extent there is an
equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder, other
than in connection with a refinancing thereof) and (3) repayments
or prepayments (including repurchases and redemptions) of Junior
Indebtedness (it being understood and agreed that any amount
excluded pursuant to clauses (1) through (3) above may not be
deducted under any other clause of this definition)), except to the
extent financed with Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
23
“
Consolidated Capital Expenditures
”
means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures made by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period
that are required to be included in “purchase of property,
plant and equipment” or similar items on a consolidated
statement of cash flows, or that are otherwise required to be
capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet, of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period prepared in conformity
with GAAP;provided that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not
include any expenditures (a) to the extent made with Net
Proceeds reinvested pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or 2.13(b) of
the Credit Agreement or (b) that constitute an Acquisition
permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement;provided
further that, except for purposes of calculating Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any period, in the event the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary consummates an Acquisition, Consolidated
Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures made
by any Person, business unit, division, product line or line of
business acquired pursuant to such Acquisition, in each case, prior
to the date of the consummation of such
Acquisition.
|
(d)
the aggregate
amount of net non-cash gain on any Disposition of assets by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Dispositions
in the ordinary course of business), to the extent included in
arriving at Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(e)
the sum of (i) the
amount, if any, by which Consolidated Working Capital increased
during such period (except as a result of the reclassification of
items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) and (ii) the net
amount, if any, by which the consolidated deferred revenues of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries decreased during such
period, in each case, other than any such increases or decreases,
as applicable, arising from an Acquisition or from a Disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) by the
Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during
such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(f)
the aggregate
amount of any non-cash gain for such period attributable to the
early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or other
derivative instruments, to the extent included in arriving at
Consolidated Net Income:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(g)
the aggregate
amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities
of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than
Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(h)
without duplication
of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (k) below in any prior
period, the aggregate amount of Cash paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries during such period to consummate any
Acquisition or Investment (other than intercompany Investments)
permitted under Section 6.6(l), 6.6(m) or 6.6(o) of the Credit
Agreement, except to the extent financed with Excluded
Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(i)
the aggregate
amount of Restricted Junior Payments permitted by Section 6.4(e),
6.4(g)(i) or 6.4(i) of the Credit Agreement paid by the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash during such period, except
to the extent financed with Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(j)
the aggregate
amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid
in Cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period that are required to be made in connection with any
prepayment of Indebtedness, except to the extent financed with
Excluded Sources:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(k)
without duplication
of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in any prior period, the
aggregate Contract Consideration entered into prior to or during
such period relating to Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital
Expenditures, in each case, to be consummated or made during the
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower
following the end of such period;provided that to the extent that
the aggregate amount of Cash actually utilized to finance such
Acquisitions or Consolidated Capital Expenditures during such
period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters is less than the
Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added
to the calculation of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow at the end of
such period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(l)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, directors’
fees (including salary and bonus) and board consulting fees and
related reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(m)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, transaction fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions or
any Acquisition paid by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in Cash in such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(n)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, income taxes,
including penalties and interest, paid by the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in Cash in such period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
|
(o)
to the extent not
deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate
amount of Cash payments made by the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of Hedge Agreements during such
period:
|
$[___,___,___]
|
EXHIBIT
D
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
420
Lexington Avenue
Suite
1718
New
York, New York 10170
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Attention:
Josh James
Telephone:
(612) 217-5637
Fax:
(612) 217-5651
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
Pursuant to
Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby
notifies the Administrative Agent of the following information with
respect to the conversion or continuation requested
hereby:
1.
Class (e.g.,
Tranche B Term) and Type (e.g., Base Rate or Eurodollar Rate) of
existing Borrowing to which this request applies
24
:
_______________________________________________
4.
Principal amount of
existing Borrowing to be converted/continued
25
:
______________________________________________
3.
Type (e.g., Base
Rate or Eurodollar Rate) and principal amount of each new Borrowing
resulting from the requested conversion/continuation
26
:
______________________________________________
5.
Interest Period of
each new Borrowing resulting from the requested
conversion/continuation (if applicable)
27
:
______________________________________________
5.
Effective date of
election
28
:
__________________________________________
Date: [
], 20[ ]
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
__________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
E
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SECOND LIEN COUNTERPART AGREEMENT
This
SECOND LIEN
COUNTERPART AGREEMENT
, dated [ ], 20[ ]
(this “
Counterpart
Agreement
”), is delivered pursuant to the Second Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (as it
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
SECTION
1. In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement,
the undersigned by its signature below becomes a Guarantor
Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement with the same force and
effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor Subsidiary,
and the undersigned hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and
provisions of the Credit Agreement applicable to it as a Guarantor
Subsidiary (and, accordingly, as a Credit Party) thereunder and (b)
in furtherance of the foregoing, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally with the other
Guarantors, the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations
when and as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity,
by required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise
(including amounts that would become due but for the operation of
the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code
or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law), all in
accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, Section 7 of the
Credit Agreement.
SECTION
2. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants, as to itself,
that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.1,
4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of the Credit Agreement are true and correct
on and as of the date hereof.
SECTION
3. The undersigned agrees to execute any and all further documents,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, that
the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to effectuate the
transactions contemplated by, and to carry out the intent of, this
Counterpart Agreement.
SECTION
4. Neither this Counterpart Agreement nor any provision hereof may
be waived, amended or modified, and no consent to any departure by
the undersigned therefrom may be made, except in accordance with
the Credit Agreement. Any notice or other communication herein
required or permitted to be given shall be given pursuant to
Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. In case any provision in
or obligation under this Counterpart Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
5. THIS COUNTERPART 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) SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF
ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has
caused this Second Lien Counterpart Agreement to be duly executed
and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date above
first written.
[NAME
OF DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY]
By:
_______
Name:
Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND ACCEPTED,
as of
the date above first written:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
,
as
Administrative Agent
By:_____________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
F
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
420
Lexington Avenue
Suite
1718
New
York, New York 10170
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis,
MN 55402
Attention:
Josh James
Telephone:
(612) 217-5637
Fax:
(612) 217-5651
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
FUNDING NOTICE
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit
Agreement.
Pursuant to
Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower desires that
Lenders make the following Loans to the Borrower in accordance with
the applicable terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement on [ ],
20[ ] (the “
Credit
Date
”):
Tranche
B Term Loans
29
:
□
Base
Rate Loans:
□
Eurodollar Rate Loans, with
an initial Interest Period of ________ month(s)
30
:
|
$[___,___,___]
$[___,___,___]
|
|
|
|
|
Wiring
instructions for account to which
proceeds of Loans
are to be
remitted:
[ ]
The
Borrower hereby certifies that:
31
(a) The
representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in
the Credit Documents are true and correct (i) in the case of the
representations and warranties qualified as to materiality in the
text thereof, in all respects, and (ii) otherwise, in all material
respects, in each case on and as of the Credit Date set forth
above, except in the case of any such representation and warranty
that expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty is so true and correct on and as of
such earlier date.
(b) At
the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Credit
Extension, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would result therefrom.
Date: [ ], 20[
]
FUSION CONNECT,
INC.
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
G
TO FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SECOND
LIEN INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (this “
Agreement
”), among FUSION CONNECT,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), the other Intercompany
Lenders and Intercompany Debtors (each as defined below) from time
to time party hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
Administrative Agent.
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the
Lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
The
Credit Agreement provides that Indebtedness owing by a Credit Party
to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party shall be
subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations. For purposes
of this Agreement, (a) “
Intercompany Indebtedness
” means
any Indebtedness owed by any Credit Party to any Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, together with all interest
(including interest accruing during
the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other
similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in
such proceeding) on the principal of such Indebtedness and all
other monetary obligations of any Credit Party arising from or in
respect of such Indebtedness, including obligations to pay fees,
expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations,
whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b)
each of the Credit Parties, in its capacity as an obligor in
respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness, is referred to herein as
an
“
Intercompany
Debtor
”,
(c) each of
the Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Credit Party, in its
capacity as an obligee in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness,
is referred to herein as an
“
Intercompany Lender
” and
(d) the Lenders, the Agents (including former Agents, as
applicable) and the other Secured Parties are sometimes
collectively referred to as “
Senior Lenders
”.
The
Senior Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower, and to
permit the Credit Parties to incur Intercompany Indebtedness,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit
Agreement. The Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries are
required to execute and deliver this Agreement pursuant to the
terms of the Credit Agreement. In accordance with the Credit
Agreement, each of the Restricted Subsidiaries party hereto that is
not a Credit Party desires to enter into this Agreement in order to
subordinate, on the terms set forth herein, its rights, as an
Intercompany Lender, to payment under any Intercompany Indebtedness
to the prior payment in full in cash or immediately available funds
of the Obligations (other than contingent obligations as to which
no claim has been made). The Intercompany Lenders are Affiliates of
the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension
of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are
willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce
the Senior Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
and Construction
. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement or
the Pledge and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable, are used herein (including the preliminary statements
hereto) as defined therein. The rules of construction specified in
Section 1.3 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this
Agreement,
mutatis
mutandis
.
2.
Subordination
.
(a) Each Intercompany Lender
hereby agrees that all its
right, title and interest in, to and under any Intercompany
Indebtedness owed to it by any Intercompany Debtor shall be
subordinate, and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in
the manner hereinafter set forth, to all Obligations of such
Intercompany Debtor until the payment in full in cash or
immediately available funds of all Obligations of such Intercompany
Debtor (such Obligations, including interest thereon (including
interest accruing at the default rate specified in the Credit
Agreement) accruing after the commencement of any proceedings
referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section, whether or not such
interest is an allowed or allowable claim in such proceeding, being
hereinafter collectively referred to as “
Senior
Indebtedness
”).
(a)
In
the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceedings in connection therewith, relating to any Intercompany
Debtor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for
voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any
Intercompany Debtor, whether or not involving insolvency or
bankruptcy, then (i) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be
paid in full in cash or immediately available funds in respect of
all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness before any
Intercompany Lender shall be entitled to receive (whether directly
or indirectly), or make any demand for, any payment or distribution
of any kind or character, whether in cash securities or other
property (other than Restructured Debt Securities (as defined
below)), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of
any right of setoff or otherwise, from such Intercompany Debtor on
account of any Intercompany Indebtedness owed by such Intercompany
Debtor to such Intercompany Lender (
provided
that the foregoing
shall not impair the right of any such Intercompany Lender to file
a proof of claim in any such proceeding in accordance with the
terms hereof) and (ii) until the holders of Senior Indebtedness are
paid in full in cash or immediately available funds in respect of
all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness, any payment or
distribution to which such Intercompany Lender would otherwise be
entitled, whether in cash, property or securities (other than a
payment of debt securities of such Intercompany Debtor that are
subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior
Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the Intercompany
Indebtedness described in this Agreement is subordinated and junior
in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding
(such securities being hereinafter referred to as
“
Restructured Debt
Securities
”)) shall instead be made to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness.
(b)
If
any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent has provided prior written notice to the
Borrower requesting that no such payment or distribution, or no
such forgiveness or reduction, be made, then (i) no payment or
distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash securities
or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), and
whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of
setoff or otherwise, shall be made by or on behalf of any
Intercompany Debtor with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness
owed to any Intercompany Lender and (ii) no Intercompany
Indebtedness owing by any Intercompany Debtor to any Intercompany
Lender shall be forgiven or otherwise reduced in any way, other
than as a result of payment of such amount in full in cash or
immediately available funds.
(c)
If
any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt
Securities), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption,
exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, with respect to any
Intercompany Indebtedness shall (despite these subordination
provisions) be received by any Intercompany Lender from any
Intercompany Debtor in violation of paragraph (b) or (c) of this
Section prior to all Senior Indebtedness having been paid in full
in cash or immediately available funds (other than contingent
obligations as to which no claim has been made), such payment or
distribution shall be held by such Intercompany Lender (segregated
from other property of such Intercompany Lender) for the benefit of
the Administrative Agent, and shall be paid over or delivered to
the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt to the extent
necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in cash or
immediately available funds.
(d)
Each
Intercompany Lender and each Intercompany Debtor hereby agrees that
the subordination provisions set forth in this Agreement are for
the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of
Senior Indebtedness. The Administrative Agent may, on behalf of
itself and such other holders of Senior Indebtedness, proceed to
enforce these subordination provisions set forth
herein.
3.
Waivers
and Consents
. (a) Each Intercompany Lender waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, the right to compel that any
property or asset of any Intercompany Debtor or any property or
asset of any other Credit Party be applied in any particular order
to discharge the Obligations. Each Intercompany Lender expressly
waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the right to
require the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender to
proceed against any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any
Obligation or any other Person, or to pursue any other remedy in
its or their power that such Intercompany Lender cannot pursue and
that would lighten such Intercompany Lender’s burden,
notwithstanding that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any
other Senior Lender to do so may thereby prejudice such
Intercompany Lender. Each Intercompany Lender agrees that it shall
not be discharged, exonerated or have its obligations hereunder
reduced (i) by the Administrative Agent’s or any other Senior
Lender’s delay in proceeding against or enforcing any remedy
against any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligation or
any other Person; (ii) by the Administrative Agent or any other
Senior Lender releasing any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of
any Obligation or any other Person from all or any part of the
Obligations; or (iii) by the discharge of any Intercompany Debtor,
any guarantor of any Obligation or any other Person by an operation
of law or otherwise, with or without the intervention or omission
of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior
Lender.
(a)
Each
Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies
by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender, even though
that election of remedies, including any nonjudicial foreclosure
with respect to any property or asset securing any Obligation, has
impaired the value of such Intercompany Lender’s rights of
subrogation, reimbursement, or contribution against any
Intercompany Debtor or any other Credit Party. Each Intercompany
Lender expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any rights
or defenses (other than the defense of payment or performance) it
may have by reason of protection afforded to any Intercompany
Debtor or any other Credit Party with respect to the Obligations
pursuant to any anti-deficiency laws or other laws of similar
import that limit or discharge the principal debtor’s
indebtedness upon judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure of property
or assets securing any Obligation.
(b)
Each
Intercompany Lender agrees that, without the necessity of any
reservation of rights against it, and without notice to or further
assent by it, any demand for payment of any Obligation made by the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may be rescinded in
whole or in part by such Person, and any Obligation may be
continued, and the Obligations or the liability of any Intercompany
Debtor or any other Credit Party obligated thereunder, or any right
of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or
in part, be renewed, extended, modified, accelerated, compromised,
waived, surrendered or released by the Administrative Agent or any
other Senior Lender, in each case without notice to or further
assent by such Intercompany Lender, which will remain bound
hereunder, and without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting
the subordination provided for herein.
(c)
Each
Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or
accrual of any of the Obligations, and any and all notice of or
proof of reliance by the Senior Lenders upon this Agreement. The
Obligations, and any of them, shall be deemed conclusively to have
been created, contracted or incurred, and the consent to create the
obligations of any Intercompany Debtor in respect of the
Intercompany Indebtedness of such Intercompany Debtor shall be
deemed conclusively to have been given, in reliance upon this
Agreement. Each Intercompany Lender waives, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, any protest, demand for payment and notice of
default in respect of the Obligations.
4.
Obligations
Unconditional
. All rights and interests of the
Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders hereunder, and
all agreements and obligations of each Intercompany Lender and each
Intercompany Debtor hereunder, shall remain in full force and
effect irrespective of:
(a)
any
lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any
other Credit Document;
(b)
any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other
term of, all or any of the Obligations or any amendment or waiver
or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise,
of, or consent to departure from, the Credit Agreement or any other
Credit Document;
(c)
any
exchange, release or nonperfection of any Lien in any Collateral,
or any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in
writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of or consent to
departure from, any guarantee of any Obligation; or
(d)
any
other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, any Intercompany Debtor in respect
of the Obligations or of such Intercompany Lender or such
Intercompany Debtor in respect of the subordination provisions set
forth herein (other than the payment in full in cash or immediately
available funds of the Obligations).
5.
Waiver
of Claims
. (a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each
Intercompany Lender waives any claim it might have against the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender with respect to, or
arising out of, any action or failure to act or any error of
judgment, negligence, or mistake or oversight whatsoever on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender or any
Related Party of any of the foregoing with respect to any exercise
of rights or remedies under the Credit Documents in the absence of
the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Person or its
Related Parties (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise
determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction). None of the Administrative Agent or any
other Senior Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing
shall be liable to any Intercompany Lender for failure to demand,
collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or any guarantee of
any Obligation, or for any delay in doing so, or shall be under any
obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the
request of any such Intercompany Lender or any other Person or to
take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral, or
any part thereof, except to the extent such liability has been
found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Person or its Related Parties.
(a)
Each
Intercompany Lender, for itself and on behalf of its successors and
assigns, hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
any and all now existing or hereafter arising rights it may have to
require the Senior Lenders to marshal assets for the benefit of
such Intercompany Lender, or to otherwise direct the timing, order
or manner of any sale, collection or other enforcement of the
Collateral or enforcement of any rights or remedies under the
Credit Documents. The Senior Lenders are under no duty or
obligation, and each Intercompany Lender hereby waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to compel
any Senior Lender, to pursue any Intercompany Debtor or any other
Credit Party that may be liable for the Obligations, or to enforce
any Lien in any Collateral.
(b)
Each
Intercompany Lender hereby waives, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, and releases all rights which a guarantor or surety
with respect to the Senior Indebtedness could
exercise.
6.
Notices
.
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and
given in the manner provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit
Agreement. All communications and notices to any Intercompany
Lender or Intercompany Debtor shall be given to it in care of the
Borrower in the manner provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit
Agreement.
7.
Waivers;
Amendment
. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative
Agent or any other Senior Lender in exercising any right or power
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment
or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders hereunder are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that
they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or consent to any departure by any Intercompany Lender or
any Intercompany Debtor therefrom shall in any event be effective
unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this
Section 7, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only
in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given. No notice or demand on any Intercompany Lender or any
Intercompany Debtor in any case shall entitle any Intercompany
Lender or any Intercompany Debtor to any other or further notice or
demand in similar or other circumstances.
(a)
Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the
Intercompany Lenders or Intercompany Debtors with respect to which
such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any
consent required in accordance with Section 10.5 of the Credit
Agreement.
8.
Successors
and Assigns
. (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns permitted hereby.
(a)
The
Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall have a
full and unfettered right to assign or otherwise transfer the whole
or any part of the benefit of this Agreement to any Person to whom
all or a corresponding part of the Obligations are assigned or
transferred in accordance with the Credit Agreement or pursuant to
applicable law, all without impairing, abridging, releasing or
affecting the subordination provided for herein.
9.
Survival
of Agreement
. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Intercompany Lenders and the Intercompany
Debtors in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied
upon by the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders and
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender and notwithstanding
that the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may have
had notice or knowledge of any default hereunder or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time this Agreement is executed
and delivered and shall continue in full force and effect until
terminated in accordance with Section 17. The provisions of
Section 5 shall survive and remain in full force and effect
regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any provision
hereof. This Agreement shall apply in respect of the Obligations
notwithstanding any intermediate payment in whole or in part of the
Obligations and shall apply to the ultimate balance of the
Obligations.
10.
Counterparts;
Effectiveness; Several Agreement
. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective as to any Intercompany Lender or
Intercompany Debtor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of
such Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor shall have been
delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof
shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent and
delivered to the Borrower. This Agreement shall be construed as a
separate agreement with respect to each Intercompany Lender and
each Intercompany Debtor and may be amended, modified,
supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Intercompany
Lender or Intercompany Debtor without the approval of any other
Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor and without affecting
the obligations of any other Intercompany Lender or Intercompany
Debtor hereunder.
11.
Severability
.
In case any provision in or obligation hereunder shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
12.
Further
Assurances
. The Borrower, each other Intercompany Lender and
each other Intercompany Debtor agrees that it will execute any and
all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all
such further actions that may be required under any applicable law,
or that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the
purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of the
subordination provisions set forth herein and of the rights and
powers herein granted, all at the expense of the Borrower or such
Intercompany Lenders or such Intercompany Debtors.
13.
GOVERNING
LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS; APPOINTMENT OF
SERVICE OF PROCESS AGENT
.
(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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN
THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
(a)
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR
ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, ANY
STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND ANY
APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE BORROWER, EACH OTHER
INTERCOMPANY LENDER AND EACH OTHER INTERCOMPANY DEBTOR HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT
OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY IT OR ANY OF ITS
AFFILIATES SHALL BE BROUGHT, AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED,
EXCLUSIVELY IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT
A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE
CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON
THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
OR ANY OTHER SENIOR LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION
OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER, ANY
OTHER INTERCOMPANY LENDER, ANY OTHER INTERCOMPANY DEBTOR OR ANY OF
ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(b)
Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any
court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 13. Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any defense of forum non conveniens to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.
(c)
Each
party hereto irrevocably consents to the service of process by
mailing of copies of such process in the manner provided for
notices in Section 6. Nothing in this Agreement will affect
the right of any party to this Agreement or any Secured Party to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
14.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS
TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR
ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO
ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, 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 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 14 AND
EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL
APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. IN
THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN
CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
15.
Headings
.
Article and Section headings used herein are for convenience of
reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect
the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in
interpreting, this Agreement.
16.
Provisions
Define Relative Rights
. The subordination provisions set
forth herein are intended solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the Intercompany Lenders and the Intercompany
Debtors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the
other Secured Parties, on the other, and no other Person shall have
any right, benefit or other interest under these subordination
provisions.
17.
Termination
.
This Agreement and the subordination provisions set forth herein
shall automatically terminate when all the Obligations (other than
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made) have
been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds and all
Commitments have terminated. If (a) any Restricted Subsidiary shall
have been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance
with the terms of the Credit Agreement or (b) all the Equity
Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary held by the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by
merger or consolidation) in any transaction permitted by the Credit
Agreement, and as a result of such sale or other disposition such
Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary of the
Borrower, then such Restricted Subsidiary shall, upon effectiveness
of such designation, or the consummation of such sale or other
disposition, automatically be discharged and released from its
obligations hereunder;
provided
that that no such
discharge and release shall occur unless substantially concurrently
therewith, such Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be subject to
any obligations under any subordination agreement with respect to
intercompany Indebtedness in favor of any Permitted
Section 6.10(e) Indebtedness, any Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness, any Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness and any Permitted Subordinated
Indebtedness.
18.
Additional
Subsidiaries
. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, certain
Restricted Subsidiaries not a party hereto on the Closing Date are
required to enter into this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery
to the Administrative Agent after the date hereof by any Restricted
Subsidiary of a counterpart signature page hereto, such Restricted
Subsidiary shall become a party hereto with the same force and
effect as if originally named as such herein. The execution and
delivery of such a counterpart signature page shall not require the
consent of any party hereto. The rights and obligations under this
Agreement of each other party hereto shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Restricted
Subsidiary as a party to this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination
Agreement
]
EXHIBIT
H
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
GLOBAL
INTERCOMPANY NOTE
May 4,
2018
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, each of the undersigned, to the extent a borrower
from time to time from any other Person listed on the signature
pages hereto (each, in such capacity, a “
Payor
”), hereby promises to pay on
demand to such other Person listed below (each, in such capacity, a
“
Payee
”), in
lawful money of the United States of America, or in such other
currency as agreed to by such Payor and such Payee, in immediately
available funds, at such location as such Payee shall from time to
time designate, the unpaid principal amount of all Indebtedness
owed by such Payor to such Payee. Each Payor promises also to pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of all such Indebtedness in
like money at said location from the date that such Indebtedness
was incurred until it is paid in full at such rate per annum as
shall be agreed upon from time to time by such Payor and such
Payee.
Reference is made
to (a) that certain First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated
as of May 4, 2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “
First Lien Credit Agreement
”),
among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”),
certain subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders
party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
administrative agent and collateral agent (in its capacity as
collateral agent, the “
First
Lien Collateral Agent
”), and (b) that certain
Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the “
Second
Lien Credit Agreement
” and, together with the First
Lien Credit Agreement, the “
Credit Agreements
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
Second Lien Collateral
Agent
” and, together with the First Lien Collateral
Agent, the “
Collateral
Agents
”).
Capitalized terms
used in this Global Intercompany Note (this “
Note
”) but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, or in the Pledge and Security Agreement referred
to therein, or (b) the Second Lien Credit Agreement, or in the
Pledge and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable.
This
Note is subject to the terms of each Credit Agreement, and shall be
pledged by each Payee that is a Credit Party to each Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the related Secured Parties, pursuant to
the related Credit Documents as security for the payment and
performance in full of the Obligations under each Credit Agreement
and the related other Credit Documents, to the extent required
pursuant to the terms thereof. Each Payee hereby acknowledges and
agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default under a Credit Agreement, (a) the applicable
Collateral Agent may exercise any and all rights of any Credit
Party with respect to this Note and (b) upon demand of the
applicable Collateral Agent, all amounts evidenced by this Note
that are owed by any Payor to any Credit Party shall become
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest
or notice of any kind (it being understood that the applicable
Collateral Agent may make any such demand for all or any subset of
the amounts owing to such Credit Party and upon any or all Payors
obligated to such Credit Party, all without the consent or
permission of any Payor or Payee). Each Payor also hereby
acknowledges and agrees that this Note constitutes notice of
assignment for security, pursuant to the relevant Credit Documents,
of the Indebtedness and all other amounts evidenced by this Note
and further acknowledges the receipt of such notice of assignment
for security.
Upon
the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding, or any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceeding in connection therewith, in respect of any Payor owing
any amounts evidenced by this Note to any Credit Party, or in
respect of all or a substantial part of any such Payor’s
property, or upon the commencement of any proceeding for voluntary
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of any such Payor, all
amounts evidenced by this Note owing by such Payor to any and all
Credit Parties shall become immediately due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind.
Each
Payee is hereby authorized to record all loans and advances made by
it to any Payor (all of which shall be evidenced by this Note), and
all repayments or prepayments thereof, in its books and records,
such books and records constituting prima facie evidence of the
accuracy of the information contained therein;
provided
,
however
, that the failure of
any such Payee to so record any such information in accordance with
this clause shall not affect any such Payor’s obligations
hereunder.
Each
Payor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest or
notice of any kind whatsoever in connection with this Note. All
payments under this Note shall be made without set-off,
counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
This
Note shall be binding upon each Payor and its successors and
assigns, and the terms and provisions of this Note shall inure to
the benefit of each Payee and its successors and assigns, including
subsequent holders hereof.
From
time to time after the date hereof, additional Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Borrower may become parties hereto (as Payor
and/or Payee, as the case may be) by executing a counterpart
signature page to this Note (each additional Restricted Subsidiary,
an “
Additional
Party
”). Upon delivery of such counterpart signature
page to the Payees, notice of which is hereby waived by the other
Payors, each Additional Party shall be a Payor and/or a Payee, as
the case may be, and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such
Additional Party were an original signatory hereof. Each Payor
expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not
be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other
Payor or Payee hereunder. This Note shall be fully effective as to
any Payor or Payee that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of
whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be
a Payor or Payee hereunder.
No
amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent with respect to,
any provisions of this Note shall be effective unless the same
shall be in writing and signed and delivered by each Payor and
Payee whose rights or obligations shall be affected
thereby;
provided
that, until such time as (a) all the Obligations (other than
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made and the
Specified Hedge Obligations and Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations) under each Credit Agreement and the related other
Credit Documents have been paid in full in cash or immediately
available funds, (b) all Commitments have terminated and (c)
no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding, as applicable, each
Administrative Agent shall have provided its prior written consent
to such amendment, modification, waiver or consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
THIS
NOTE AND ALL INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS OF (a) THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (AS AMENDED,
RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE
“
SECOND LIEN INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
”), AMONG THE
BORROWER, SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER PARTY THERETO AND WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THE
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT, AND (b) THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (AS AMENDED,
RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE
“
SECOND LIEN INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
” AND, TOGETHER
WITH THE SECOND LIEN INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION
AGREEMENT, THE “
INTERCOMPANY
INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS
”), AMONG THE
BORROWER, SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER PARTY THERETO AND WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THE
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED
HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, NEITHER THE PRINCIPAL OF NOR THE INTEREST
ON, NOR ANY OTHER AMOUNTS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF, ANY INDEBTEDNESS
CREATED OR EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE SHALL BE PAID OR PAYABLE, EXCEPT
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER THE INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS, WHICH ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE WITH THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF FULLY SET FORTH
HEREIN.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
PAYORS:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION,
LLC
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION, LLC
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND,
INC.
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLCBIRCH MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLCPRIMUS HOLDINGS, INC.FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION
CORP.,
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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PRIMUS
MANAGEMENT ULCBIRCAN MANAGEMENT ULC,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature
Page to Global Intercompany Note]
PAYEES:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
|
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.
FUSION,
LLC
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION, LLC
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
CBEYOND,
INC.
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLCBIRCH MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLCPRIMUS HOLDINGS, INC.FUSION MPHC ACQUISITION
CORP.,
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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PRIMUS
MANAGEMENT ULCBIRCAN MANAGEMENT ULC,
|
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature
Page to Global Intercompany Note]
EXHIBIT
I
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
[See
attached]
EXHIBIT
J
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[See
attached]
EXHIBIT
K
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE
Date:
May 4, 2018
To the
Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders
party
to the Credit Agreement referred to below:
Pursuant Section
3.1(h) of the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as
of May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent, the undersigned, solely in the
undersigned’s capacity as the chief financial officer of the
Borrower, hereby certifies, on behalf of the Borrower and not in
the undersigned’s individual or personal capacity and without
personal liability, that, as of the Closing Date, after giving
effect to the Transactions contemplated thereby (including the
making of the Loans on the Closing Date and the application of the
proceeds thereof):
(a) the
sum of the debt and other liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value
of the present assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis;
(b) the
capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business as
conducted or proposed to be conducted, on a consolidated
basis;
(c) the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not
incurred and do not intend to incur, or believe (nor should they
reasonably believe) that they will incur, debts and liabilities
(including contingent liabilities), on a consolidated basis, beyond
the ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated
basis, to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due
(whether at maturity or otherwise); and
(d) the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are
“solvent” within the meaning given to that term and
similar terms under any applicable Debtor Relief Laws and other
applicable laws relating to preferences, fraudulent transfers and
conveyances or transfers undervalue.
For
purposes of this Solvency Certificate, the amount of any contingent
liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in
light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time,
represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an
actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such
contingent liability meets the criteria for accrual under
GAAP).
Capitalized terms
used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned is familiar with the business and financial position of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries. In reaching the conclusions set
forth in this Solvency Certificate, the undersigned has made such
investigations and inquiries as the undersigned has deemed
appropriate, having taken into account the nature of the business
proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries after
consummation of the Transactions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has
executed this Solvency Certificate, solely in the
undersigned’s capacity as the chief financial officer of the
Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower and not in the
undersigned’s individual or personal capacity and without
personal liability, as of the date first stated above.
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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EXHIBIT
L
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL QUESTIONNAIRE
Reference is made
to (a) the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of
May 4, 2018 (the “
First
Lien Credit Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
as collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
First Lien Collateral
Agent
”), and (b) the Second Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (the
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” and, together with the First Lien Credit
Agreement, the “
Credit
Agreements
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower party thereto, the lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and
as collateral agent (in its capacity as collateral agent, the
“
Second Lien Collateral
Agent
” and, together with the First Lien Collateral
Agent, the “
Collateral
Agents
”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings specified in (i) the First
Lien Credit Agreement or the Pledge and Security Agreement referred
to therein or (ii) the Second Lien Credit Agreement or the Pledge
and Security Agreement referred to therein, as
applicable.
This
Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire dated as of
[ ], 20[
] is delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(k) of each Credit Agreement,
and supplements the information set forth in the Collateral
Questionnaire delivered on the Closing Date (as supplemented from
time to time by each Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire
delivered after the Closing Date and prior to the date hereof, the
“
Prior Collateral
Questionnaire
”) with respect to each Credit Party
(which term, for purposes of this Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire, shall be deemed to include each New Subsidiary as
defined in each Pledge and Security Agreement).
The
undersigned, an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, solely in
his/her capacity as an Authorized Officer, and not individually and
without personal liability, hereby certifies to each Collateral
Agent and the related other Secured Parties as
follows:
SECTION1.
Legal
Names
. Schedule 1 hereto sets forth the exact legal name of
each Credit Party, as such name appears in its certificate of
organization, and indicates changes, if any, in the foregoing
information compared to the information set forth on Schedule 1 of
the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION2.
Jurisdictions
and Locations
. Schedule 2A hereto sets forth (a) the
jurisdiction of organization and the form of organization of each
Credit Party, (b) the organizational identification number, if
any, assigned to each Credit Party by such jurisdiction and the
federal taxpayer identification number, if any, of such Credit
Party and (c) the address (including the county) of the chief
executive office of each Credit Party, and indicates changes, if
any, in the foregoing information compared to the information set
forth on Schedule 2A of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION3.
Status
of Filings
. All UCC financing statements (including fixtures
filings and transmitting utility filings, as applicable) and all
Intellectual Property Security Agreements or supplements thereto
have been filed of record in each applicable governmental office in
order that, to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing UCC
financing statements and recordation of a security agreement with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, the security interests created under the
Collateral Documents (as defined in each Credit Agreement) shall be
perfected for a period of not less than 18 months after the date of
this Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire (except as noted in
Schedule 3 hereto with respect to any continuation statements to be
filed within such period).
SECTION4.
Equity
Interests
. Schedule 4 hereto sets forth a true and complete
list, for each Credit Party, of all the stock, partnership
interests, limited liability company membership interests or other
Equity Interests owned by such Credit Party, specifying the issuer
and certificate number of (if certificated), and the number and
percentage of ownership represented by, such Equity Interests, and
indicates changes, if any, in such list compared to the list set
forth on Schedule 4 of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION5.
Debt
Instruments
. Schedule 5 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list, for each Credit Party, of all debt securities,
promissory notes and other evidence of Indebtedness held by such
Credit Party, including (a) all intercompany notes between or among
the Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) all
promissory notes in the principal amount of $1,000,000 or more owed
to the Borrower or any other Credit Party, in each case specifying
the creditor and debtor thereunder and the type and outstanding
principal amount thereof, and indicates changes, if any, in such
list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 5 of the Prior
Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION6.
Material
Real Estate Assets
. Schedule 6 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list, with respect to each Material Real Estate Asset, of
(a) the exact name of the Person that owns such property, as such
name appears in its certificate of organization or formation, (b)
if different from the name identified pursuant to clause (a) above,
the name of the current record owner of such property, as such name
appears in the records of the county recorder’s office for
such property identified pursuant to clause (c) below, and (c)
the county recorder’s office in which a Mortgage with respect
to such property must be filed or recorded in order for each
Collateral Agent to provide constructive notice to third parties of
its mortgage lien.
SECTION7.
Intellectual
Property
. Schedule 7 hereto sets forth, in proper form for
filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the
United States Copyright Office, as applicable, a true and complete
list of each Credit Party’s (a) Copyrights, Copyright
Applications and exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party
is a licensee), (b) Patents and Patent Applications and
(c) Trademarks and Trademark Applications, in each case
specifying the name of the registered owner, title, type or mark,
registration or application number, expiration date (if already
registered) (except with respect to Copyrights and exclusive
Copyright Licenses) or filing date, a brief description thereof
and, if applicable, the licensee and licensor, and indicates
changes, if any, in such list compared to the list set forth on
Schedule 7 of the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION8.
Commercial
Tort Claims
. Schedule 8 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of commercial tort claims in excess of $2,000,000
held by any Credit Party, including a brief description thereof,
and indicates changes, if any, in such list compared to the list
set forth on Schedule 8 of the Prior Collateral
Questionnaire.
SECTION9.
Insurance
.
Schedule 9 hereto sets forth a true and complete list of all
insurance policies (including life and disability insurance
policies) maintained by the Credit Parties, and indicates changes,
if any, in such list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 9
of the Prior Collateral Questionnaire.
SECTION10.
Other
Collateral
. Schedule 10 hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of all of the following types of collateral, if any,
owned or held by each Credit Party, and indicates changes, if any,
in such list compared to the list set forth on Schedule 10 of the
Prior Collateral Questionnaire: (a) all agreements and contracts
with any Governmental Authority, (b) all FCC Licenses and (c) all
state telecommunications licenses.
SECTION11.
Unusual
Transactions
. All Accounts of the Credit Parties have been
originated by the Credit Parties in the ordinary course of
business.
SECTION12.
Transmitting
Utility Companies
. Schedule 12 hereto sets forth (a) the
exact legal name of any Credit Party that may be a transmitting
utility (as defined in the UCC) and (b) the address(es) where such
Credit Party owns any fixtures.
[Signature
page follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this
Supplemental Collateral Questionnaire on this [ ] day of [ ], 20[
].
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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Schedule 1
Legal Names
Exact Legal Name
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French Form of Name (if applicable)
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Schedule 2A
Jurisdictions and Locations
Credit Party
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Jurisdiction of Organization
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Form of Organization
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Organizational Identification Number(if any)
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Federal Taxpayer Identification Number
(if any)
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Chief Executive Office Address
(including county)
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Schedule 3
Continuation Statement Filings
Credit Party
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Jurisdiction of Organization
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UCC Financing Statement
to be Continued
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Schedule 4
Equity Interests
Credit Party
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Issuer
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Type of Organization
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Number of Shares Owned
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Total Shares Outstanding
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Percentage of Interest Pledged
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Certificate No
. (if uncertificated,
please indicate so)
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Schedule 5
Debt Instruments
Credit Party
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Debtor
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Type of Instrument
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Outstanding Principal Amount
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Schedule 6
Material Real Estate Assets
Credit Party/Name of Owner
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Name/Address/City/State/Zip Code
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County/ Parish
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UCC Filing Office/Local Filing Office
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Schedule 7
Intellectual Property
Registered Owner
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Title
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Registration Number
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Expiration Date
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II.
Copyright Applications
Registered Owner
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Title
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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III.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party is a
licensee)
Licensee
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Licensor
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Title
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Registration Number
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Expiration Date
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Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Country
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Type
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Registration Number
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Issue Date
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Expiration
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Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Country
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Type
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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Registered
Owner
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Mark
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Country
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Application
No.
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Registration
No.
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Registration
Date
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Expiration
Date
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VII.
Trademark Applications
Registered Owner
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Mark
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Country
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Application No.
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Filing Date
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Schedule 8
Commercial Tort Claims
Schedule 9
Insurance
Insurance Policy Coverage
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Scope of Coverage
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Lead Insurance Carrier
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Limit of Liability
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Term
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Deductibles or Self-Insured Retention
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Schedule 10
Other Collateral
Schedule 12
Transmitting Utility
Credit Party
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Jurisdiction where Transmitting Utility Equipment is
Held
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EXHIBIT M
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FORM OF NOTE
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, FUSION CONNECT, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), hereby unconditionally
promises to pay to ________________________ (the
“
Lender
”) or its
registered assigns, in lawful money of the United States of America
and in same day funds, (a) the principal amount of ____________
DOLLARS ($___________) or (b) if less, the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of all [Tranche B Term] Loans made by the Lender
to the Borrower pursuant to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the
lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as administrative agent and collateral agent, on such dates and in
such amounts as are set forth in the Credit Agreement. Capitalized
terms used in this Note but not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
The
Borrower also promises to pay interest in like money on the unpaid
principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding from and
including the date hereof until maturity (whether by acceleration
or otherwise) and, after maturity, until paid, at the rates per
annum and on the dates specified in the Credit
Agreement.
The
holder of this Note (this “
Note
”) is authorized to endorse on
Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof or on a
continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part
hereof the date, Type and amount of each [Tranche B Term] Loan made
pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the date and amount of each
payment or prepayment of principal thereof, each continuation
thereof, each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another
Type and, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the length of each
Interest Period with respect thereto. The failure to make any such
endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower in
respect of any such [Tranche B Term] Loan.
This
Note (a) is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement,
(b) is subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement and (c) is
subject to optional prepayment in whole or in part as provided in
the Credit Agreement. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for
provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof. This Note
may not be transferred except in compliance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement. Transfers of this Note must be recorded in the
Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the
terms of the Credit Agreement.
THIS
NOTE 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL
BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
________________________________
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE
A
to
Note
LOANS,
CONTINUATIONS, CONVERSIONS AND
REPAYMENTS
OF EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS
Date
|
Amount
of Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Amount
Continued or Converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Interest
Period and Eurodollar Rate with Respect Thereto
|
Amount
of Principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans Repaid
|
Amount
of Eurodollar Rate Loans Converted to Base Rate Loans
|
Unpaid
Principal Balance of Eurodollar Rate Loans
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Notation
Made By
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SCHEDULE
B
to
Note
LOANS,
CONVERSIONS AND
REPAYMENTS
OF BASE RATE LOANS
Date
|
Amount
of Base Rate Loans
|
Amount
Convertedto Base Rate Loans
|
Amount
of Principal of Base Rate Loans Repaid
|
Amount
of Base Rate Loans Converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
Unpaid
Principal Balance of Base Rate Loans
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Notation
Made By
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EXHIBIT
N-1
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Second Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(3) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s)
evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this
certificate, (b) it is not a bank within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (c) it is
not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code and (d) it
is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as
described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
The
undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
with a certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN
or W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the
undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (b) the undersigned
shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER]
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
|
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]
EXHIBIT
N-2
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Second Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of
which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a bank within
the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code,
(c) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the
meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and
(d) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a
certificate of its non-US Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or
W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the
undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such
Lender in writing, and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times
furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]
EXHIBIT
N-3
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For US Federal
Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Second Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record owner of the participation in respect of which it is
providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect
partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such
participation, (c) with respect to such participation, neither the
undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a
bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in
the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (d) none of its
direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of
the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect
partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form
W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its
partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption:
(a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (b) an IRS
Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as
applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s
beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest
exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees
that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes,
the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the
undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a
properly completed and currently effective certificate in either
the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the
undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such
payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]
EXHIBIT
N-4
TO
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
SECOND
LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
US TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For US Federal Income
Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Second Lien Credit
and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent.
Pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.19(g)(ii)(B)(4) of the Credit
Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole
record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such
Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b)
its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial
owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such
Loan(s)), (c) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant
to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, neither the
undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a
bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in
the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (d) none of its
direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of
the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect
partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
The
undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from
each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio
interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as
applicable, or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form
W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such
partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming
the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate,
the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this
certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (ii) the undersigned
shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently
effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each
payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two
calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Date:
________ __, 20[ ]
FIRST
LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
dated
as of
May 4,
2018,
among
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
THE
OTHER GRANTORS PARTY HERETO
and
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Collateral Agent
Page
|
ARTICLE I
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
|
SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement and UCC
|
1
|
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms
|
2
|
ARTICLE II
|
|
|
PLEDGE OF SECURITIES
|
7
|
|
|
SECTION 2.01. Pledge
|
7
|
SECTION 2.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral
|
7
|
SECTION 2.03. Representations and Warranties
|
8
|
SECTION 2.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and
Limited Partnership Interests
|
9
|
SECTION 2.05. Registration in Nominee Name;
Denominations
|
9
|
SECTION 2.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest
|
9
|
SECTION 2.07. Collateral Agent Not a Partner or Limited Liability
Company Member
|
11
|
ARTICLE III
|
|
|
SECURITY INTERESTS IN PERSONAL PROPERTY
|
11
|
|
|
SECTION 3.01. Security Interest
|
11
|
SECTION 3.02. Representations and Warranties
|
12
|
SECTION 3.03. Covenants
|
14
|
SECTION 3.04. Other Actions
|
15
|
ARTICLE IV
|
|
|
SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COLLATERAL
|
16
|
|
|
SECTION 4.01. Grant of License to Use Intellectual
Property
|
16
|
SECTION 4.02. Protection of Collateral
|
17
|
ARTICLE V
|
|
|
REMEDIES
|
18
|
|
|
SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default
|
18
|
SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds
|
19
|
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
21
|
|
|
SECTION 6.01. Notices
|
21
|
SECTION 6.02. Waivers; Amendment
|
21
|
SECTION 6.03. Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses;
Indemnification
|
22
|
SECTION 6.04. Independence of Covenants
|
23
|
SECTION 6.05. Survival of Agreement
|
23
|
SECTION 6.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several
Agreement
|
23
|
SECTION 6.07. Severability
|
24
|
SECTION 6.08. Set-Off
|
24
|
SECTION 6.09. APPLICABLE LAW
|
24
|
SECTION 6.10. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
|
24
|
SECTION 6.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
25
|
SECTION 6.12. Headings
|
25
|
SECTION 6.13. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
|
25
|
SECTION 6.14. Security Interest Absolute
|
25
|
SECTION 6.15. Termination or Release
|
26
|
SECTION 6.16. Additional Grantors
|
26
|
SECTION 6.17. Collateral Agent Appointed
Attorney-in-Fact
|
27
|
SECTION 6.18. General Authority of the Collateral
Agent
|
27
|
SECTION 6.19. Recourse
|
28
|
SECTION 6.20. Mortgages
|
28
|
SECTION 6.21. Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
|
28
|
SECTION 6.22. Regulatory Matters
|
29
|
SCHEDULES
|
|
Schedule
I -
|
Pledged
Equity; Pledged Debt
|
Schedule
II -
|
Commercial Tort
Claims
|
Schedule
III -
|
Intellectual
Property
|
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
|
Exhibit I
-
|
Form of
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement
|
Exhibit
II -
|
Form of
Second Lien Copyright Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
III -
|
Form of
Second Lien Patent Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
IV -
|
Form of
Second Lien Trademark Security Agreement
|
FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY
AGREEMENT
, dated as of May 4, 2018, among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), the other
GRANTORS
party hereto from time to time
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below).
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, as
Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Lenders party thereto and Wilmington
Trust, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
The
Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the
Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing
Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other
things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each
Grantor. The Grantors are Affiliates of one another, will derive
substantial direct and indirect benefits from the extensions of
credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and are
willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce
the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. This
Agreement is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, which governs
the relative rights and priorities of the First Lien Secured
Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and the Second
Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement)
and certain other matters as described therein. Accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Credit Agreement and UCC
. Capitalized terms
used in this Agreement, including the preamble and the introductory
paragraphs hereto, and not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.
(b) As
used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified
in the UCC (as defined herein):
Term
|
UCC
Section
|
Certificated
Security
|
8-102
|
Chattel
Paper
|
9-102
|
Commercial
Tort Claim
|
9-102
|
Deposit
Account
|
9-102
|
Document
|
9-102
|
Fixtures
|
9-102
|
Goods
|
9-102
|
Instrument
|
9-102
|
Inventory
|
9-102
|
Investment
Property
|
9-102
|
Letter-of-Credit
Right
|
9-102
|
Money
|
1-201
|
Payment
Intangible
|
9-102
|
Proceeds
|
9-102
|
Promissory
Note
|
9-102
|
Securities
Account
|
8-501
|
Security
Entitlement
Supporting
Obligations
|
8-102
9-102
|
Uncertificated
Security
|
8-102
|
(c) The
rules of construction specified in Section 1.3 of the Credit
Agreement also apply to this Agreement,
mutatis mutandis
.
SECTION
1.02. Other Defined Terms
. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
below:
“
Account(s)
” means
“accounts” as defined in Section 9-102 of the UCC, and
also means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or
not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or
is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed
of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out
of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on
or for use with the card.
“
Account Debtor
” means any Person
that is or that may become obligated to any Grantor under, with
respect to or on account of an Account or a Payment
Intangible.
“
After-Acquired Intellectual
Property
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.02(d).
“
Agreement
” means this First Lien
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Article 9 Collateral
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).
“
Bankruptcy Event of Default
” means
any Event of Default under Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) of the
Credit Agreement.
“
Blue Sky Laws
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 5.01.
“
Borrower
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in the preamble.
“
Collateral
” means the Article 9
Collateral and the Pledged Collateral;
provided
that all references to
“Collateral” in Section 5.02 shall, unless the context
requires otherwise, also refer to Real Estate Assets subject to a
Mortgage.
“
Collateral Agent
” means Wilmington
Trust, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties
under the Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity as
provided in the Credit Agreement.
“
Commercial Software License(s)
”
means any non-exclusive license of commercially available (on
non-discriminatory pricing terms) computer software to a Grantor
from a commercial software provider (e.g.,
“shrink-wrap”, “browse-wrap” or
“click-wrap” software licenses) or a license of freely
available computer software from a licensor of free or open source
software.
“
Copyright License
” means any
written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right
to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by
any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such
Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Copyrights
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by or assigned to any
Grantor (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the
copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether
as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, whether registered or
unregistered and whether published or unpublished, (b) all
registrations and applications for registration of any such
copyright in the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending
applications for registration and renewals in the United States
Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule III, (c) all
rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to
such Grantor’s use of such copyrights, (d) all reissues,
renewals, continuations and extensions thereof and amendments
thereto, (e) all income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and
payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with respect to the
foregoing, including damages and payments for past, present or
future infringements thereof, (f) all rights corresponding
thereto throughout the world and (g) all rights to sue for
past, present or future infringements thereof.
“
Credit Agreement
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
Domain Names
” means all Internet
domain names and associated URL addresses in or to which any
Grantor now or hereafter has any right, title or
interest.
“
Equipment
” means (a) any
“equipment” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the
UCC and shall also include, but shall not be limited to, all
machinery, equipment, furnishings, appliances, furniture, fixtures,
tools, and vehicles now or hereafter owned by any Grantor in each
case, regardless of whether characterized as equipment under the
UCC and (b) and any and all additions, substitutions and
replacements of any of the foregoing and all accessions thereto,
wherever located, whether or not at any time of determination
incorporated or installed therein or attached thereto, and all
replacements therefore, together with all attachments, components,
parts, equipment and accessories installed thereon or affixed
thereto.
“
General
Intangibles
” has the meaning provided in Article 9 of
the UCC and shall in any event include all choses in action and
causes of action and all other intangible personal property of
every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor, as the case may be, including corporate or
other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights
(including rights under customer contracts, leases, whether entered
into as lessor or lessee, Hedge Agreements and other agreements),
goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims, licenses
(including Licenses), permits, concessions and authorizations and
any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other
security held by or granted to any Grantor.
“
Grantor
” means each of the
Borrower and each Guarantor Subsidiary.
“
Guarantor Subsidiaries
” means,
collectively, (a) the Restricted Subsidiaries party to this
Agreement on the Closing Date and (b) each Restricted
Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Closing
Date pursuant to Section 6.16, provided that any Restricted
Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with the Credit Agreement shall cease to be a Guarantor
Subsidiary subject to and in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.8(d)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.
“
Intellectual Property
” means all
intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now
owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including rights in
inventions, rights in designs, utility models, Patents, Copyrights,
Intellectual Property Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets,
confidential or proprietary technical and business information,
rights in know how, rights in show how or other data or
information, rights in software, rights in databases, all other
proprietary information, including but not limited to Domain
Names.
“
Intellectual Property Collateral
”
means Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property.
“
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.02(d).
“
Intellectual Property License
”
means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License,
Commercial Software License or other license or sublicense
agreement granting rights under Intellectual Property to which any
Grantor is a party, including those listed on Schedule
III.
“
Patent License
” means any written
agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party
any right to develop, commercialize, import, make, have made, offer
for sale, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has
the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor
any such right with respect to any invention on which a Patent, now
or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all
rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Patents
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor (a) all
letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in
any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and
all applications for letters patent of the United States or the
equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations,
recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country,
including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all rights and
privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such
Grantor’s use of any patents, (c) all inventions and
improvements described and claimed therein, (d) all reissues,
divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, reexaminations,
supplemental examinations,
inter
partes
reviews, adjustments and continuations-in-part
thereof and amendments thereto, (e) all income, fees,
royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or
payable with respect to any of the foregoing including damages and
payments for past, present or future infringements thereof,
(f) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world,
including the right to prevent others from making, having made,
using, selling, offering to sell, importing or exporting the
inventions claimed therein and (g) rights to sue for past,
present or future infringements thereof.
“
Pledge and Security Agreement
Supplement
” means an instrument substantially in the
form of Exhibit I hereto.
“
Pledged Collateral
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Debt
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Equity
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Securities
”
means any Promissory Notes, stock certificates,
limited liability membership interests or other Securities,
certificates or Instruments now or hereafter included in the
Pledged Collateral, including all Pledged Equity, Pledged Debt and
all other certificates, instruments or other documents representing
or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.
“
Secured Obligations
” means the
“Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement, it
being acknowledged and agreed that the term “Secured
Obligations” as used herein shall include each extension of
credit under the Credit Agreement, whether outstanding on the date
of this Agreement or extended or arising from time to time after
the date of this Agreement.
“
Secured Parties
” means (a) the
Administrative Agent, (b) the Collateral Agent, (c) the Arrangers,
the Syndication Agents and each other Person appointed under the
Credit Documents to serve in an agent or similar capacity,
including any Auction Manager, (d) the Lenders, (e) the Issuing
Banks, (f) each counterparty to any Hedge Agreement the obligations
under which constitute Specified Hedge Obligations, (g) each
provider of Cash Management Services the obligations in respect of
which constitute Specified Cash Management Services Obligations,
(h) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken
by any Credit Party under any Credit Document, (i) the other
holders from time to time of the Secured Obligations and (j) the
successors and permitted assigns of each of the
foregoing.
“
Security
” means
a “security” as such term is defined
in Article 8 of the UCC and, in any event, shall include any stock,
shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates,
certificates of interest or participation in any profit sharing
agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any
instruments commonly known as “securities” or any
certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or
interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the
foregoing.
“
Security Interest
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).
“
Trademark License
” means any
written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any
third party any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned
by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any
Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Trademarks
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor (a) all
trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company
names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles,
trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs
and general intangibles of like nature, the goodwill of the
business symbolized thereby or associated therewith, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and
recording applications filed in connection therewith, including
registrations and registration applications in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of
the United States or any other country or any political subdivision
thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those
listed on Schedule III, (b) all rights and privileges arising under
applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any
trademarks, (c) all reissues, continuations, extensions and
renewals thereof and amendments thereto, (d) all income, fees,
royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or
payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages,
claims and payments for past, present or future infringements
thereof, (e) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the
world and (f) rights to sue for past, present and future
infringements or dilutions thereof or other injuries
thereto.
“
UCC
” means the Uniform Commercial
Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of
New York;
provided
that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or
the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest
in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is
governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a
jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC”
means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other
jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such
perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or
availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“
Wilmington Trust
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
ARTICLE II
PLEDGE OF
SECURITIES
SECTION
2.01. Pledge
. As security for
the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations,
each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent,
its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under: (a) all
Equity Interests now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by it
(including those Equity Interests listed opposite the name of such
Grantor on Schedule I) and all certificates and other instruments
representing all such Equity Interests;
provided
that the Pledged
Equity shall not include more than 65% of the outstanding voting
Equity Interests in any CFC or CFC Holding Company (collectively,
the “
Pledged
Equity
”); (b) all Promissory Notes and all Instruments
evidencing Indebtedness now owned or at any time hereafter acquired
by it (including those listed opposite the name of such Grantor on
Schedule I) (the “
Pledged Debt
”); (c) all other
property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.01 or Section 2.02;
(d) subject to Section 2.06, all payments of principal or interest,
dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time
received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in
exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds
received in respect of, the Pledged Equity and the Pledged Debt;
(e) subject to Section 2.06, all rights and privileges of such
Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred
to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all Proceeds of,
and Security Entitlements in respect of, any of the foregoing (the
items referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being
collectively referred to as the “
Pledged Collateral
”);
provided
that the Pledged
Collateral shall not include any item referred to in clauses (a)
through (f) above if, for so long as and to the extent such item
constitutes Excluded Property.
SECTION
2.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral
. On the Closing
Date (in the case of any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its
assets hereunder on the Closing Date) or on the date on which it
signs and delivers a Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement (in
the case of any other Grantor), each Grantor shall deliver or cause
to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, any and all Pledged Securities (other than (i) any
Uncertificated Securities, but only for so long as such Securities
remain uncertificated, and (ii) certificates or instruments
representing Equity Interests in any Subsidiary that is not a
Material Subsidiary) to the extent such Pledged Securities, in the
case of Promissory Notes and other Instruments evidencing
Indebtedness, are required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(b). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires
any other Pledged Security (other than (A) any Uncertificated
Securities, but only for so long as such Uncertificated Securities
remain uncertificated, and (B) certificates or instruments
representing Equity Interests in any Subsidiary that is not a
Material Subsidiary), such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event
within 30 days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent
may agree to in writing), deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Collateral Agent such Pledged Security as Collateral hereunder to
the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of Promissory Notes
and Instruments evidencing Indebtedness, are required to be
delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(b).
(b) Each
Grantor will cause (i) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary
to execute and deliver a counterpart of each of the Intercompany
Note and the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(ii) all Indebtedness for borrowed money in an aggregate principal
amount of $1,000,000 or more owed to such Grantor by any other
Person (other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) to be
evidenced by a duly executed Promissory Note, and shall cause each
such Promissory Note, the Intercompany Note and each other
Promissory Note (if any) evidencing any Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is owing to such
Grantor, to be pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, for
the benefit of the Secured Parties, (A) on the date hereof, in
the case of any such Indebtedness existing on the date hereof (or,
in the case of any Grantor that becomes a party hereto after the
date hereof, on the date such Grantor becomes a party hereto, in
the case of any such Indebtedness existing on such date) or
(B) promptly following the incurrence thereof, in the case of
any such Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof (or such other
date), in each case pursuant to the terms hereof.
(c) Upon
delivery to the Collateral Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(a) or
2.02(b) shall be accompanied by undated stock or note powers duly
executed by the applicable Grantor in blank or other instruments of
transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by
such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may
reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of
the Pledged Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(a) or 2.02(b) shall be accompanied by undated
proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable
Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities
shall be accompanied by a schedule describing such Pledged
Securities, which schedule shall be deemed to supplement Schedule I
and be made a part hereof;
provided
that failure to attach
any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such
pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall
supplement any prior schedules so delivered.
(d) The
assignment, pledge and security interest granted in Section 2.01
are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify,
any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or
arising out of the Pledged Collateral.
SECTION
2.03. Representations and Warranties
. Each Grantor,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants, as to itself and
the other Grantors, to and with the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, that:
(a) Schedule
I correctly sets forth, as of the Closing Date and as of each date
on which a supplement to Schedule I is delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(c) or 6.15, (i) all the Equity Interests owned by each
Grantor, specifying the issuer and certificate number of (if
applicable), and the number and percentage ownership represented
by, such Equity Interests, and (ii) all the Pledged Debt of
each Grantor, specifying the debtor thereof and the outstanding
principal amount thereof as of the Closing Date, and includes all
Equity Interests, Promissory Notes and Instruments required to be
pledged by each Grantor hereunder in order to satisfy the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;
(b) the
Pledged Equity issued by any Subsidiary and the Pledged Debt
(solely with respect to Pledged Debt issued by a Person other than
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the best of the Grantors’
knowledge) have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the
issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Equity (other than
Pledged Equity consisting of limited liability company interests or
partnership interests which, pursuant to the relevant
organizational or formation documents, cannot be fully paid and
non-assessable), are fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) in the
case of Pledged Debt (solely with respect to Pledged Debt issued by
a Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the best of
the Grantors’ knowledge), are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to applicable Debtor
Relief Laws and general principles of equity; and
(c) each
Grantor holds the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule I as
owned by such Grantor free and clear of all Liens, other than (i)
Liens created by the Collateral Documents and (ii) other Permitted
Liens.
SECTION
2.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited
Partnership Interests
. Each Grantor
acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent any interest in any
limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any
Grantor and pledged under Section 2.01 is a
“security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC
and is governed by Article 8 of the UCC, such interest shall be
represented by a certificate that is promptly delivered to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof. Each Grantor further
acknowledges and agrees that with respect to any interest in any
limited liability company or limited partnership controlled on or
after the date hereof by such Grantor and pledged hereunder that is
not a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the
UCC, such Grantor shall at no time elect to treat any such interest
as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the
UCC, nor shall any such interest in any limited liability company
or limited partnership controlled on or after the date hereof by
such Grantor be represented by a certificate, unless such election
and such interest is thereafter represented by a certificate that
is promptly delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms
hereof.
SECTION
2.05. Registration in Nominee Name;
Denominations
.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and, other
than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the Collateral
Agent shall have notified the Borrower of its intent to exercise
such rights, (a) the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the
Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute
discretion) to cause each of the Pledged Securities to be
transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or into
the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of
the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor
of the Collateral Agent and (b) to the extent permitted by the
documentation governing such Pledged Securities and applicable law,
the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the
certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of
smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with
this Agreement. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral
Agent copies of any material notices received by it with respect to
Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor. Each
Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the
Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this
Section 2.05.
SECTION
2.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest
. (a) Unless and
until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the
Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower that the rights
of the Grantors under this Section 2.06 are being
suspended:
(i) Each
Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or
other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged
Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the
terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents.
(ii) The
Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each
Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor, all
such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such
Grantor may reasonably request in writing for the purpose of
enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual
rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section
2.06(a)(i), in each case as shall be specified in such
request.
(iii) Each
Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all
dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or
distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral, to the extent
(and only to the extent) that such dividends, interest, principal
and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or
distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the
Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and applicable laws;
provided
that any
noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that
would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting
from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged
Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any
part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any
merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to
which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become
part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor,
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and
the applicable Secured Parties and shall, if certificated and to
the extent required by Section 2.02, be forthwith delivered to the
Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any
necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral
Agent). So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to each
Grantor any Pledged Securities in its possession if requested to be
delivered to the issuer thereof in connection with any exchange or
redemption of such Pledged Securities.
(b) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after
the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower of the
suspension of the rights of the Grantors under
Section 2.06(a)(iii), all rights of any Grantor to dividends,
interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is
authorized to receive pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(iii) shall
cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the
Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and
authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal
or other distributions as part of the Pledged Collateral, subject
to Section 2.07 and the last sentence of this Section 2.06(b).
All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received
by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 2.06
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and
the other Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the
Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with
any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral
Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or
received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 2.06(b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in
an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt
of such money or other property, shall be held as security for the
payment and performance of the Secured Obligations and shall be
applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02.
After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and the
Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer to such effect, the Collateral Agent shall
promptly repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends,
interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would
otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.06(a)(iii) in the absence of an Event of Default and
that remain in such account.
(c) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after
the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower of the
suspension of the rights of the Grantors under
Section 2.06(a)(i), all rights of any Grantor to exercise the
voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise
pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(i), and the obligations of the
Collateral Agent under Section 2.06(a)(ii), shall cease, and
all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral
Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority
to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers subject to
Section 2.07 and the last sentence of this Section 2.06(c);
provided
that,
unless otherwise directed by the Requisite Lenders in writing, the
Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following
and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the
Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have
been cured or waived, and the Borrower has delivered to the
Collateral Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer to such
effect, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the
voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would
otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.06(a)(i), and the obligations of the Collateral
Agent under Section 2.06(a)(ii) shall be
reinstated.
(d) Any
notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Borrower under Section
2.05 or Section 2.06(a) (i) may be given by telephone if
promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given with respect to
one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and
(iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under Section
2.06(a)(i) or 2.06(a)(iii) in part without suspending all such
rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and
absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the
Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from
time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION
2.07. Collateral Agent Not a Partner or Limited Liability Company
Member
. Nothing contained
in this Agreement shall be construed to make the Collateral Agent
or any other Secured Party liable as a member of any limited
liability company or as a partner of any partnership, and neither
the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party by virtue of this
Agreement or otherwise (except as referred to in the following
sentence) shall have any of the duties, obligations or liabilities
of a member of any limited liability company or as a partner in any
partnership. The parties hereto expressly agree that, unless the
Collateral Agent shall become the absolute owner of Pledged Equity
consisting of a limited liability company interest or a partnership
interest pursuant hereto, this Agreement shall not be construed as
creating a partnership or joint venture among the Collateral Agent,
any other Secured Party, any Grantor and/or any other
Person.
ARTICLE III
SECURITY INTERESTS
IN PERSONAL PROPERTY
SECTION
3.01. Security Interest
. As security for
the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations,
each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent,
its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a security interest (the “
Security Interest
”) in, all right,
title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following
assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired
by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in
the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively,
the “
Article 9
Collateral
”):
(i)
all Accounts;
(ii) all
Chattel Paper;
(iii) all
Documents;
(iv) all
Equipment;
(v)
all General Intangibles, including all Intellectual
Property, all Licenses and all Payment Intangibles;
(vi) all
Instruments;
(vii) all
Inventory;
(viii)
all Goods and Fixtures;
(ix)
all Investment Property;
(x)
all Money, cash, cash equivalents, Deposit Accounts
and Securities Accounts;
(xi)
all Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(xii)
all Commercial Tort Claims described on
Schedule II from time to time, as such Schedule may be supplemented
from time to time pursuant to Section 3.04(c);
(xiii)
all Supporting Obligations;
(xiv)
all Security Entitlements in any or all of the
foregoing;
(xv) all
books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;
and
(xvi)
to the extent not otherwise included above, all Proceeds and
products of any and all of the foregoing (including proceeds of all
insurance policies) and all collateral security and guarantees
given by any Person with respect to any of the
foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any asset constitutes Excluded Property, the Security Interest
granted under this Section 3.01 shall not attach to, and
Article 9 Collateral shall not include, such asset;
provided
,
however
, that the Security
Interest shall immediately attach to, and Article 9 Collateral
shall immediately include, any such asset (or portion thereof) upon
such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be Excluded
Property.
(c) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent (or its
designee) at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant
jurisdiction any financing statements or continuation statements
(including fixture filings and transmitting utility filings) with
respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and
amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Collateral as “all
assets” or “all personal property” of such
Grantor or words of similar effect and (ii) contain the information
required by Article 9 of the UCC of each applicable jurisdiction
for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including
(A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of
organization and any organizational identification number issued to
such Grantor, (B) whether such Grantor is a transmitting utility
and (C) in the case of a financing statement filed as a
fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to
which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to
provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon
reasonable request. Each Grantor hereby ratifies its authorization
for the Collateral Agent (or its designee) to file in any relevant
jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto
if filed prior to the date hereof.
(d) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent (or its
designee) to file with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office)
such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of
perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the
Security Interest granted by such Grantor hereunder, without the
signature of such Grantor, and naming such Grantor, as debtor, and
the Collateral Agent, as secured party.
(e) The
Security Interest and the security interest granted pursuant to
Article II are granted as security only and, except as
expressly set forth herein, shall not subject the Collateral Agent
or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any
obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising
out of the Article 9 Collateral.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, to the extent this Agreement or
any other Credit Document purports to grant or to require any
Grantor to grant to the Collateral Agent a security interest in any
License, the Collateral Agent shall only have a security interest
in such License at such times and to the extent that a security
interest in such License is permitted under applicable law,
including the applicable Communications Law. The Security Interest
granted in Proceeds of such License is intended to include, and
hereby includes, the economic value of the Licenses, all rights
incident or appurtenant to the Licenses and the right to receive
all monies and consideration derived from or in connection with the
sale, assignment or lease of or the transfer of control over the
Licenses. If at any time in the future the Communications Law
permits any Grantor to grant a security interest in any License,
this Agreement shall be deemed to grant a security interest in such
License immediately thereupon without any further action by or
notice to any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Lender or other
Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees
to cooperate fully and take all steps necessary to perfect such
security interest as may be required by the Collateral
Agent.
SECTION
3.02. Representations and Warranties
. (a) Each Grantor,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants, as to itself and
the other Grantors, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties that:
(b) Each
Grantor has good and valid rights in (not subject to any Liens
other than Permitted Liens) and/or good and marketable title in the
Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to
grant a Security Interest hereunder, and has full power and
authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the Security Interest in
such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other Person
other than any consent or approval that has been
obtained.
(c) The
information set forth in the Collateral Questionnaire, including
the exact legal name of each Grantor and its jurisdiction of
organization, is correct and complete in all material respects as
of the Closing Date. The UCC financing statements prepared by or on
behalf of the Grantors based upon the information provided in the
Collateral Questionnaire (or specified by notice from the
applicable Grantor to the Collateral Agent after the Closing Date
in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by
Section 5.10 or 5.11 of the Credit Agreement) are all the
filings, recordings and registrations (other than any filings
required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect
the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United
States registered Patents (and Patents for which United States
applications for registration are pending), United States
registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States
applications for registration are pending), United States
registered Copyrights (and Copyrights for which United States
applications for registration are pending) and United States
exclusive registered Copyright Licenses) that are necessary to
establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor
of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in
respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest
may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United
States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories
and possessions pursuant to the UCC. Each Grantor represents and
warrants that, as of the Closing Date, fully executed copies of the
Patent Security Agreement and the Trademark Security Agreement, in
each case containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral
consisting of United States registered Patents (and Patents for
which registration applications are pending) and United States
registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which registration
applications are pending), respectively, have been provided for
recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant
to 35 U.S.C. § 261 or 15 U.S.C. § 1060 and the
regulations thereunder.
(d) The
Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security
interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and
performance of the Secured Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings
described in Section 3.02(c), a perfected security interest in
all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be
perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement
in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its
territories and possessions pursuant to the UCC and (iii) a
security interest that shall be perfected in all Intellectual
Property Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected
upon the receipt and recording of the UCC financing statements in
the relevant filing offices and the relevant Copyright Security
Agreement, Patent Security Agreement and/or Trademark Security
Agreement, as applicable (the “
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
”), with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as
applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any
other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral in existence on the
date hereof, other than Permitted Liens (excluding Permitted Liens
that are required to be junior to the Security Interest) that are
contemplated by Section 6.2 of the Credit
Agreement.
(e) The
Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any
Lien, except for Permitted Liens. None of the Grantors has filed or
consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or
analogous document under the UCC or any other applicable laws
covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any
Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement
or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, (iii) any notice under the Assignment of Claims
Act or (iv) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article
9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument
covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign
governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement
or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar
instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Permitted
Liens.
SECTION
3.03. Covenants
. (a) Each Grantor
shall, at its own expense, take any and all commercially reasonable
actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral
against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the
Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority
thereof against any Lien other than a Permitted Lien.
(b) Each
Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge,
deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and
documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may
from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve,
protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and
remedies created hereby, including the payment of any reasonable
and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and Taxes required in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing
statements (including fixture filings and transmitting utility
filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith.
Each Grantor will provide to the Collateral Agent, from time to
time upon request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens
created or intended to be created pursuant to this
Agreement.
(c) Each
Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such
complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9
Collateral owned by it as is consistent with its current practices
and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in
industries that are the same as or similar to those in which such
Grantor is engaged, and, at such time or times as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request, promptly to prepare and deliver to
the Collateral Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form
and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent showing
the identity, amount and location of any and all Article 9
Collateral. In addition, subject to Section 5.6 of the Credit
Agreement, the Collateral Agent and such Persons as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably designate shall have the right, at the
Grantors’ own cost and expense, to inspect the Article 9
Collateral, all records (including its records in respect of
accounts receivables) related thereto (and to make extracts and
copies from such records) and the premises upon which any of the
Article 9 Collateral is located, to discuss the Grantors’
affairs with the officers of the Grantors and their independent
registered public accounting firm and to verify, in the manner and
under the procedures determined by the Collateral Agent in good
faith to be reasonable, the identity, validity, amount, quality,
quantity, value, condition, location and status of, or any other
matter relating to, the Article 9 Collateral, including Accounts
and Payment Intangibles, provided that unless an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may not
contact Account Debtors or other third parties without the prior
written consent of the relevant Grantor.
(d) At
its option, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated
to, discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens
at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not
permitted by the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance
and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any
Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this
Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to
reimburse the Collateral Agent within 10 Business Days after demand
for any payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization (and any
such payment made or expense incurred shall be additional Secured
Obligations secured hereby). Nothing in this paragraph shall be
interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or
imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured
Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any
Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens
and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Credit
Documents.
(e) Each
Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any other Secured
Party) shall remain liable (as between itself and any relevant
counterparty) to observe and perform all the conditions and
obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract,
agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all
in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each
Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties from and against
any and all liability for such performance.
(f) None
of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the
Article 9 Collateral and each Grantor shall remain at all
times in possession or control of the Article 9 Collateral owned by
it, in each case, except that unless and until the Collateral Agent
shall notify the Grantors that an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and that during the continuance thereof
the Grantors shall not sell, convey, lease, assign, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Article 9 Collateral (which notice may be
given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing), the Grantors
may use, transfer and dispose of the Article 9 Collateral in any
lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document.
(g) None
of the Grantors will, without the Collateral Agent’s prior
written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any
Accounts or Payment Intangibles included in the Article 9
Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than
the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any Person
liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount
whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, compromises,
settlements, releases, credits or discounts granted or made in the
ordinary course of business and in accordance with past practice or
in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief
Laws.
(h) The
Grantors, at their own expense, shall maintain or cause to be
maintained insurance in accordance with the requirements set forth
in Section 5.5 of the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor irrevocably
makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and its
designees) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and
attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and
adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies
of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check,
draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such
policies of insurance and for making all determinations and
decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Grantor at
any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the
policies of insurance required pursuant to Section 5.5 of the
Credit Agreement, or to pay any premium in whole or part relating
thereto, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated to,
without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the
Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion,
obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium
and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral
Agent deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent
in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges
relating thereto, shall be payable by the Grantors to the
Collateral Agent within 10 Business Days after demand and shall be
additional Secured Obligations secured hereby.
SECTION
3.04. Other Actions
. In order to
further insure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the
ability of the Collateral Agent to enforce, the Security Interest,
each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantor’s own
expense, to take the following actions with respect to the
following Article 9 Collateral:
(a)
Instruments
.
Subject to Article II, if any Grantor shall at any time hold
or acquire any Instrument constituting Collateral and evidencing an
amount equal to or in excess of $1,000,000 such Grantor shall
forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, accompanied by such
instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the
Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably
request.
(b)
Investment
Property
. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
Article II, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire
any Pledged Equity that consists of Certificated Securities, such
Grantor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties,
accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly
executed in blank as the Collateral Agent may from time to time
reasonably request.
(c)
Commercial
Tort Claims
. If any Grantor shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement acquire a Commercial Tort Claim as to which the
claim thereunder is $2,000,000 or more, such Grantor shall promptly
notify the Collateral Agent thereof in a writing signed by such
Grantor and provide supplements to Schedule II describing the
details thereof and shall grant to the Collateral Agent a security
interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of
this Agreement. In the event any Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire or Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement shall set
forth any Commercial Tort Claim, Schedule II shall be deemed
to be supplemented to include the reference to such Commercial Tort
Claim (and the description thereof), in the same form as such
reference and description are set forth on such Supplemental
Collateral Questionnaire or Pledge and Security Agreement
Supplement.
ARTICLE IV
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COLLATERAL
SECTION
4.01. Grant of License to Use Intellectual
Property
. Without limiting
the provisions of Section 3.01 or any other rights of the
Collateral Agent as the holder of a Security Interest in any
Intellectual Property Collateral, for the purpose of enabling the
Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this
Agreement at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully
entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby
grants to the Collateral Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license
(exercisable without payment of rent, royalty or other compensation
to the Grantors) to use, license or sublicense any of the
Intellectual Property Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by
such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located (whether or not
any license agreement by and between any Grantor and any other
Person relating to the use of such Intellectual Property Collateral
may be terminated hereafter), and including in such license
reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items
may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs
used for the compilation or printout thereof and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, the right to prosecute and maintain
all Intellectual Property Collateral and the right to sue for
infringement of the Intellectual Property Collateral. The use of
such license by the Collateral Agent may only be exercised, at the
option of the Collateral Agent, during the continuation of an Event
of Default;
provided
that any license,
sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral
Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors
notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default. Each
Grantor further agrees to cooperate with the Collateral Agent in
any attempt to prosecute or maintain the Intellectual Property
Collateral or sue for infringement of the Intellectual Property
Collateral.
SECTION
4.02. Protection of Collateral
. (a) Except to the
extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that failure
to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, with respect to registration or pending application of each
item of its Intellectual Property Collateral for which such Grantor
has standing to do so, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense,
all steps, including in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the
U.S. Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authority located
in the United States, (i) to maintain the validity and
enforceability of any registered Intellectual Property Collateral
and maintain such Intellectual Property Collateral in full force
and effect, and (ii) to pursue the registration and
maintenance of each Patent, Trademark, or Copyright registration or
application, now or hereafter included in such Intellectual
Property Collateral of such Grantor, including the payment of
required fees and taxes, the filing of responses to office actions
issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright
Office or other Governmental Authorities, the filing of
applications for renewal or extension, the filing of affidavits
under Sections 8 and 15 of the U.S. Trademark Act, the filing
of divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part, reissue and
renewal applications or extensions, the payment of maintenance fees
and the participation in interference, reexamination, opposition,
cancellation, infringement and misappropriation
proceedings.
(b) Except
to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that
failure to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, no Grantor shall do or permit any act or knowingly
omit to do any act whereby any of its Intellectual Property
Collateral may lapse, be terminated, or become invalid or
unenforceable or placed in the public domain (or, in case of a
trade secret, lose its competitive value).
(c) Except
to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that
failure to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, each Grantor shall take all steps to preserve and
protect each item of its Intellectual Property Collateral,
including maintaining the quality of any and all products or
services used or provided in connection with any of the Trademarks,
consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the
date hereof, and taking all steps necessary to ensure that all
licensed users of any of the Trademarks abide by the applicable
license’s terms with respect to the standards of
quality.
(d) Each
Grantor agrees that, should it obtain an ownership or other
interest in any Intellectual Property Collateral after the Closing
Date (the “
After-Acquired
Intellectual Property
”) (i) the provisions of this
Agreement shall automatically apply thereto, and (ii) any such
After-Acquired Intellectual Property and, in the case of
Trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically
become part of the Intellectual Property Collateral subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect
thereto.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.02 or elsewhere in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any Grantor from
discontinuing the use or maintenance of any of its Intellectual
Property Collateral, the enforcement of license agreements or the
pursuit of actions against infringers, to the extent permitted by
the Credit Agreement if such Grantor determines in its reasonable
business judgment that such discontinuance is desirable in the
conduct of its business.
(f) Upon
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor
shall, if requested by the Collateral Agent, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by
the licensor of each Intellectual Property License to effect the
assignment of all such Grantor’s right, title and interest
thereunder to the Collateral Agent or its designee.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION
5.01. Remedies Upon Default
. Upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it is
agreed that the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exercise
any and all rights afforded to a secured party with respect to the
Secured Obligations under this Agreement, the UCC or other
applicable law, and also may (i) require each Grantor to, and each
Grantor agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of the
Collateral Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral
as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the
Collateral Agent at a place and time to be designated by the
Collateral Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties;
(ii) occupy any premises owned or, to the extent lawful and
permitted, leased (it being acknowledged and agreed that the
Grantors are not required to obtain any waiver or consent from any
owner of such leased premises in connection with such occupancy or
attempted occupancy) by any of the Grantors where the Collateral or
any part thereof is assembled or located for a reasonable period in
order to effectuate its rights and remedies hereunder or under law,
without obligation to such Grantor in respect of such occupation;
provided
that the
Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with notice
thereof prior to or promptly after such occupancy; (iii) exercise
any and all rights and remedies of any of the Grantors under or in
connection with the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the
Collateral;
provided
that the Collateral
Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with notice thereof
prior to or promptly after such exercise; (iv) withdraw any and all
cash or other Collateral from any Deposit Account or Securities
Account and apply such cash and other Collateral to the payment of
any and all Secured Obligations in the manner provided in
Section 5.02; (v) subject to the mandatory requirements of
applicable law and the notice requirements described below, sell or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral securing the
Secured Obligations at a public or private sale or at any
broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon
credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem
appropriate; and (vi) with respect to any Intellectual Property
Collateral, on demand, cause the Security Interest to become an
assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such
Intellectual Property Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the
Collateral Agent, or license or sublicense, whether general,
special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive
basis, any such Intellectual Property Collateral throughout the
world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the
Collateral Agent shall determine,
provided
,
however
, that such terms shall
include all terms and restrictions that are customarily required to
ensure the continuing validity and effectiveness of the
Intellectual Property Collateral at issue, such as, without
limitation, notice, quality control and inurement provisions with
regard to trademarks, patent designation provisions with regard to
patents, and copyright notices and restrictions or decompilation
and reverse engineering of copyrighted software, and
confidentiality protections for trade secrets. Each Grantor
acknowledges and recognizes that (a) the Collateral Agent may be
unable to effect a public sale of all or a part of the Collateral
consisting of securities by reason of certain prohibitions
contained in the Securities Act or the securities laws of various
states (the “
Blue Sky
Laws
”), but may be compelled to resort to one or more
private sales to a restricted group of purchasers who will be
obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities
for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the
distribution or resale thereof, (b) private sales so made may be at
prices and upon other terms less favorable to the seller than if
such securities were sold at public sales, (c) neither the
Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party has any obligation to
delay sale of any of the Collateral for the period of time
necessary to permit such securities to be registered for public
sale under the Securities Act or the Blue Sky Laws and (d) private
sales made under the foregoing circumstances shall be deemed to
have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. To the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor hereby waives any
claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which
any Collateral may have been sold at a private sale was less than
the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if
the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not
offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. Upon consummation
of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to
assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof
the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any sale of
Collateral shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any
claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby
waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of
redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at
any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now
existing or hereafter enacted.
The
Collateral Agent shall give the applicable Grantors 10 days’
written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice
within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the UCC or its
equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s
intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case
of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and,
in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities
exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is
to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof,
will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such
public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary
business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent
may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. The
Collateral Agent may conduct one or more going out of business
sales, in the Collateral Agent’s own right or by one or more
agents and contractors. Such sale(s) may be conducted upon any
premises owned, leased, or occupied by any Grantor. The Collateral
Agent and any such agent or contractor, in conjunction with any
such sale, may augment the Inventory with other goods (all of which
other goods shall remain the sole property of the Collateral Agent
or such agent or contractor). Any amounts realized from the sale of
such goods which constitute augmentations to the Inventory (net of
an allocable share of the costs and expenses incurred in their
disposition) shall be the sole property of the Collateral Agent or
such agent or contractor and neither any Grantor nor any Person
claiming under or in right of any Grantor shall have any interest
therein. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to
be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute
discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated
to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do
so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral
shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or
publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same
to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and
place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be
made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In
case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on
credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be
retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by
the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall
not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers
shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in
case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon
like notice. In the event of a foreclosure, exercise of a power of
sale or a similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any
of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other
disposition (including pursuant to Section 363(k), Section
1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other applicable section of the Bankruptcy
Code, any analogous Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the
granting or perfection of security interests), the Collateral Agent
(or any Lender, except with respect to a “credit bid”
pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or
any other applicable section of the Bankruptcy Code, any analogous
Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the granting or
perfection of security interests) 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 the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or
Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be
entitled, upon instructions from the Requisite Lenders and in
accordance with Section 9.8(b) of the Credit Agreement, for
the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the
purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold or
licensed at any such sale or other disposition, to use and apply
any of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the
purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent
at such sale or other disposition. For purposes of determining the
Grantors’ rights in the Collateral, a written agreement to
purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as
a sale thereof, the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out
such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be
entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof
subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral
Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of
Default shall have been remedied and the Secured Obligations paid
in full,
provided
,
however
, that such
terms shall include terms and restrictions that are customarily
required to ensure the continuing validity and effectiveness of the
Intellectual Property Collateral at issue, such as, without
limitation, quality control and inurement provisions with regard to
Trademarks, patent designation provisions with regard to patents,
and copyright notices and restrictions or decompilation and reverse
engineering of copyrighted software, and protecting the
confidentiality of trade secrets. As an alternative to exercising
the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent
may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose
this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof
pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having
competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court
appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially
reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the
UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.
SECTION
5.02. Application of Proceeds
. Subject to any
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, the Collateral
Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of
Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, as
follows:
FIRST,
to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral
Agent or the Administrative Agent in connection with such
collection, sale, foreclosure or realization or otherwise in
connection with this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any of
the Secured Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and
expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all
advances made by the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent
hereunder or under any other Credit Document on behalf of any
Grantor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with
the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other
Credit Document;
SECOND,
to the payment in full of the Secured Obligations (the amounts so
applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in
accordance with the amounts of the Secured Obligations owed to them
on the date of any such distribution); and
THIRD,
to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The
Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of
application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance
with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral
Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or
under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent
or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge
to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such
purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the
application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the
Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for
the misapplication thereof. It is understood and agreed that the
Grantors shall remain jointly and severally liable to the extent of
any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral
and the aggregate amount of the Secured Obligations, including any
attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such
deficiencies.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit
Document, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to apply (and
shall not incur any liability for not applying) the proceeds of any
collection or sale of Collateral, including any Collateral
consisting of cash, in the manner set forth above in this Section
5.02 to any Specified Cash Management Services Obligations or any
Specified Hedge Obligations unless either (a) such Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations or Specified Hedge Obligations are
owed to the Collateral Agent or an Affiliate thereof or (b) the
Collateral Agent shall have received, prior to the time of such
application (it being understood that (i) such notice may be
provided after such Obligations have been incurred and whether or
not an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii)
such Specified Cash Management Services Obligations and Specified
Hedge Obligations shall continue to be Secured Obligations whether
or not any such notice has been provided), written notice of the
existence and amount thereof, together with such supporting
documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, from
the applicable counterparty to any Hedge Agreement the obligations
under which constitute such Specified Hedge Obligations or the
applicable provider of Cash Management Services the obligations in
respect of which constitute such Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations (it being further agreed that the Collateral Agent
shall not be required to make any inquiry as to the existence of,
or to verify the payment of or that satisfactory arrangements have
been made with respect to the payment of, any Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations or any Specified Hedge Obligations,
in each case, unless such Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations or Specified Hedge Obligations are owed to the
Collateral Agent or an Affiliate thereof or the Collateral Agent
shall have received such written notice and such supporting
documentation in respect thereof from such applicable counterparty
or provider). Whenever the Collateral Agent is required to
determine for any purposes of this Agreement the existence or
amount of any Specified Cash Management Services Obligation or any
Specified Hedge Obligation in respect of which it shall have
previously received notice pursuant to the preceding sentence, it
shall request written certification of such existence or amount
from the Borrower and shall be entitled to make such determination
on the basis of such certification;
provided
,
however
, that if,
notwithstanding the request of the Collateral Agent, the Borrower
shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to certify as to the
existence or amount of any Specified Cash Management Services
Obligation or any Specified Hedge Obligation, the Collateral Agent
shall be entitled to determine such existence or amount by such
method as the Collateral Agent may, in the exercise of its good
faith judgment, determine. The Collateral Agent may rely
conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any
determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the
preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of
competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to any Grantor,
any holder of any Specified Cash Management Services Obligation or
any Specified Hedge Obligation or any other Person as a result of
such determination or any action taken pursuant
thereto.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit
Document, any value received by the Collateral Agent or any other
Secured Party in respect of any Vector Subordinated Note
Collateral, including any prepayment, repayment or other amount or
value received in respect of the Vector Subordinate Note and any
amounts on deposit in the Vector Subordinated Note Cash Collateral
Account, whether resulting from the exercise of remedies under any
Credit Document or otherwise and whether constituting Collateral
consisting of Cash or Cash Equivalents or the proceeds of any
collection or sale of any Vector Subordinated Note Collateral or
otherwise, shall be applied (a) FIRST, to the payment in full of
all Secured Obligations in the form of accrued and unpaid interest
and fees in respect of all Revolving Commitments, Revolving Loans
and Letters of Credit, (b) SECOND, to the payment in full of all
outstanding Revolving Loans, (c) THIRD, to the Cash
Collateralization of Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 103%
of the Letter of Credit Usage as of such time and (d) FOURTH, to
the payment in full of any and all other the Secured Obligations
owed to the Revolving Lenders in their capacities as such (all such
amounts so applied to be distributed among the Revolving Lenders in
accordance with their Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving Exposure on
the date of any such distribution), in each case, prior to any
application in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section
5.02 or any other application required by any other provisions of
the Credit Documents;
provided
that any Cash or Cash
Equivalents released to the Borrower from the Vector Subordinated
Note Cash Collateral Account in accordance with Section
9.8(d)(ii)(D) of the Credit Agreement shall, upon such release, no
longer be subject to the provisions of this paragraph.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
6.01. Notices
. All
communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise
expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in
Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and
notices hereunder to a Grantor other than the Borrower shall be
given to it in care of the Borrower.
SECTION
6.02. Waivers; Amendment
. (a) No failure or
delay on the part of any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any
Issuing Bank in exercising any power, right or privilege hereunder
or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right
or privilege or be construed to be a waiver thereof or of any
Default or Event of Default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege,
or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such
power, right or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or privilege. The
powers, rights, privileges and remedies of the Agents, the
Arrangers, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder and under
the other Credit Documents are cumulative and shall be in addition
to and independent of all powers, rights, privileges and remedies
they would otherwise have. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document or the making of any Loan shall not be
construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default,
regardless of whether any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any
Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or
Event of Default at the time. No waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or consent to any departure by any Grantor therefrom
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted
by Section 6.02(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for
which given
(b) Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors
with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to
apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with
Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION
6.03. Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses;
Indemnification
. (a) The parties
hereto agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to
reimbursement of its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket
expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 10.2 of the
Credit Agreement.
(b) Without
limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other
Credit Documents, each Grantor, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify the Collateral Agent and the other Indemnitees against,
and hold each Indemnitee harmless from any and all Indemnified
Liabilities incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee to
the extent such Grantor would be required to do so pursuant to
Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) Any
such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional
Secured Obligations secured hereby and by the other Collateral
Documents. The provisions of this Section 6.03 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of the
termination of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment
of any of the Secured Obligations, the invalidity or
unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due
under this Section 6.03 shall be payable promptly after
written demand therefor.
(d) To
the extent permitted by applicable law, no Grantor shall assert,
and each Grantor hereby waives, any claim against any Agent, any
Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of any
of the foregoing, on any theory of liability, for indirect,
consequential, special or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or
actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on
contract, tort or any duty imposed by any applicable legal
requirement) arising out of, in connection with, as a result of, or
in any way related to this Agreement or any other Credit Document
or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or
referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby, the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
in the Credit Agreement, any Loan or the use of the proceeds
thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection
therewith, and each Grantor hereby waives, releases and agrees not
to sue upon any such claim for indirect, consequential, special or
punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known
or suspected to exist in its favor.
(e) Each
Grantor agrees that none of any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender,
any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of any of the foregoing will
have any liability to any Grantor or any Person asserting claims on
behalf of or in right of any Grantor or any other Person in
connection with or as a result of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby
or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds
thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection
therewith except (but subject to Section 6.03(d)), in the case
of any Grantor, to the extent that any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses have been found by a final, non-appealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from
(i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent,
such Arranger, such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its Related
Parties in performing its express obligations under this Agreement
or any other Credit Document or (ii) a material breach in bad
faith by such Agent, Arranger, Lender or Issuing Bank or its
Related Parties of its express obligations under the Credit
Agreement.
SECTION
6.04. Independence of Covenants
. All covenants
hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular
action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the
fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would
otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not
avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such
action is taken or condition exists.
SECTION
6.05. Survival of Agreement
. All covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit
Parties in this Agreement and in the certificates or other
documents delivered in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the
Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks and shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making
of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of
any investigation made by any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender and
any Issuing Bank or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any
Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had
notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time this Agreement is executed
and delivered or any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement.
Such covenants and agreements made by the Credit Parties shall
continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or
any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount
payable under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document is
outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and
so long as the Commitments have not expired or
terminated.
SECTION
6.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several
Agreement
. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective as to any Grantor when a
counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Grantor shall have
been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof
shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and
thereafter shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral
Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent
and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, except that no Grantor shall have the right
to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any
interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or
transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be
construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Grantor and
may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with
respect to any Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor
and without affecting the obligations of any other Grantor
hereunder.
SECTION
6.07. Severability
. In case any
provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
6.08. Set-Off
. In addition to
any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by
way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default each Lender and each
Issuing Bank is hereby authorized by each Grantor at any time or
from time to time, without notice to any Grantor, any such notice
being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to
apply any and all deposits (general or special, including
Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured
or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other
Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender or such
Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Grantor
against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of any
Grantor to such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents, including all claims of any nature or
description arising out of or connected hereto or thereto,
irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender or such Issuing Bank
shall have made any demand hereunder or under the other Credit
Documents or (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 or under any other Credit Document shall have
become due and payable and although such obligations and
liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured;
provided
that in
the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right
of set-off, all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately
to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement
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 Collateral Agent, the
Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
SECTION
6.09. APPLICABLE LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT
WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION
6.10. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
. SUBJECT TO CLAUSE
(E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY
HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER COLLATERAL
DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS, SHALL BE BROUGHT
EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE
SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY
AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT,
EACH PARTY HERETO, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS
PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS (SUBJECT TO
CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS;
(C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.01; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS
PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL
JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE GRANTOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING
SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS, THE
ARRANGER AND THE LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY
OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY
GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH
THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER COLLATERAL
DOCUMENT OR ANY EXERCISE OF REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR
THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH
COURT.
SECTION
6.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF
ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR
UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN
THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION OR THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO
ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON
THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENTS, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN
ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO 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 6.11 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER
CREDIT 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
6.12. Headings
. Article and
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
6.13. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
. None of the
Agents, the Arrangers, the Lenders or the Issuing Banks shall be
under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Grantor
or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the
Secured Obligations. To the extent that any Grantor makes a payment
or payments to any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing
Bank (or to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, on
behalf of any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank),
or any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank enforces
any security interests or exercises any right of set-off, and such
payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or set-off
or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent, preferential or at undervalue, set aside and/or
required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party
under any Debtor Relief Laws, any other state or federal law,
common law or any equitable cause, then, 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 set-off had not occurred.
SECTION
6.14. Security Interest Absolute
. All rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a
security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of
each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, any agreement with
respect to any of the Secured Obligations or any other agreement or
instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the
time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all
or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any
other Credit Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any
exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other
collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent
under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all
or any of the Secured Obligations or (d) subject only to
termination of a Grantor’s obligations hereunder in
accordance with the terms of Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement,
but without prejudice to reinstatement rights under Section 7.9 of
the Credit Agreement, any other circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor
in respect of the Secured Obligations or this
Agreement.
SECTION
6.15. Termination or Release
. (a) This
Agreement, the Security Interest and all other security interests
granted hereby shall terminate with respect to all Secured
Obligations when all Secured Obligations (excluding contingent
obligations as to which no claim has been made and the Specified
Hedge Obligations and Specified Cash Management Services
Obligations) have been paid in full, all Commitments have
terminated and no Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding.
(b) A
Guarantor Subsidiary shall automatically be released from its
obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral
of such Guarantor Subsidiary shall be automatically released in the
circumstances set forth in Section 9.8(d) of the Credit
Agreement.
(c) The
Security Interest in any Collateral shall be automatically released
in the circumstances set forth in Section 9.8(d) of the Credit
Agreement.
(d) In
connection with any termination or release pursuant to
Section 6.15(a), 6.15(b) or 6.15(c), the Collateral Agent
shall promptly (i) execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such
Grantor’s expense, all documents that such Grantor shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination or release and (ii)
subject to the provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement,
return or cause to be returned to such Grantor all Collateral that
is subject to such release and is held or controlled by the
Collateral Agent. Any execution and delivery of documents, or
performing of other actions, pursuant to this Section 6.15
shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral
Agent.
(e) At
any time that any Grantor desires that the Collateral Agent take
any action described in Section 6.15(d), such Grantor shall,
upon request of the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral
Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
certifying that the release of the applicable Collateral is
permitted pursuant to Section 6.15(a), 6.15(b) or 6.15(c). The
Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any Secured
Party as the result of any release of any Collateral by it as
permitted (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to
be permitted) by this Section 6.15.
SECTION
6.16. Additional Grantors
. Pursuant to
Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, certain Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Borrower may or are required to enter in this
Agreement from time to time as Grantors. Upon execution and
delivery by the Collateral Agent and a Restricted Subsidiary of a
Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement, such Restricted
Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and
effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution
and delivery of any Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement shall
not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights
and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full
force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as
a party to this Agreement.
SECTION
6.17. Collateral Agent Appointed
Attorney-in-Fact
.
Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent the true and
lawful attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and
executing any instrument that the Collateral Agent may deem
necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof at any
time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an
interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of
substitution either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the
name of such Grantor: (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or
deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money
orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or
any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give
receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the
Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or
bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send
verifications of Accounts or Payment Intangibles to any Account
Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or
proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent
jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the
Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral;
(f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions,
suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g)
to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to
make payment directly to the Collateral Agent or to a Collateral
Account and adjust, settle or compromise the amount of payment of
any Account or Payment Intangible; (h) to make, settle and adjust
claims in respect of Collateral under policies of insurance and to
endorse the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or
any other item of payment with respect to the proceeds of such
policies of insurance and for making all determinations and
decisions with respect thereto; and (i) to use, sell, assign,
transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise
deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts
and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement,
as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the
absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes;
provided
that nothing herein
contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the
Collateral Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as
to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the
Collateral Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to
take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof
or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any
property covered thereby. The Collateral Agent and the other
Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually
received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them
herein, and none of the Collateral Agent, any other Secured Party
or any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall be responsible
to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for
its own gross negligence or willful misconduct or a material breach
in bad faith by it of its express obligations under this Agreement,
in each case, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, neither
the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any
responsibility for the preparing, recording, filing, re-recording
or re-filing of any financing statements (amendments or
continuations) or other instruments in any public
office.
SECTION
6.18. General Authority of the Collateral Agent
. By acceptance of
the benefits of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents,
each Secured Party (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be
deemed irrevocably (a) to consent to the appointment of the
Collateral Agent as its agent hereunder and under such other
Collateral Documents, (b) to confirm that the Collateral Agent
shall have the authority to act as the exclusive agent of such
Secured Party for the enforcement of any provisions of this
Agreement and such other Collateral Documents against any Grantor,
the exercise of remedies hereunder or thereunder and the giving or
withholding of any consent or approval hereunder or thereunder
relating to any Collateral or any Grantor’s obligations with
respect thereto, (c) to agree that it shall not take any action to
enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Collateral
Document against any Grantor, to exercise any remedy hereunder or
thereunder or to give any consents or approvals hereunder or
thereunder except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any
other Collateral Document and (d) to agree to be bound by the terms
of this Agreement, any other Collateral Documents and any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect. BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS
OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INTERESTS CREATED HEREBY, EACH
SECURED PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 OF THE
CREDIT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES,
PROTECTIONS, INDEMNITIES AND IMMUNITIES OF THE AGENTS, AND AGREES
TO BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS AS FULLY AS IF THEY WERE SET FORTH
HEREIN.
SECTION
6.19. Recourse
. This Agreement is
made with full recourse to each Grantor and pursuant to and upon
all the warranties, representations, covenants and agreements on
the part of such Grantor contained herein, in the Credit Agreement
and the other Credit Documents and otherwise in writing in
connection herewith or therewith, with respect to the Secured
Obligations of each applicable Secured Party. It is the desire and
intent of each Grantor and each Secured Party that this Agreement
shall be enforced against each Grantor to the fullest extent
permissible under the laws applied in each jurisdiction in which
enforcement is sought.
SECTION
6.20. Mortgages
. In the event that
any of the Collateral hereunder is also subject to a valid and
enforceable Lien under the terms of a Mortgage and the terms
thereof are inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, then
with respect to such Collateral, the terms of such Mortgage shall
control in the case of Fixtures and Real Estate Asset leases,
letting and licenses of, and contracts, and agreements relating to
the lease of, Real Estate Assets, and the terms of this Agreement
shall control in the case of all other Collateral.
SECTION
6.21. Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
. (a)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Collateral
Agent acknowledges and agrees that no Grantor shall be required to
take or refrain from taking any action at the request of the
Collateral Agent with respect to the Collateral if such action or
inaction would be inconsistent with the terms of any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein but subject to any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, in the event that any
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness Document or any other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness provides for the grant of a security
interest or pledge over the assets of any Grantor and such assets
do not otherwise constitute Collateral under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, such Grantor shall (i) promptly grant a
security interest in or pledge such assets to secure the Secured
Obligations, (ii) promptly take any actions necessary to perfect
such security interest or pledge to the extent set forth in such
Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness Document or such other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness and (iii) take all other steps reasonably
requested by the Collateral Agent in connection with the
foregoing.
(c) Nothing
contained in any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed
to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, which, as among
the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, shall remain in full force
and effect in accordance with its terms.
SECTION
6.22. Regulatory Matters
. (a)
Notwithstanding anything in any Credit Document to the contrary,
the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, agrees that
to the extent prior FCC or State PUC approval is required pursuant
to Communications Laws for (i) the operation and effectiveness of
any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Collateral
Document or (ii) taking any action that may be taken by the
Collateral Agent hereunder or under the other Collateral Documents,
such right, remedy or actions will be subject to any such prior FCC
or State PUC, as applicable, approval having been obtained by or in
favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Collateral
Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, acknowledges that, to the
extent required by the FCC or any applicable State PUC, the voting
rights in the Pledged Securities, as well as de jure, de facto and
negative control over all FCC or State PUC authorizations, shall
remain with the Grantors even if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing until the FCC and/or State PUC(s), as applicable,
shall have given its prior consent to the exercise of
securityholder rights by a purchaser at a public or private sale of
the Pledged Securities or to the exercise of such rights by a
receiver, trustee, conservator or other agent duly appointed in
accordance with the applicable law. The Grantors shall, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at
the Collateral Agent’s request, file or cause to be filed
such applications for approval and shall take such other actions
reasonably required by the Collateral Agent to obtain each such FCC
or State PUC approval or consent as is necessary to transfer
ownership and control to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the
Secured Parties, or their successors, assigns or designees, of the
Licenses held by the Grantors. To enforce the provisions of this
Section 6.22, the Collateral Agent is empowered to request the
appointment of a receiver from any court of competent jurisdiction.
Such receiver shall be instructed to seek from the FCC and every
applicable State PUC an involuntary transfer of control of any such
License for the purpose of seeking a bona fide purchaser to whom
control will ultimately be transferred. Upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the Collateral
Agent’s request, the Grantors shall further use their
reasonable best efforts to assist in obtaining approval of the FCC
and/or applicable State PUC(s), if required, for any action or
transactions contemplated hereby, including the preparation,
execution and filing with the FCC and/or applicable State PUC(s) of
the assignor’s or transferor’s portion of any
application for consent to the assignment of any License or
transfer of control, or notice of such assignment or transfer, as
applicable, necessary or appropriate under the FCC’s and/or
any applicable State PUC(s)’ rules and regulations for
approval of the transfer or assignment of any portion of the
Collateral, together with any License or other
authorization.
(b) The
Grantors acknowledge that the assignment or transfer of Licenses is
integral to the Secured Parties’ realization of the value of
the Collateral, that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure
by the Grantors to comply with the provisions of this Section 6.22
and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in
damages, and therefore agree that this Section 6.22 may be
specifically enforced.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document to the
contrary, neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party
shall, without first obtaining the approval of the FCC and/or any
applicable State PUC (where required), take any action hereunder or
under any other Collateral Document that would constitute or result
in any assignment of a License, change of material control or
ownership of any Grantor, or any assignment or transfer of the
material operating assets of any Grantor if such assignment, change
of material control or ownership or assignment or transfer of
material operating assets would require the approval of the FCC or
any such applicable State PUC under applicable law (including the
FCC’s and any such applicable State PUC’s rules and
regulations).
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
|
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.,
FUSION,
LLC,
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC,
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
CBEYOND,
INC.,
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
BIRCH
MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC,
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.,
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLC
PRIMUS
HOLDINGS, INC.
FUSION
MPHC ACQUISITION CORP., as Grantors
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
|
Name:
Kevin Dotts
|
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion First Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement]
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
|
By:
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion First Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement]
Schedule
I
Pledged
Equity; Pledged Debt
Pledged
Equity:
Credit Party
|
Issuer
|
Type of Organization
|
Number of Shares/
Interests Owned
|
Total Shares/Interests Outstanding
|
Percentage of Interest Pledged
|
Certificate No
. (if uncertificated,
please indicate so)
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
BCHI Acquisition LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
NBS Acquisition Corp.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
1
|
100%
|
1
|
Fusion
NBS Acquisition Corp.
|
Fusion
LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
1
Unit
|
1
Unit
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
BCHI Acquisition LLC
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Cbeyond,
Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Cbeyond,
Inc.
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Texas Holdings, Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Kansas, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Oklahoma, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Missouri, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
Is
the 99% limited partner and Birch Texas Holdings, Inc. is the
General Partner
|
Birch
Telecom of Texas Ltd., L.L.P.
|
Limited
Liability Partnership
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Bircan
Holdings, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Primus
Management ULC [
Not a Credit
Party
]
|
Unlimited Liability
Company
|
100
|
100
|
65%
|
C-2
C-3
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Management LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
MPHC Acquisition Corp.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
1
|
Pledged
Debt:
Credit Party
|
Debtor
|
Type of Instrument
|
Outstanding Principal Amount
|
All
Credit Parties
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
All
credit parties
Fusion
Global Services, LLC (to be renamed)
Vector
Fusion Holdings (Cayman) Ltd.
|
Intercompany
note
Secured
Note
Unsecured
Note
|
N/A
$613,748.71
$25,000,000
|
Schedule
II
Commercial
Tort Claims
None.
Schedule
III
Intellectual
Property
I.
Copyrights/Copyright Applications
Registered
Owner
|
Copyright
|
Registration/Application
No.
|
Application
Date/
Registration
Date
|
Expiration
Date
|
None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party is a
licensee)
Licensee
|
Licensor
|
Title
|
Registration
Number
|
Expiration
Date
|
None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III.
Patents/Patent Applications
Registered
Owner
|
Patent
|
Application
No./Registration No.
|
Application
Date/
Registration
Date
|
Expiration
Date
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Client
Application
|
12369185
/ 8219652
|
02/11/2009/
07/10/2012
|
N/A
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Data
Storage Testing
|
12493546
/ 9697210
|
06/29/2009/
07/04/2017
|
N/A
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Call
Screening System and Method
|
2597377
/2,597,377 (Canada)
|
08/15/2007/
11/16/2010
|
N/A
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Call
Screening System and Method
|
12/673,377
/ 8577002 (US)
|
02/18/2011/
11/05/2013
|
N/A
|
IV.
Trademarks/Trademark Applications - USA
Registered
Owner
|
Trademark
|
Registration
No.
|
Registration
Date
|
Next
Renewal Date
|
Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.
|
“Clear
Connections in the Cloud”
|
4,775,318
|
July
21, 2015
|
July
21, 2021
|
PingTone
Communications, Inc.
|
“PingTone
Communications”
|
2,880,663
|
September
7, 2004
|
September
7, 2024
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Apptix”
|
4,054,446
|
November
15, 2011
|
November
15, 2021
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,780,287
|
July
28, 2015
|
July
28, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,780,288
|
July
28, 2015
|
July
28, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,861,836
|
September
15, 2015
|
December
1, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Mailstreet”
|
2,840,397
|
May 11,
2004
|
May 11,
2024
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Mailstreet”
|
4,054,447
|
November
15, 2011
|
November
15, 2021
|
Bircan
Management ULC
|
“Telegroup”
|
2048650
|
April
1, 1997
|
Not
renewed--Will be cancelled
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
“Econsole”
|
86/081,954
4745290
|
May 26,
2015
|
May 26,
2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“B
Birch and design”
|
4826853
|
October
6, 2015
|
October
6, 2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch”
|
2467503
|
July
10, 2001
|
July
10, 2021
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Branch Out”
|
4261286
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Communications and design”
|
3549607
|
December
23, 2008
|
December
23, 2018
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
leaf logo”
|
N/A
|
Not
registered
|
N/A
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Power Merchant”
|
4397170
|
September
3, 2013
|
September
3, 2023
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Telecom”
|
2186707
|
September
1, 1998
|
September
1, 2018
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Telecom and design”
|
2325801
|
March
7, 2000
|
March
7, 2020
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birchlink”
|
2962432
|
June
14, 2005
|
June
14, 2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Branch
Out”
|
4261289
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Branch
Out”
|
4261291
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Home
Connection”
|
2908160
|
December
7, 2004
|
December
7, 2024
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Mighty
Mouth”
|
2503776
|
November
6, 2001
|
November
6, 2021
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Service.
Savings. Simplicity”
|
2616143
|
September
10, 2002
|
September
10, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Sp@ce
Host”
|
2691468
|
February
25, 2003
|
February
25, 2023
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Sprawler”
|
3047178
|
January
24, 2006
|
January
24, 2026
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Your
Business Best Friend”
|
2558118
|
April
9, 2002
|
April
9, 2022
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondoffice”
|
2805009
|
February
27, 2003
|
January
13, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2805009
|
January
13, 2004
|
January
13, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2793909
|
December
16, 2003
|
December
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2794512
|
December
16, 2003
|
December
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
I”
|
2763714
|
September
16, 2003
|
September
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
I”
|
2761638
|
September
9, 2003
|
September
9, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
II”
|
2763713
|
September
16, 2003
|
September
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
II”
|
2816962
|
February
24, 2004
|
February
24, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“C
and eye design”
|
2597070
|
July
23, 2002
|
July
23, 2022
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Connect
Securely to Our Cloud Cbeyond This Building is Certified Cloud
Ready at the Speed of Light
|
4528389
|
May 13,
2014
|
May 13,
2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Netpbx”
|
3600474
|
March
31, 2009
|
March
31, 2019
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Netsip”
|
3600503
|
March
31, 2009
|
March
31, 2019
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“The
Last Communications Company a Small Business Will Ever
Need”
|
2671389
|
January
7, 2003
|
January
7, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Totalcloud”
|
4382713
|
August
13, 2013
|
August
13, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Totalnetwork”
|
4385711
|
August
13, 2013
|
August
13, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“TotalVoice”
|
4441587
|
November
26, 2013
|
November
26, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Your
Technology Ally”
|
4355485
|
June
18, 2013
|
June
18, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2679710
|
January
28, 2003
|
January
28, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2694591
|
March
11, 2003
|
March
11, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2194625
|
October
13, 1998
|
October
13, 2018
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“PTGI”
|
4226291
|
October
16, 2012
|
October
16, 2022
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“PTGI”
|
4195302
|
August
21, 2012
|
August
21, 2022
|
Bircan
Holdings, LLC
|
“Telegroup”
|
2048650
|
April
1, 1997
|
April
1, 2027
|
EXHIBIT I
TO FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF] SUPPLEMENT NO. __, dated as of [ ] (this
“
Supplement
”),
to the First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Pledge and Security Agreement
”),
among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), the
other Grantors party thereto from time to time and Wilmington
Trust, National Association (“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
Reference is made
to the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the
Lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used in this Supplement and
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement or the Pledge and Security
Agreement, as applicable.
The
Grantors have entered into the Pledge and Security Agreement in
order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to make Loans and
other extensions of credit. Section 6.16 of the Pledge and
Security Agreement provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries
of the Borrower may become Grantors under the Pledge and Security
Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument substantially
in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted
Subsidiary (the “
New Subsidiary
”) is executing
this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit
Agreement to become a Grantor under the Pledge and Security
Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to
make additional Loans and other extensions of credit and as
consideration for permitting to remain outstanding Loans and other
extensions of credit previously made.
Accordingly, the
Collateral Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as
follows:
SECTION 1.
In accordance with
Section 6.16 of the Pledge and Security Agreement, the New
Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the
Pledge and Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if
originally named therein as a Grantor, and the New Subsidiary
hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Pledge and
Security Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder and (b)
represents and warrants that the representations and warranties
made by it as a Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as
of the date hereof (or, to the extent that such representations and
warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, as of such
earlier date). In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary,
as security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors
and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a
security interest in, all of the New Subsidiary’s right,
title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in
the Pledge and Security Agreement) of the New Subsidiary, whether
now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by the New Subsidiary
or in which the New Subsidiary now has or at any time in the future
may acquire any right, title or interest. Each reference to a
“Grantor” in the Pledge and Security Agreement shall be
deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Pledge and Security
Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2.
The New Subsidiary represents
and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties
that (a) the execution and delivery of this Supplement by it have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other
organizational and, if required, stockholder or other equityholder
action on the part of the New Subsidiary and (b) this Supplement
has been duly executed and delivered by the New Subsidiary and is
the legally valid and binding obligation of the New Subsidiary,
enforceable against the New Subsidiary in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to
or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable
principles relating to enforceability.
SECTION 3.
This Supplement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Supplement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplement.
This Supplement shall become effective when the Collateral Agent
shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the
signature of the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent has
executed a counterpart hereof.
SECTION 4.
The New Subsidiary hereby
represents and warrants that (a) Schedule A hereto sets
forth, as of the date hereof, the true and correct legal name of
the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of organization and the
location of its chief executive office, and whether the New
Subsidiary is a transmitting utility (as defined in the UCC) and,
if applicable, the location where its transmitting utility
equipment is held, (b) Schedule B hereto sets forth (and
such Schedule hereby supplements Schedule I set forth in the Pledge
and Security Agreement), as of the date hereof, a true and complete
list of (i) all the Pledged Equity of the New Subsidiary,
specifying the percentage of the issued and outstanding units of
each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof
represented by such Pledged Equity, and (ii) all the Pledged Debt
of the New Subsidiary, specifying the issuer thereof and the
principal amount thereof as of the date hereof, and includes all
Equity Interests, Promissory Notes and Instruments owned by the New
Subsidiary required to be pledged hereunder in order to satisfy the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (c) Schedule C hereto
sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and complete list of (i)
all Copyrights that have been registered and Copyrights for which
registration applications are pending, (ii) all exclusive Copyright
Licenses under which the New Subsidiary is a licensee, (iii) all
Patents that have been granted and Patents for which applications
are pending and (iv) all Trademarks that have been registered and
Trademarks for which registration applications are pending and
that, in each case, are owned by the New Subsidiary, in each case
truly and completely specifying the name of the registered owner,
title, type or mark, registration or application number, expiration
date (if already registered) or filing date, a brief description
thereof and, if applicable, the licensee and licensor and (d)
Schedule D hereto sets forth, as of the date hereof, each
Commercial Tort Claim of the New Subsidiary as to which the claim
thereunder is $2,000,000 or more in existence on the date
hereof.
SECTION 5.
Except as expressly
supplemented hereby, the Pledge and Security Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect. This Supplement constitutes a Credit
Document for all purpose of the Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents.
SECTION
6. THIS SUPPLEMENT 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7.
In case any provision in or
obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION 8.
All communications and
notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in
Section 6.01 of the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
SECTION 9.
The New Subsidiary agrees to
reimburse the Collateral Agent for its actual reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this
Supplement, including all reasonable and documented fees and
expenses of counsel for the Collateral Agent.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent have
duly executed this Supplement to the Pledge and Security Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME
OF NEW SUBSIDIARY],
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
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By:
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Name:
Title:
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Schedule A
NEW SUBSIDIARY
Legal Name
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Jurisdiction of Organization
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Location of Chief Executive Office (including county)
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Transmitting utility? If so, jurisdiction where transmitting
utility equipment is held
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Schedule B
PLEDGED EQUITY; PLEDGED DEBT
EQUITY INTERESTS
Credit Party
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Issuer
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Type of Organization
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Number of Shares/Units Owned
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Total Shares/Units Outstanding
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Percentage of Interest Pledged
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Certificate No. (if uncertificated, please indicate
so)
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DEBT INSTRUMENTS
Credit Party
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Debtor
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Type of Instrument
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Outstanding Principal Amount
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Schedule C
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
I.
Copyrights and Copyright Applications
Property
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Description
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Registration
Status
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II.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where the New Subsidiary is a
licensee)
Licensee
|
Licensor
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Title
|
Registration Number
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Expiration Date
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Title
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Country
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Type
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Registration Number
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Issue Date
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Expiration Date
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Title
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Country
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Type
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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Trademark
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Registration No./Application No.
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Application Date/Registration No.
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Goods/Services
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VI.
Trademark Applications
Trademark
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Application No.
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Filing Date
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Schedule D
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS
EXHIBIT II
TO FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF]
FIRST LIEN COPYRIGHT SECURITY
AGREEMENT
, dated as of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, this “
Agreement
”), among the
ENTITIES IDENTIFIED AS GRANTORS ON
THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Copyright Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
.
Unless otherwise defined herein,
terms defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement and used herein
have the meaning given to them in the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest
.
As security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Copyright
Collateral
”):
(a) (i)
all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of
the United States or any other country, whether as author,
assignee, transferee or otherwise, whether registered or
unregistered and whether published or unpublished, (ii) all
registrations and applications for registration of any such
copyright in the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending
applications for registration and renewals in the United States
Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule A under the
heading “Copyright Registrations and Applications”,
(iii) all rights and privileges arising under applicable law with
respect to such Grantor’s use of such copyrights, (iv) all
reissues, renewals, continuations and extensions thereof and
amendments thereto, (v) all income, fees, royalties, damages,
claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with
respect to the foregoing, including damages and payments for past,
present or future infringements thereof, (vi) all rights
corresponding thereto throughout the world and (vii) all rights to
sue for past, present or future infringements thereof;
and
(b) any
and all written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any
right to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned
by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such
Grantor under any such agreement, including each such agreement set
forth on Schedule A under the heading “Exclusive Copyright
Licenses”.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any such asset constitutes Excluded Property, the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall not attach to, and
the Copyright Collateral shall not include, such asset;
provided
,
however
, that the
security interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately
attach to, and the Copyright Collateral shall immediately include,
any such asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such
portion) ceasing to be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Copyright Collateral
made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the
date first set forth above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to First Lien Copyright Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
|
by
|
|
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Name:
Title:
|
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|
[Signature
Page to First Lien Copyright Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
FIRST LIEN COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT
Copyright Registrations and Applications
Registered Owner
|
Property
|
Description
|
Registration Status
|
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|
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Grantor is a
licensee)
Licensee
|
Licensor
|
Title
|
Registration Number
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
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EXHIBIT III
TO FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
,
dated as of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
“
Agreement
”), is
made among
THE ENTITIES IDENTIFIED
AS GRANTORS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Patent Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
. Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement and used herein have the meaning given to them in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest
.
As security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Patent
Collateral
”): (a) all letters patent of the United
States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for
letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in
any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending
applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or
any similar offices in any other country, including those listed on
Schedule A under the heading “Patents and Patent
Applications”, (b) all rights and privileges arising under
applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any
patents, (c) all inventions and improvements described and claimed
therein, (d) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals,
extensions, reexaminations, supplemental examinations,
inter partes
reviews, adjustments and
continuations-in-part thereof and amendments thereto, (e) all
income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or
hereafter due and/or payable with respect to any of the foregoing
including damages and payments for past, present or future
infringements thereof, (f) all rights corresponding thereto
throughout the world, including the right to prevent others from
making, having made, using, selling, offering to sell, importing or
exporting the inventions claimed therein and (g) rights to sue
for past, present or future infringements thereof.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any such asset constitutes Excluded Property, the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall not attach to, and
the Patent Collateral shall not include, such asset,
provided
,
however
, that the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately attach to,
and the Patent Collateral shall immediately include, any such asset
(or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to
be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Patent Collateral made
and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
.
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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN
THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the
date first set forth above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to First Lien Patent Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
|
|
[Signature
Page to First Lien Patent Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
Patent and Patent Applications
Patents
Registered Owner
|
Title of Patent
|
Country
|
Type
|
Registration Number
|
Issue Date
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Patent Applications
Registered Owner
|
Title of Patent
|
Country
|
Type
|
Application Number
|
Date Filed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
EXHIBIT IV
TO FIRST LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
FIRST LIEN
TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
, dated as
of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
“
Agreement
”), is
made among
THE ENTITIES IDENTIFIED
AS GRANTORS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Trademark Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
. Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement and used herein have the meaning given to them in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security
. As
security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Trademark
Collateral
”): (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade
names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious
business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or
business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like
nature, the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or
associated therewith, all registrations and recordings thereof, and
all registration and recording applications filed in connection
therewith, including registrations and registration applications in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar
offices in any State of the United States or any other country or
any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals
thereof, including those listed on Schedule A under the heading
“Trademark Registrations and Applications”, (b) all
rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to
such Grantor’s use of any trademarks, (c) all reissues,
continuations, extensions and renewals thereof and amendments
thereto, (d) all income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now
and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to any of the
foregoing, including damages, claims and payments for past, present
or future infringements thereof, (e) all rights corresponding
thereto throughout the world and (f) rights to sue for past,
present and future infringements or dilutions thereof or other
injuries thereto.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, (a) in no event shall the
Trademark Collateral include or the security interest granted under
this Section 2 attach to any “intent to use”
application for registration of a Trademark filed pursuant to
Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to
filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d)
of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use”
pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto,
solely to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period,
if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would
impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that
issues from such intent to use application under applicable federal
law and (b) if, for so long and to the extent as any such asset
constitutes Excluded Property, the security interest granted under
this Section 2 shall not attach to, and the Trademark
Collateral shall not include, such asset,
provided
,
however
, that the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately attach to,
and the Trademark Collateral shall immediately include, any such
asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion)
ceasing to be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Trademark Collateral
made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF
,
each
Grantor has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by
its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth
above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to First Lien Trademark Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
|
|
[Signature
Page to First Lien Trademark Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
FIRST LIEN TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
Trademark Registrations and Applications
Trademarks
Registered Owner
|
Trademark
|
Registration No./Application No.
|
Application Date/Registration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademark Applications
Registered Owner
|
Trademark
|
Application No.
|
Filing Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECOND
LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
dated
as of
May 4,
2018,
among
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
THE
OTHER GRANTORS PARTY HERETO
and
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Collateral Agent
ARTICLE I
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
|
SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement and UCC
|
1
|
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms
|
2
|
ARTICLE II
|
|
|
PLEDGE OF SECURITIES
|
6
|
|
|
SECTION 2.01. Pledge
|
6
|
SECTION 2.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral
|
7
|
SECTION 2.03. Representations and Warranties
|
7
|
SECTION 2.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and
Limited Partnership Interests
|
8
|
SECTION 2.05. Registration in Nominee Name;
Denominations
|
8
|
SECTION 2.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest
|
8
|
SECTION 2.07. Collateral Agent Not a Partner or Limited Liability
Company Member
|
10
|
ARTICLE III
|
|
|
SECURITY INTERESTS IN PERSONAL PROPERTY
|
10
|
|
|
SECTION 3.01. Security Interest
|
10
|
SECTION 3.02. Representations and Warranties
|
12
|
SECTION 3.03. Covenants
|
14
|
SECTION 3.04. Other Actions
|
16
|
ARTICLE IV
|
|
|
SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COLLATERAL
|
16
|
|
|
SECTION 4.01. Grant of License to Use Intellectual
Property
|
16
|
SECTION 4.02. Protection of Collateral
|
17
|
ARTICLE V
|
|
|
REMEDIES
|
18
|
|
|
SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default
|
18
|
SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds
|
20
|
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
20
|
|
|
SECTION 6.01. Notices
|
20
|
SECTION 6.02. Waivers; Amendment
|
21
|
SECTION 6.03. Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses;
Indemnification
|
21
|
SECTION 6.04. Independence of Covenants
|
22
|
SECTION 6.05. Survival of Agreement
|
22
|
SECTION 6.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several
Agreement
|
22
|
SECTION 6.07. Severability
|
23
|
SECTION 6.08. Set-Off
|
23
|
SECTION 6.09. APPLICABLE LAW
|
23
|
SECTION 6.10. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
|
23
|
SECTION 6.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
24
|
SECTION 6.12. Headings
|
24
|
SECTION 6.13. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
|
24
|
SECTION 6.14. Security Interest Absolute
|
24
|
SECTION 6.15. Termination or Release
|
25
|
SECTION 6.16. Additional Grantors
|
25
|
SECTION 6.17. Collateral Agent Appointed
Attorney-in-Fact
|
26
|
SECTION 6.18. General Authority of the Collateral
Agent
|
27
|
SECTION 6.19. Recourse
|
27
|
SECTION 6.20. Mortgages
|
27
|
SECTION 6.21. Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
|
27
|
SECTION 6.22. Regulatory Matters
|
28
|
SCHEDULES
|
|
Schedule
I -
|
Pledged
Equity; Pledged Debt
|
Schedule
II -
|
Commercial Tort
Claims
|
Schedule
III -
|
Intellectual
Property
|
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
|
Exhibit I
-
|
Form of
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement
|
Exhibit
II -
|
Form of
Second Lien Copyright Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
III -
|
Form of
Second Lien Patent Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
IV -
|
Form of
Second Lien Trademark Security Agreement
|
SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY
AGREEMENT
, dated as of May 4, 2018, among
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), the other
GRANTORS
party hereto from time to time
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties (as defined below).
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, as
Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Lenders party thereto and Wilmington
Trust, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
The
Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The
obligations of the Lenders to extend such credit are conditioned
upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each Grantor. The Grantors are Affiliates of one
another, will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from
the extensions of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit
Agreement, and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in
order to induce the Lenders to extend such credit. This Agreement
is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, which governs the
relative rights and priorities of the First Lien Secured Parties
(as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and the Second Lien
Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and
certain other matters as described therein. Accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Credit Agreement and UCC
.
(a)
Capitalized terms
used in this Agreement, including the preamble and the introductory
paragraphs hereto, and not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.
(b) As
used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified
in the UCC (as defined herein):
Term
|
UCC
Section
|
Certificated
Security
|
8-102
|
Chattel
Paper
|
9-102
|
Commercial
Tort Claim
|
9-102
|
Deposit
Account
|
9-102
|
Document
|
9-102
|
Fixtures
|
9-102
|
Goods
|
9-102
|
Instrument
|
9-102
|
Inventory
|
9-102
|
Investment
Property
|
9-102
|
Letter-of-Credit
Right
|
9-102
|
Money
|
1-201
|
Payment
Intangible
|
9-102
|
Proceeds
|
9-102
|
Promissory
Note
|
9-102
|
Securities
Account
|
8-501
|
Security
Entitlement
Supporting
Obligations
|
8-102
9-102
|
Uncertificated
Security
|
8-102
|
(c) The
rules of construction specified in Section 1.3 of the Credit
Agreement also apply to this Agreement,
mutatis mutandis
.
SECTION
1.02. Other Defined Terms
. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
below:
“
Account(s)
” means
“accounts” as defined in Section 9-102 of the UCC, and
also means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or
not earned by performance, (a) for property that has been or
is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed
of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, or (c) arising out
of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on
or for use with the card.
“
Account Debtor
” means any Person
that is or that may become obligated to any Grantor under, with
respect to or on account of an Account or a Payment
Intangible.
“
After-Acquired Intellectual
Property
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.02(d).
“
Agreement
” means this Second Lien
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Article 9 Collateral
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).
“
Bankruptcy Event of Default
” means
any Event of Default under Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) of the
Credit Agreement.
“
Blue Sky Laws
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 5.01.
“
Borrower
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in the preamble.
“
Collateral
” means the Article 9
Collateral and the Pledged Collateral;
provided
that all references to
“Collateral” in Section 5.02 shall, unless the context
requires otherwise, also refer to Real Estate Assets subject to a
Mortgage.
“
Collateral Agent
” means Wilmington
Trust, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties
under the Credit Documents, and its successors in such capacity as
provided in the Credit Agreement.
“
Commercial Software License(s)
”
means any non-exclusive license of commercially available (on
non-discriminatory pricing terms) computer software to a Grantor
from a commercial software provider (e.g.,
“shrink-wrap”, “browse-wrap” or
“click-wrap” software licenses) or a license of freely
available computer software from a licensor of free or open source
software.
“
Copyright License
” means any
written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right
to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by
any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such
Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Copyrights
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by or assigned to any
Grantor (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the
copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether
as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, whether registered or
unregistered and whether published or unpublished, (b) all
registrations and applications for registration of any such
copyright in the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending
applications for registration and renewals in the United States
Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule III, (c) all
rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to
such Grantor’s use of such copyrights, (d) all reissues,
renewals, continuations and extensions thereof and amendments
thereto, (e) all income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and
payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with respect to the
foregoing, including damages and payments for past, present or
future infringements thereof, (f) all rights corresponding
thereto throughout the world and (g) all rights to sue for
past, present or future infringements thereof.
“
Credit Agreement
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
Domain Names
” means all Internet
domain names and associated URL addresses in or to which any
Grantor now or hereafter has any right, title or
interest.
“
Equipment
” means (a) any
“equipment” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the
UCC and shall also include, but shall not be limited to, all
machinery, equipment, furnishings, appliances, furniture, fixtures,
tools, and vehicles now or hereafter owned by any Grantor in each
case, regardless of whether characterized as equipment under the
UCC and (b) and any and all additions, substitutions and
replacements of any of the foregoing and all accessions thereto,
wherever located, whether or not at any time of determination
incorporated or installed therein or attached thereto, and all
replacements therefore, together with all attachments, components,
parts, equipment and accessories installed thereon or affixed
thereto.
“
General
Intangibles
” has the meaning provided in Article 9 of
the UCC and shall in any event include all choses in action and
causes of action and all other intangible personal property of
every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor, as the case may be, including corporate or
other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights
(including rights under customer contracts, leases, whether entered
into as lessor or lessee, Hedge Agreements and other agreements),
goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims, licenses
(including Licenses), permits, concessions and authorizations and
any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other
security held by or granted to any Grantor.
“
Grantor
” means each of the
Borrower and each Guarantor Subsidiary.
“
Guarantor Subsidiaries
” means,
collectively, (a) the Restricted Subsidiaries party to this
Agreement on the Closing Date and (b) each Restricted
Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Closing
Date pursuant to Section 6.16, provided that any Restricted
Subsidiary that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with the Credit Agreement shall cease to be a Guarantor
Subsidiary subject to and in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.8(d)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.
“
Intellectual Property
” means all
intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now
owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including rights in
inventions, rights in designs, utility models, Patents, Copyrights,
Intellectual Property Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets,
confidential or proprietary technical and business information,
rights in know how, rights in show how or other data or
information, rights in software, rights in databases, all other
proprietary information, including but not limited to Domain
Names.
“
Intellectual Property Collateral
”
means Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property.
“
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.02(d).
“
Intellectual Property License
”
means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License,
Commercial Software License or other license or sublicense
agreement granting rights under Intellectual Property to which any
Grantor is a party, including those listed on Schedule
III.
“
Patent License
” means any written
agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party
any right to develop, commercialize, import, make, have made, offer
for sale, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has
the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor
any such right with respect to any invention on which a Patent, now
or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all
rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Patents
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor (a) all
letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in
any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and
all applications for letters patent of the United States or the
equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations,
recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country,
including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all rights and
privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such
Grantor’s use of any patents, (c) all inventions and
improvements described and claimed therein, (d) all reissues,
divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, reexaminations,
supplemental examinations,
inter
partes
reviews, adjustments and continuations-in-part
thereof and amendments thereto, (e) all income, fees,
royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or
payable with respect to any of the foregoing including damages and
payments for past, present or future infringements thereof,
(f) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world,
including the right to prevent others from making, having made,
using, selling, offering to sell, importing or exporting the
inventions claimed therein and (g) rights to sue for past,
present or future infringements thereof.
“
Pledge and Security Agreement
Supplement
” means an instrument substantially in the
form of Exhibit I hereto.
“
Pledged Collateral
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Debt
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Equity
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
“
Pledged Securities
”
means any Promissory Notes, stock certificates,
limited liability membership interests or other Securities,
certificates or Instruments now or hereafter included in the
Pledged Collateral, including all Pledged Equity, Pledged Debt and
all other certificates, instruments or other documents representing
or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.
“
Secured Obligations
” means the
“Obligations” as defined in the Credit Agreement, it
being acknowledged and agreed that the term “Secured
Obligations” as used herein shall include each extension of
credit under the Credit Agreement, whether outstanding on the date
of this Agreement or extended or arising from time to time after
the date of this Agreement.
“
Secured Parties
” means (a) the
Administrative Agent, (b) the Collateral Agent, (c) the Arrangers,
the Syndication Agents and each other Person appointed under the
Credit Documents to serve in an agent or similar capacity,
including any Auction Manager, (d) the Lenders, (e) the
beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any
Credit Party under any Credit Document, (f) the other holders from
time to time of the Secured Obligations and (g) the successors and
permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.
“
Security
” means
a “security” as such term is defined
in Article 8 of the UCC and, in any event, shall include any stock,
shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates,
certificates of interest or participation in any profit sharing
agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any
instruments commonly known as “securities” or any
certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or
interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the
foregoing.
“
Security Interest
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).
“
Trademark License
” means any
written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any
third party any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned
by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any
Grantor under any such agreement.
“
Trademarks
” means all of the
following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor (a) all
trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company
names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles,
trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs
and general intangibles of like nature, the goodwill of the
business symbolized thereby or associated therewith, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and
recording applications filed in connection therewith, including
registrations and registration applications in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of
the United States or any other country or any political subdivision
thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those
listed on Schedule III, (b) all rights and privileges arising under
applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any
trademarks, (c) all reissues, continuations, extensions and
renewals thereof and amendments thereto, (d) all income, fees,
royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or
payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages,
claims and payments for past, present or future infringements
thereof, (e) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the
world and (f) rights to sue for past, present and future
infringements or dilutions thereof or other injuries
thereto.
“
UCC
” means the Uniform Commercial
Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of
New York;
provided
that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or
the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest
in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is
governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a
jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC”
means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other
jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such
perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or
availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“
Wilmington Trust
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble.
ARTICLE II
PLEDGE OF
SECURITIES
SECTION
2.01. Pledge
. As security for
the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations,
each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent,
its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under: (a) all
Equity Interests now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by it
(including those Equity Interests listed opposite the name of such
Grantor on Schedule I) and all certificates and other instruments
representing all such Equity Interests;
provided
that the Pledged
Equity shall not include more than 65% of the outstanding voting
Equity Interests in any CFC or CFC Holding Company (collectively,
the “
Pledged
Equity
”); (b) all Promissory Notes and all Instruments
evidencing Indebtedness now owned or at any time hereafter acquired
by it (including those listed opposite the name of such Grantor on
Schedule I) (the “
Pledged Debt
”); (c) all other
property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.01 or Section 2.02;
(d) subject to Section 2.06, all payments of principal or interest,
dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time
received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in
exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds
received in respect of, the Pledged Equity and the Pledged Debt;
(e) subject to Section 2.06, all rights and privileges of such
Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred
to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all Proceeds of,
and Security Entitlements in respect of, any of the foregoing (the
items referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being
collectively referred to as the “
Pledged Collateral
”);
provided
that the Pledged
Collateral shall not include any item referred to in clauses (a)
through (f) above if, for so long as and to the extent such item
constitutes Excluded Property.
SECTION
2.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral
. (a) On the
Closing Date (in the case of any Grantor that grants a Lien on any
of its assets hereunder on the Closing Date) or on the date on
which it signs and delivers a Pledge and Security Agreement
Supplement (in the case of any other Grantor), each Grantor shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all Pledged Securities
(other than (i) any Uncertificated Securities, but only for so long
as such Securities remain uncertificated, and (ii) certificates or
instruments representing Equity Interests in any Subsidiary that is
not a Material Subsidiary) to the extent such Pledged Securities,
in the case of Promissory Notes and other Instruments evidencing
Indebtedness, are required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(b). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires
any other Pledged Security (other than (A) any Uncertificated
Securities, but only for so long as such Uncertificated Securities
remain uncertificated, and (B) certificates or instruments
representing Equity Interests in any Subsidiary that is not a
Material Subsidiary), such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event
within 30 days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent
may agree to in writing), deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Collateral Agent such Pledged Security as Collateral hereunder to
the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of Promissory Notes
and Instruments evidencing Indebtedness, are required to be
delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(b).
(b) Each
Grantor will cause (i) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary
to execute and deliver a counterpart of each of the Intercompany
Note and the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement and
(ii) all Indebtedness for borrowed money in an aggregate principal
amount of $1,000,000 or more owed to such Grantor by any other
Person (other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) to be
evidenced by a duly executed Promissory Note, and shall cause each
such Promissory Note, the Intercompany Note and each other
Promissory Note (if any) evidencing any Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is owing to such
Grantor, to be pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, for
the benefit of the Secured Parties, (A) on the date hereof, in
the case of any such Indebtedness existing on the date hereof (or,
in the case of any Grantor that becomes a party hereto after the
date hereof, on the date such Grantor becomes a party hereto, in
the case of any such Indebtedness existing on such date) or
(B) promptly following the incurrence thereof, in the case of
any such Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof (or such other
date), in each case pursuant to the terms hereof.
(c) Upon
delivery to the Collateral Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(a) or
2.02(b) shall be accompanied by undated stock or note powers duly
executed by the applicable Grantor in blank or other instruments of
transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by
such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may
reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of
the Pledged Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(a) or 2.02(b) shall be accompanied by undated
proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable
Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities
shall be accompanied by a schedule describing such Pledged
Securities, which schedule shall be deemed to supplement Schedule I
and be made a part hereof;
provided
that failure to attach
any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such
pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall
supplement any prior schedules so delivered.
(d) The
assignment, pledge and security interest granted in Section 2.01
are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify,
any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or
arising out of the Pledged Collateral.
SECTION
2.03. Representations and Warranties
. Each Grantor,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants, as to itself and
the other Grantors, to and with the Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, that:
(a) Schedule
I correctly sets forth, as of the Closing Date and as of each date
on which a supplement to Schedule I is delivered pursuant to
Section 2.02(c) or 6.15, (i) all the Equity Interests owned by each
Grantor, specifying the issuer and certificate number of (if
applicable), and the number and percentage ownership represented
by, such Equity Interests, and (ii) all the Pledged Debt of
each Grantor, specifying the debtor thereof and the outstanding
principal amount thereof as of the Closing Date, and includes all
Equity Interests, Promissory Notes and Instruments required to be
pledged by each Grantor hereunder in order to satisfy the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;
(b) the
Pledged Equity issued by any Subsidiary and the Pledged Debt
(solely with respect to Pledged Debt issued by a Person other than
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the best of the Grantors’
knowledge) have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the
issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Equity (other than
Pledged Equity consisting of limited liability company interests or
partnership interests which, pursuant to the relevant
organizational or formation documents, cannot be fully paid and
non-assessable), are fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) in the
case of Pledged Debt (solely with respect to Pledged Debt issued by
a Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the best of
the Grantors’ knowledge), are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to applicable Debtor
Relief Laws and general principles of equity; and
(c) each
Grantor holds the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule I as
owned by such Grantor free and clear of all Liens, other than (i)
Liens created by the Collateral Documents and (ii) other Permitted
Liens.
SECTION
2.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited
Partnership Interests
. Each Grantor
acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent any interest in any
limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any
Grantor and pledged under Section 2.01 is a
“security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC
and is governed by Article 8 of the UCC, such interest shall be
represented by a certificate that is promptly delivered to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof. Each Grantor further
acknowledges and agrees that with respect to any interest in any
limited liability company or limited partnership controlled on or
after the date hereof by such Grantor and pledged hereunder that is
not a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the
UCC, such Grantor shall at no time elect to treat any such interest
as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the
UCC, nor shall any such interest in any limited liability company
or limited partnership controlled on or after the date hereof by
such Grantor be represented by a certificate, unless such election
and such interest is thereafter represented by a certificate that
is promptly delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms
hereof.
SECTION
2.05. Registration in Nominee Name;
Denominations
.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and, other
than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the Collateral
Agent shall have notified the Borrower of its intent to exercise
such rights, (a) the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the
Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute
discretion) to cause each of the Pledged Securities to be
transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or into
the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of
the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor
of the Collateral Agent and (b) to the extent permitted by the
documentation governing such Pledged Securities and applicable law,
the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the
certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of
smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with
this Agreement. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral
Agent copies of any material notices received by it with respect to
Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor. Each
Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the
Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this
Section 2.05.
SECTION
2.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest
. (a) Unless and
until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the
Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower that the rights
of the Grantors under this Section 2.06 are being
suspended:
(i) Each
Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or
other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged
Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the
terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents.
(ii) The
Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each
Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor, all
such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such
Grantor may reasonably request in writing for the purpose of
enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual
rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section
2.06(a)(i), in each case as shall be specified in such
request.
(iii) Each
Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all
dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or
distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral, to the extent
(and only to the extent) that such dividends, interest, principal
and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or
distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the
Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and applicable laws;
provided
that any
noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that
would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting
from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged
Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any
part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any
merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to
which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become
part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor,
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and
the applicable Secured Parties and shall, if certificated and to
the extent required by Section 2.02, be forthwith delivered to the
Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any
necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral
Agent). So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to each
Grantor any Pledged Securities in its possession if requested to be
delivered to the issuer thereof in connection with any exchange or
redemption of such Pledged Securities.
(b) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after
the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower of the
suspension of the rights of the Grantors under
Section 2.06(a)(iii), all rights of any Grantor to dividends,
interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is
authorized to receive pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(iii) shall
cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the
Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and
authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal
or other distributions as part of the Pledged Collateral, subject
to Section 2.07 and the last sentence of this Section 2.06(b).
All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received
by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 2.06
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and
the other Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the
Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with
any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral
Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or
received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 2.06(b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in
an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt
of such money or other property, shall be held as security for the
payment and performance of the Secured Obligations and shall be
applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02.
After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and the
Borrower has delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of an
Authorized Officer to such effect, the Collateral Agent shall
promptly repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends,
interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would
otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.06(a)(iii) in the absence of an Event of Default and
that remain in such account.
(c) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after
the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower of the
suspension of the rights of the Grantors under
Section 2.06(a)(i), all rights of any Grantor to exercise the
voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise
pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(i), and the obligations of the
Collateral Agent under Section 2.06(a)(ii), shall cease, and
all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral
Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority
to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers subject to
Section 2.07 and the last sentence of this Section 2.06(c);
provided
that,
unless otherwise directed by the Requisite Lenders in writing, the
Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following
and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the
Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have
been cured or waived, and the Borrower has delivered to the
Collateral Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer to such
effect, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the
voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would
otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.06(a)(i), and the obligations of the Collateral
Agent under Section 2.06(a)(ii) shall be
reinstated.
(d) Any
notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Borrower under Section
2.05 or Section 2.06(a) (i) may be given by telephone if
promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given with respect to
one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and
(iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under Section
2.06(a)(i) or 2.06(a)(iii) in part without suspending all such
rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and
absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the
Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from
time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION
2.07. Collateral Agent Not a Partner or Limited Liability Company
Member
. Nothing contained
in this Agreement shall be construed to make the Collateral Agent
or any other Secured Party liable as a member of any limited
liability company or as a partner of any partnership, and neither
the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party by virtue of this
Agreement or otherwise (except as referred to in the following
sentence) shall have any of the duties, obligations or liabilities
of a member of any limited liability company or as a partner in any
partnership. The parties hereto expressly agree that, unless the
Collateral Agent shall become the absolute owner of Pledged Equity
consisting of a limited liability company interest or a partnership
interest pursuant hereto, this Agreement shall not be construed as
creating a partnership or joint venture among the Collateral Agent,
any other Secured Party, any Grantor and/or any other
Person.
ARTICLE III
SECURITY INTERESTS
IN PERSONAL PROPERTY
SECTION
3.01. Security Interest
. (a) As security
for the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations,
each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent,
its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, a security interest (the “
Security Interest
”) in, all right,
title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following
assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired
by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in
the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively,
the “
Article 9
Collateral
”):
(i) all
Accounts;
(ii) all
Chattel Paper;
(iii) all
Documents;
(iv) all
Equipment;
(v) all
General Intangibles, including all Intellectual Property, all
Licenses and all Payment Intangibles;
(vi) all
Instruments;
(vii) all
Inventory;
(viii)
all Goods and Fixtures;
(ix) all
Investment Property;
(x) all
Money, cash, cash equivalents, Deposit Accounts and Securities
Accounts;
(xi) all
Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(xii) all
Commercial Tort Claims described on Schedule II from time to time,
as such Schedule may be supplemented from time to time pursuant to
Section 3.04(c);
(xiii)
all Supporting Obligations;
(xiv)
all Security Entitlements in any or all of the
foregoing;
(xv) all
books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;
and
(xvi)
to the extent not otherwise included above, all Proceeds and
products of any and all of the foregoing (including proceeds of all
insurance policies) and all collateral security and guarantees
given by any Person with respect to any of the
foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any asset constitutes Excluded Property, the Security Interest
granted under this Section 3.01 shall not attach to, and
Article 9 Collateral shall not include, such asset;
provided
,
however
, that the Security
Interest shall immediately attach to, and Article 9 Collateral
shall immediately include, any such asset (or portion thereof) upon
such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be Excluded
Property.
(c) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent (or its
designee) at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant
jurisdiction any financing statements or continuation statements
(including fixture filings and transmitting utility filings) with
respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and
amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Collateral as “all
assets” or “all personal property” of such
Grantor or words of similar effect and (ii) contain the information
required by Article 9 of the UCC of each applicable jurisdiction
for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including
(A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of
organization and any organizational identification number issued to
such Grantor, (B) whether such Grantor is a transmitting utility
and (C) in the case of a financing statement filed as a
fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to
which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to
provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon
reasonable request. Each Grantor hereby ratifies its authorization
for the Collateral Agent (or its designee) to file in any relevant
jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto
if filed prior to the date hereof.
(d) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent (or its
designee) to file with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office)
such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of
perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the
Security Interest granted by such Grantor hereunder, without the
signature of such Grantor, and naming such Grantor, as debtor, and
the Collateral Agent, as secured party.
(e) The
Security Interest and the security interest granted pursuant to
Article II are granted as security only and, except as
expressly set forth herein, shall not subject the Collateral Agent
or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any
obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising
out of the Article 9 Collateral.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, to the extent this Agreement or
any other Credit Document purports to grant or to require any
Grantor to grant to the Collateral Agent a security interest in any
License, the Collateral Agent shall only have a security interest
in such License at such times and to the extent that a security
interest in such License is permitted under applicable law,
including the applicable Communications Law. The Security Interest
granted in Proceeds of such License is intended to include, and
hereby includes, the economic value of the Licenses, all rights
incident or appurtenant to the Licenses and the right to receive
all monies and consideration derived from or in connection with the
sale, assignment or lease of or the transfer of control over the
Licenses. If at any time in the future the Communications Law
permits any Grantor to grant a security interest in any License,
this Agreement shall be deemed to grant a security interest in such
License immediately thereupon without any further action by or
notice to any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Lender or other
Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees
to cooperate fully and take all steps necessary to perfect such
security interest as may be required by the Collateral
Agent.
SECTION
3.02. Representations and Warranties
. (a) Each Grantor,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants, as to itself and
the other Grantors, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties that:
(b) Each
Grantor has good and valid rights in (not subject to any Liens
other than Permitted Liens) and/or good and marketable title in the
Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to
grant a Security Interest hereunder, and has full power and
authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the Security Interest in
such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other Person
other than any consent or approval that has been
obtained.
(c) The
information set forth in the Collateral Questionnaire, including
the exact legal name of each Grantor and its jurisdiction of
organization, is correct and complete in all material respects as
of the Closing Date. The UCC financing statements prepared by or on
behalf of the Grantors based upon the information provided in the
Collateral Questionnaire (or specified by notice from the
applicable Grantor to the Collateral Agent after the Closing Date
in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by
Section 5.10 or 5.11 of the Credit Agreement) are all the
filings, recordings and registrations (other than any filings
required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect
the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United
States registered Patents (and Patents for which United States
applications for registration are pending), United States
registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States
applications for registration are pending), United States
registered Copyrights (and Copyrights for which United States
applications for registration are pending) and United States
exclusive registered Copyright Licenses) that are necessary to
establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor
of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in
respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest
may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United
States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories
and possessions pursuant to the UCC. Each Grantor represents and
warrants that, as of the Closing Date, fully executed copies of the
Patent Security Agreement and the Trademark Security Agreement, in
each case containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral
consisting of United States registered Patents (and Patents for
which registration applications are pending) and United States
registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which registration
applications are pending), respectively, have been provided for
recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant
to 35 U.S.C. § 261 or 15 U.S.C. § 1060 and the
regulations thereunder.
(d) The
Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security
interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and
performance of the Secured Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings
described in Section 3.02(c), a perfected security interest in
all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be
perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement
in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its
territories and possessions pursuant to the UCC and (iii) a
security interest that shall be perfected in all Intellectual
Property Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected
upon the receipt and recording of the UCC financing statements in
the relevant filing offices and the relevant Copyright Security
Agreement, Patent Security Agreement and/or Trademark Security
Agreement, as applicable (the “
Intellectual Property Security
Agreements
”), with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as
applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any
other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral in existence on the
date hereof, other than Permitted Liens (excluding Permitted Liens
that are required to be junior to the Security Interest) that are
contemplated by Section 6.2 of the Credit
Agreement.
(e) The
Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any
Lien, except for Permitted Liens. None of the Grantors has filed or
consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or
analogous document under the UCC or any other applicable laws
covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any
Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement
or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
Copyright Office, (iii) any notice under the Assignment of Claims
Act or (iv) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article
9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument
covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign
governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement
or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar
instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Permitted
Liens.
SECTION
3.03. Covenants
. (a) Each Grantor
shall, at its own expense, take any and all commercially reasonable
actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral
against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the
Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority
thereof against any Lien other than a Permitted Lien.
(b) Each
Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge,
deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and
documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may
from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve,
protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and
remedies created hereby, including the payment of any reasonable
and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and Taxes required in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing
statements (including fixture filings and transmitting utility
filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith.
Each Grantor will provide to the Collateral Agent, from time to
time upon request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens
created or intended to be created pursuant to this
Agreement.
(c) Each
Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such
complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9
Collateral owned by it as is consistent with its current practices
and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in
industries that are the same as or similar to those in which such
Grantor is engaged, and, at such time or times as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request, promptly to prepare and deliver to
the Collateral Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form
and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent showing
the identity, amount and location of any and all Article 9
Collateral. In addition, subject to Section 5.6 of the Credit
Agreement, the Collateral Agent and such Persons as the Collateral
Agent may reasonably designate shall have the right, at the
Grantors’ own cost and expense, to inspect the Article 9
Collateral, all records (including its records in respect of
accounts receivables) related thereto (and to make extracts and
copies from such records) and the premises upon which any of the
Article 9 Collateral is located, to discuss the Grantors’
affairs with the officers of the Grantors and their independent
registered public accounting firm and to verify, in the manner and
under the procedures determined by the Collateral Agent in good
faith to be reasonable, the identity, validity, amount, quality,
quantity, value, condition, location and status of, or any other
matter relating to, the Article 9 Collateral, including Accounts
and Payment Intangibles, provided that unless an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may not
contact Account Debtors or other third parties without the prior
written consent of the relevant Grantor.
(d) At
its option, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated
to, discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens
at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not
permitted by the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance
and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any
Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this
Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to
reimburse the Collateral Agent within 10 Business Days after demand
for any payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization (and any
such payment made or expense incurred shall be additional Secured
Obligations secured hereby). Nothing in this paragraph shall be
interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or
imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured
Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any
Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens
and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Credit
Documents.
(e) Each
Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any other Secured
Party) shall remain liable (as between itself and any relevant
counterparty) to observe and perform all the conditions and
obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract,
agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all
in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each
Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties from and against
any and all liability for such performance.
(f) None
of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the
Article 9 Collateral and each Grantor shall remain at all
times in possession or control of the Article 9 Collateral owned by
it, in each case, except that unless and until the Collateral Agent
shall notify the Grantors that an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and that during the continuance thereof
the Grantors shall not sell, convey, lease, assign, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Article 9 Collateral (which notice may be
given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing), the Grantors
may use, transfer and dispose of the Article 9 Collateral in any
lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document.
(g) None
of the Grantors will, without the Collateral Agent’s prior
written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any
Accounts or Payment Intangibles included in the Article 9
Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than
the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any Person
liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount
whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, compromises,
settlements, releases, credits or discounts granted or made in the
ordinary course of business and in accordance with past practice or
in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief
Laws.
(h) The
Grantors, at their own expense, shall maintain or cause to be
maintained insurance in accordance with the requirements set forth
in Section 5.5 of the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor irrevocably
makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and its
designees) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and
attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and
adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies
of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check,
draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such
policies of insurance and for making all determinations and
decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Grantor at
any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the
policies of insurance required pursuant to Section 5.5 of the
Credit Agreement, or to pay any premium in whole or part relating
thereto, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated to,
without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the
Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion,
obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium
and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral
Agent deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent
in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges
relating thereto, shall be payable by the Grantors to the
Collateral Agent within 10 Business Days after demand and shall be
additional Secured Obligations secured hereby.
SECTION
3.04. Other Actions
. In order to
further insure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the
ability of the Collateral Agent to enforce, the Security Interest,
each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantor’s own
expense, to take the following actions with respect to the
following Article 9 Collateral:
(a)
Instruments
.
Subject to Article II, if any Grantor shall at any time hold
or acquire any Instrument constituting Collateral and evidencing an
amount equal to or in excess of $1,000,000 such Grantor shall
forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, accompanied by such
instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the
Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably
request.
(b)
Investment
Property
. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
Article II, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire
any Pledged Equity that consists of Certificated Securities, such
Grantor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties,
accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly
executed in blank as the Collateral Agent may from time to time
reasonably request.
(c)
Commercial
Tort Claims
. If any Grantor shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement acquire a Commercial Tort Claim as to which the
claim thereunder is $2,000,000 or more, such Grantor shall promptly
notify the Collateral Agent thereof in a writing signed by such
Grantor and provide supplements to Schedule II describing the
details thereof and shall grant to the Collateral Agent a security
interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of
this Agreement. In the event any Supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire or Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement shall set
forth any Commercial Tort Claim, Schedule II shall be deemed
to be supplemented to include the reference to such Commercial Tort
Claim (and the description thereof), in the same form as such
reference and description are set forth on such Supplemental
Collateral Questionnaire or Pledge and Security Agreement
Supplement.
ARTICLE IV
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COLLATERAL
SECTION
4.01. Grant of License to Use Intellectual
Property
. Without limiting
the provisions of Section 3.01 or any other rights of the
Collateral Agent as the holder of a Security Interest in any
Intellectual Property Collateral, for the purpose of enabling the
Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this
Agreement at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully
entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby
grants to the Collateral Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license
(exercisable without payment of rent, royalty or other compensation
to the Grantors) to use, license or sublicense any of the
Intellectual Property Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by
such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located (whether or not
any license agreement by and between any Grantor and any other
Person relating to the use of such Intellectual Property Collateral
may be terminated hereafter), and including in such license
reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items
may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs
used for the compilation or printout thereof and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, the right to prosecute and maintain
all Intellectual Property Collateral and the right to sue for
infringement of the Intellectual Property Collateral. The use of
such license by the Collateral Agent may only be exercised, at the
option of the Collateral Agent, during the continuation of an Event
of Default;
provided
that any license,
sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral
Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors
notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default. Each
Grantor further agrees to cooperate with the Collateral Agent in
any attempt to prosecute or maintain the Intellectual Property
Collateral or sue for infringement of the Intellectual Property
Collateral.
SECTION
4.02. Protection of Collateral
. (a) Except to the
extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that failure
to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, with respect to registration or pending application of each
item of its Intellectual Property Collateral for which such Grantor
has standing to do so, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense,
all steps, including in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the
U.S. Copyright Office and any other Governmental Authority located
in the United States, (i) to maintain the validity and
enforceability of any registered Intellectual Property Collateral
and maintain such Intellectual Property Collateral in full force
and effect, and (ii) to pursue the registration and
maintenance of each Patent, Trademark, or Copyright registration or
application, now or hereafter included in such Intellectual
Property Collateral of such Grantor, including the payment of
required fees and taxes, the filing of responses to office actions
issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright
Office or other Governmental Authorities, the filing of
applications for renewal or extension, the filing of affidavits
under Sections 8 and 15 of the U.S. Trademark Act, the filing
of divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part, reissue and
renewal applications or extensions, the payment of maintenance fees
and the participation in interference, reexamination, opposition,
cancellation, infringement and misappropriation
proceedings.
(b) Except
to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that
failure to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, no Grantor shall do or permit any act or knowingly
omit to do any act whereby any of its Intellectual Property
Collateral may lapse, be terminated, or become invalid or
unenforceable or placed in the public domain (or, in case of a
trade secret, lose its competitive value).
(c) Except
to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(e), or to the extent that
failure to act could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, each Grantor shall take all steps to preserve and
protect each item of its Intellectual Property Collateral,
including maintaining the quality of any and all products or
services used or provided in connection with any of the Trademarks,
consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the
date hereof, and taking all steps necessary to ensure that all
licensed users of any of the Trademarks abide by the applicable
license’s terms with respect to the standards of
quality.
(d) Each
Grantor agrees that, should it obtain an ownership or other
interest in any Intellectual Property Collateral after the Closing
Date (the “
After-Acquired
Intellectual Property
”) (i) the provisions of this
Agreement shall automatically apply thereto, and (ii) any such
After-Acquired Intellectual Property and, in the case of
Trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically
become part of the Intellectual Property Collateral subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect
thereto.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.02 or elsewhere in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any Grantor from
discontinuing the use or maintenance of any of its Intellectual
Property Collateral, the enforcement of license agreements or the
pursuit of actions against infringers, to the extent permitted by
the Credit Agreement if such Grantor determines in its reasonable
business judgment that such discontinuance is desirable in the
conduct of its business.
(f) Upon
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor
shall, if requested by the Collateral Agent, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by
the licensor of each Intellectual Property License to effect the
assignment of all such Grantor’s right, title and interest
thereunder to the Collateral Agent or its designee.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION
5.01. Remedies Upon Default
.
Upon the occurrence
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it is agreed
that the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exercise any and
all rights afforded to a secured party with respect to the Secured
Obligations under this Agreement, the UCC or other applicable law,
and also may (i) require each Grantor to, and each Grantor agrees
that it will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral
Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed
by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral
Agent at a place and time to be designated by the Collateral Agent
that is reasonably convenient to both parties; (ii) occupy any
premises owned or, to the extent lawful and permitted, leased (it
being acknowledged and agreed that the Grantors are not required to
obtain any waiver or consent from any owner of such leased premises
in connection with such occupancy or attempted occupancy) by any of
the Grantors where the Collateral or any part thereof is assembled
or located for a reasonable period in order to effectuate its
rights and remedies hereunder or under law, without obligation to
such Grantor in respect of such occupation;
provided
that the Collateral
Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with notice thereof
prior to or promptly after such occupancy; (iii) exercise any and
all rights and remedies of any of the Grantors under or in
connection with the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the
Collateral;
provided
that the Collateral
Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with notice thereof
prior to or promptly after such exercise; (iv) withdraw any and all
cash or other Collateral from any Deposit Account or Securities
Account and apply such cash and other Collateral to the payment of
any and all Secured Obligations in the manner provided in
Section 5.02; (v) subject to the mandatory requirements of
applicable law and the notice requirements described below, sell or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral securing the
Secured Obligations at a public or private sale or at any
broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon
credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem
appropriate; and (vi) with respect to any Intellectual Property
Collateral, on demand, cause the Security Interest to become an
assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such
Intellectual Property Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the
Collateral Agent, or license or sublicense, whether general,
special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive
basis, any such Intellectual Property Collateral throughout the
world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the
Collateral Agent shall determine,
provided
,
however
, that such terms shall
include all terms and restrictions that are customarily required to
ensure the continuing validity and effectiveness of the
Intellectual Property Collateral at issue, such as, without
limitation, notice, quality control and inurement provisions with
regard to trademarks, patent designation provisions with regard to
patents, and copyright notices and restrictions or decompilation
and reverse engineering of copyrighted software, and
confidentiality protections for trade secrets. Each Grantor
acknowledges and recognizes that (a) the Collateral Agent may be
unable to effect a public sale of all or a part of the Collateral
consisting of securities by reason of certain prohibitions
contained in the Securities Act or the securities laws of various
states (the “
Blue Sky
Laws
”), but may be compelled to resort to one or more
private sales to a restricted group of purchasers who will be
obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities
for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the
distribution or resale thereof, (b) private sales so made may be at
prices and upon other terms less favorable to the seller than if
such securities were sold at public sales, (c) neither the
Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party has any obligation to
delay sale of any of the Collateral for the period of time
necessary to permit such securities to be registered for public
sale under the Securities Act or the Blue Sky Laws and (d) private
sales made under the foregoing circumstances shall be deemed to
have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. To the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor hereby waives any
claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which
any Collateral may have been sold at a private sale was less than
the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if
the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not
offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. Upon consummation
of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to
assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof
the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any sale of
Collateral shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any
claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby
waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of
redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at
any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now
existing or hereafter enacted.
The
Collateral Agent shall give the applicable Grantors 10 days’
written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice
within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the UCC or its
equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s
intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case
of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and,
in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities
exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is
to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof,
will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such
public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary
business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent
may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. The
Collateral Agent may conduct one or more going out of business
sales, in the Collateral Agent’s own right or by one or more
agents and contractors. Such sale(s) may be conducted upon any
premises owned, leased, or occupied by any Grantor. The Collateral
Agent and any such agent or contractor, in conjunction with any
such sale, may augment the Inventory with other goods (all of which
other goods shall remain the sole property of the Collateral Agent
or such agent or contractor). Any amounts realized from the sale of
such goods which constitute augmentations to the Inventory (net of
an allocable share of the costs and expenses incurred in their
disposition) shall be the sole property of the Collateral Agent or
such agent or contractor and neither any Grantor nor any Person
claiming under or in right of any Grantor shall have any interest
therein. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to
be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute
discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated
to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do
so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral
shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or
publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same
to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and
place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be
made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In
case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on
credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be
retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by
the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall
not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers
shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in
case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon
like notice. In the event of a foreclosure, exercise of a power of
sale or a similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any
of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other
disposition (including pursuant to Section 363(k), Section
1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or any other applicable section of the Bankruptcy
Code, any analogous Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the
granting or perfection of security interests), the Collateral Agent
(or any Lender, except with respect to a “credit bid”
pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or
any other applicable section of the Bankruptcy Code, any analogous
Debtor Relief Laws or any law relating to the granting or
perfection of security interests) 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 the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or
Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be
entitled, upon instructions from the Requisite Lenders and in
accordance with Section 9.8(b) of the Credit Agreement, for
the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the
purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold or
licensed at any such sale or other disposition, to use and apply
any of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the
purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent
at such sale or other disposition. For purposes of determining the
Grantors’ rights in the Collateral, a written agreement to
purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as
a sale thereof, the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out
such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be
entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof
subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral
Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of
Default shall have been remedied and the Secured Obligations paid
in full,
provided
,
however
, that such
terms shall include terms and restrictions that are customarily
required to ensure the continuing validity and effectiveness of the
Intellectual Property Collateral at issue, such as, without
limitation, quality control and inurement provisions with regard to
Trademarks, patent designation provisions with regard to patents,
and copyright notices and restrictions or decompilation and reverse
engineering of copyrighted software, and protecting the
confidentiality of trade secrets. As an alternative to exercising
the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent
may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose
this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof
pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having
competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court
appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially
reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the
UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.
SECTION
5.02. Application of Proceeds
. Subject to any
Permitted Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, the Collateral
Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of
Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, as
follows:
FIRST,
to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral
Agent or the Administrative Agent in connection with such
collection, sale, foreclosure or realization or otherwise in
connection with this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any of
the Secured Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and
expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all
advances made by the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent
hereunder or under any other Credit Document on behalf of any
Grantor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with
the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other
Credit Document;
SECOND,
to the payment in full of the Secured Obligations (the amounts so
applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in
accordance with the amounts of the Secured Obligations owed to them
on the date of any such distribution); and
THIRD,
to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The
Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of
application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance
with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral
Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or
under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent
or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge
to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such
purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the
application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the
Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for
the misapplication thereof. It is understood and agreed that the
Grantors shall remain jointly and severally liable to the extent of
any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral
and the aggregate amount of the Secured Obligations, including any
attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such
deficiencies.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
6.01. Notices
. All
communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise
expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in
Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and
notices hereunder to a Grantor other than the Borrower shall be
given to it in care of the Borrower.
SECTION
6.02. Waivers; Amendment
. (a) No failure or
delay on the part of any Agent, any Arranger or any Lender in
exercising any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any
other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege
or be construed to be a waiver thereof or of any Default or Event
of Default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such power, right or privilege, or any abandonment
or discontinuance of steps to enforce such power, right or
privilege, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other power, right or privilege. The powers,
rights, privileges and remedies of the Agents, the Arrangers and
the Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents are
cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all
powers, rights, privileges and remedies they would otherwise have.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the
making of any Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any
Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any Agent, any
Arranger or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default or Event of Default at the time. No waiver of any provision
of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Grantor
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by Section 6.02(b), and then such waiver or consent shall
be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for
which given
(b) Subject
to any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors
with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to
apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with
Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION
6.03. Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses;
Indemnification
. (a) The parties
hereto agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to
reimbursement of its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket
expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 10.2 of the
Credit Agreement.
(b) Without
limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other
Credit Documents, each Grantor, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify the Collateral Agent and the other Indemnitees against,
and hold each Indemnitee harmless from any and all Indemnified
Liabilities incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee to
the extent such Grantor would be required to do so pursuant to
Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) Any
such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional
Secured Obligations secured hereby and by the other Collateral
Documents. The provisions of this Section 6.03 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of the
termination of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment
of any of the Secured Obligations, the invalidity or
unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due
under this Section 6.03 shall be payable promptly after
written demand therefor.
(d) To
the extent permitted by applicable law, no Grantor shall assert,
and each Grantor hereby waives, any claim against any Agent, any
Arranger, any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing,
on any theory of liability, for indirect, consequential, special or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether
or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or any duty
imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in
connection with, as a result of, or in any way related to this
Agreement or any other Credit Document or any agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or
therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for in the Credit
Agreement, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act
or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and each
Grantor hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such
claim for indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages,
whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to
exist in its favor.
(e) Each
Grantor agrees that none of any Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or
any Related Party of any of the foregoing will have any liability
to any Grantor or any Person asserting claims on behalf of or in
right of any Grantor or any other Person in connection with or as a
result of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred
to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or
omission or event occurring in connection therewith except (but
subject to Section 6.03(d)), in the case of any Grantor, to
the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses have been found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (i) the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent, such Arranger
or such Lender or its Related Parties in performing its express
obligations under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or
(ii) a material breach in bad faith by such Agent, Arranger or
Lender or its Related Parties of its express obligations under the
Credit Agreement.
SECTION
6.04. Independence of Covenants
. All covenants
hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular
action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the
fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would
otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not
avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such
action is taken or condition exists.
SECTION
6.05. Survival of Agreement
. All covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit
Parties in this Agreement and in the certificates or other
documents delivered in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the
Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders and shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any
Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent, any
Arranger and any Lender or on its behalf and notwithstanding that
any Agent, any Arranger or any Lender may have had notice or
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time this Agreement is executed
and delivered or any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement.
Such covenants and agreements made by the Credit Parties shall
continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or
any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount
payable under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document is
outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not
expired or terminated.
SECTION
6.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several
Agreement
. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective as to any Grantor when a
counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Grantor shall have
been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof
shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and
thereafter shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral
Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent
and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, except that no Grantor shall have the right
to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any
interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or
transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be
construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Grantor and
may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with
respect to any Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor
and without affecting the obligations of any other Grantor
hereunder.
SECTION
6.07. Severability
. In case any
provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION
6.08. Set-Off
. In addition to
any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by
way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default each Lender is
hereby authorized by each Grantor at any time or from time to time,
without notice to any Grantor, any such notice being hereby
expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any
and all deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness
evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured,
but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any
time held or owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of any Grantor against and on account of the obligations
and liabilities of any Grantor to such Lender hereunder and under
the other Credit Documents, including all claims of any nature or
description arising out of or connected hereto or thereto,
irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any
demand hereunder or under the other Credit Documents or
(b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any other
amounts due hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall have
become due and payable and although such obligations and
liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or
unmatured.
SECTION
6.09. APPLICABLE LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT
WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION
6.10. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
. SUBJECT TO CLAUSE
(E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY
HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER COLLATERAL
DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS, SHALL BE BROUGHT
EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE
SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY
AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT,
EACH PARTY HERETO, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS
PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS (SUBJECT TO
CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS;
(C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.01; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS
PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL
JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE GRANTOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING
SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS, THE
ARRANGER AND THE LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY
OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY
GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH
THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER COLLATERAL
DOCUMENT OR ANY EXERCISE OF REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR
THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH
COURT.
SECTION
6.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF
ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR
UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN
THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION OR THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. 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 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO
ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON
THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENTS, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN
ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO 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 6.11 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER
CREDIT 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
6.12. Headings
. Article and
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
6.13. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside
. None
of the Agents, the Arrangers or the Lenders shall be under any
obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Grantor or any
other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Secured
Obligations. To the extent that any Grantor makes a payment or
payments to any Agent, any Arranger or any Lender (or to the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, on behalf of any
Agent, any Arranger or any Lender), or any Agent, any Arranger or
any Lender enforces any security interests or exercises any right
of set-off, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such
enforcement or set-off or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent, preferential or at
undervalue, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Laws, any other
state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, 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 set-off had not
occurred.
SECTION
6.14. Security Interest Absolute
. All rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a
security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of
each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document, any agreement with
respect to any of the Secured Obligations or any other agreement or
instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the
time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all
or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any
other Credit Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any
exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other
collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent
under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all
or any of the Secured Obligations or (d) subject only to
termination of a Grantor’s obligations hereunder in
accordance with the terms of Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement,
but without prejudice to reinstatement rights under Section 7.9 of
the Credit Agreement, any other circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor
in respect of the Secured Obligations or this
Agreement.
SECTION
6.15. Termination or Release
. (a) This
Agreement, the Security Interest and all other security interests
granted hereby shall terminate with respect to all Secured
Obligations when all Secured Obligations (excluding contingent
obligations as to which no claim has been made) have been paid in
full and all Commitments have terminated.
(b) A
Guarantor Subsidiary shall automatically be released from its
obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral
of such Guarantor Subsidiary shall be automatically released in the
circumstances set forth in Section 9.8(d) of the Credit
Agreement.
(c) The
Security Interest in any Collateral shall be automatically released
in the circumstances set forth in Section 9.8(d) of the Credit
Agreement.
(d) In
connection with any termination or release pursuant to
Section 6.15(a), 6.15(b) or 6.15(c), the Collateral Agent
shall promptly (i) execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such
Grantor’s expense, all documents that such Grantor shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination or release and (ii)
subject to the provisions of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement,
return or cause to be returned to such Grantor all Collateral that
is subject to such release and is held or controlled by the
Collateral Agent. Any execution and delivery of documents, or
performing of other actions, pursuant to this Section 6.15
shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral
Agent.
(e) At
any time that any Grantor desires that the Collateral Agent take
any action described in Section 6.15(d), such Grantor shall,
upon request of the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral
Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
certifying that the release of the applicable Collateral is
permitted pursuant to Section 6.15(a), 6.15(b) or 6.15(c). The
Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any Secured
Party as the result of any release of any Collateral by it as
permitted (or which the Collateral Agent in good faith believes to
be permitted) by this Section 6.15.
SECTION
6.16. Additional Grantors
. Pursuant to
Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, certain Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Borrower may or are required to enter in this
Agreement from time to time as Grantors. Upon execution and
delivery by the Collateral Agent and a Restricted Subsidiary of a
Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement, such Restricted
Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and
effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution
and delivery of any Pledge and Security Agreement Supplement shall
not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights
and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full
force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as
a party to this Agreement.
SECTION
6.17. Collateral Agent Appointed
Attorney-in-Fact
.
Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent the true and
lawful attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and
executing any instrument that the Collateral Agent may deem
necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof at any
time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an
interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of
substitution either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the
name of such Grantor: (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or
deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money
orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or
any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give
receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the
Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or
bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send
verifications of Accounts or Payment Intangibles to any Account
Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or
proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent
jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the
Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral;
(f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions,
suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g)
to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to
make payment directly to the Collateral Agent or to a Collateral
Account and adjust, settle or compromise the amount of payment of
any Account or Payment Intangible; (h) to make, settle and adjust
claims in respect of Collateral under policies of insurance and to
endorse the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or
any other item of payment with respect to the proceeds of such
policies of insurance and for making all determinations and
decisions with respect thereto; and (i) to use, sell, assign,
transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise
deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts
and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement,
as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the
absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes;
provided
that nothing herein
contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the
Collateral Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as
to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the
Collateral Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to
take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof
or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any
property covered thereby. The Collateral Agent and the other
Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually
received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them
herein, and none of the Collateral Agent, any other Secured Party
or any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall be responsible
to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for
its own gross negligence or willful misconduct or a material breach
in bad faith by it of its express obligations under this Agreement,
in each case, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, neither
the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any
responsibility for the preparing, recording, filing, re-recording
or re-filing of any financing statements (amendments or
continuations) or other instruments in any public
office.
SECTION
6.18. General Authority of the Collateral Agent
. By acceptance of
the benefits of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents,
each Secured Party (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be
deemed irrevocably (a) to consent to the appointment of the
Collateral Agent as its agent hereunder and under such other
Collateral Documents, (b) to confirm that the Collateral Agent
shall have the authority to act as the exclusive agent of such
Secured Party for the enforcement of any provisions of this
Agreement and such other Collateral Documents against any Grantor,
the exercise of remedies hereunder or thereunder and the giving or
withholding of any consent or approval hereunder or thereunder
relating to any Collateral or any Grantor’s obligations with
respect thereto, (c) to agree that it shall not take any action to
enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Collateral
Document against any Grantor, to exercise any remedy hereunder or
thereunder or to give any consents or approvals hereunder or
thereunder except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any
other Collateral Document and (d) to agree to be bound by the terms
of this Agreement, any other Collateral Documents and any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect. BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS
OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITY INTERESTS CREATED HEREBY, EACH
SECURED PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 OF THE
CREDIT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES,
PROTECTIONS, INDEMNITIES AND IMMUNITIES OF THE AGENTS, AND AGREES
TO BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS AS FULLY AS IF THEY WERE SET FORTH
HEREIN.
SECTION
6.19. Recourse
. This Agreement is
made with full recourse to each Grantor and pursuant to and upon
all the warranties, representations, covenants and agreements on
the part of such Grantor contained herein, in the Credit Agreement
and the other Credit Documents and otherwise in writing in
connection herewith or therewith, with respect to the Secured
Obligations of each applicable Secured Party. It is the desire and
intent of each Grantor and each Secured Party that this Agreement
shall be enforced against each Grantor to the fullest extent
permissible under the laws applied in each jurisdiction in which
enforcement is sought.
SECTION
6.20. Mortgages
. In the event that
any of the Collateral hereunder is also subject to a valid and
enforceable Lien under the terms of a Mortgage and the terms
thereof are inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, then
with respect to such Collateral, the terms of such Mortgage shall
control in the case of Fixtures and Real Estate Asset leases,
letting and licenses of, and contracts, and agreements relating to
the lease of, Real Estate Assets, and the terms of this Agreement
shall control in the case of all other Collateral.
SECTION
6.21. Permitted Intercreditor Agreements
. (a)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Liens granted
to the Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the exercise of
the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder and under
any of the other Collateral Documents are subject to the provisions
of the Intercreditor Agreement and any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary herein, the Collateral Agent acknowledges and agrees
that no Grantor shall be required to take or refrain from taking
any action at the request of the Collateral Agent with respect to
the Collateral if such action or inaction would be inconsistent
with the terms of any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement then in
effect. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the
provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect and this Agreement, the
provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement or such other Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, shall control.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein but subject to any Permitted
Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, in the event that any
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document or any other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness provides for the grant of a security
interest or pledge over the assets of any Grantor and such assets
do not otherwise constitute Collateral under this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, such Grantor shall (i) promptly grant a
security interest in or pledge such assets to secure the Secured
Obligations, (ii) promptly take any actions necessary to perfect
such security interest or pledge to the extent set forth in such
Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness Document or such other credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing the rights of the holders of any Permitted Credit
Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or any Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness and (iii) take all other steps reasonably
requested by the Collateral Agent in connection with the
foregoing.
(c) Nothing
contained in any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed
to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, which, as among
the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, shall remain in full force
and effect in accordance with its terms.
SECTION
6.22. Regulatory Matters
. (a)
Notwithstanding anything in any Credit Document to the contrary,
the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, agrees that
to the extent prior FCC or State PUC approval is required pursuant
to Communications Laws for (i) the operation and effectiveness of
any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Collateral
Document or (ii) taking any action that may be taken by the
Collateral Agent hereunder or under the other Collateral Documents,
such right, remedy or actions will be subject to any such prior FCC
or State PUC, as applicable, approval having been obtained by or in
favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Collateral
Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, acknowledges that, to the
extent required by the FCC or any applicable State PUC, the voting
rights in the Pledged Securities, as well as de jure, de facto and
negative control over all FCC or State PUC authorizations, shall
remain with the Grantors even if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing until the FCC and/or State PUC(s), as applicable,
shall have given its prior consent to the exercise of
securityholder rights by a purchaser at a public or private sale of
the Pledged Securities or to the exercise of such rights by a
receiver, trustee, conservator or other agent duly appointed in
accordance with the applicable law. The Grantors shall, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at
the Collateral Agent’s request, file or cause to be filed
such applications for approval and shall take such other actions
reasonably required by the Collateral Agent to obtain each such FCC
or State PUC approval or consent as is necessary to transfer
ownership and control to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the
Secured Parties, or their successors, assigns or designees, of the
Licenses held by the Grantors. To enforce the provisions of this
Section 6.22, the Collateral Agent is empowered to request the
appointment of a receiver from any court of competent jurisdiction.
Such receiver shall be instructed to seek from the FCC and every
applicable State PUC an involuntary transfer of control of any such
License for the purpose of seeking a bona fide purchaser to whom
control will ultimately be transferred. Upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the Collateral
Agent’s request, the Grantors shall further use their
reasonable best efforts to assist in obtaining approval of the FCC
and/or applicable State PUC(s), if required, for any action or
transactions contemplated hereby, including the preparation,
execution and filing with the FCC and/or applicable State PUC(s) of
the assignor’s or transferor’s portion of any
application for consent to the assignment of any License or
transfer of control, or notice of such assignment or transfer, as
applicable, necessary or appropriate under the FCC’s and/or
any applicable State PUC(s)’ rules and regulations for
approval of the transfer or assignment of any portion of the
Collateral, together with any License or other
authorization.
(b) The
Grantors acknowledge that the assignment or transfer of Licenses is
integral to the Secured Parties’ realization of the value of
the Collateral, that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure
by the Grantors to comply with the provisions of this Section 6.22
and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in
damages, and therefore agree that this Section 6.22 may be
specifically enforced.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document to the
contrary, neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party
shall, without first obtaining the approval of the FCC and/or any
applicable State PUC (where required), take any action hereunder or
under any other Collateral Document that would constitute or result
in any assignment of a License, change of material control or
ownership of any Grantor, or any assignment or transfer of the
material operating assets of any Grantor if such assignment, change
of material control or ownership or assignment or transfer of
material operating assets would require the approval of the FCC or
any such applicable State PUC under applicable law (including the
FCC’s and any such applicable State PUC’s rules and
regulations).
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
|
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.,
FUSION,
LLC,
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC,
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
CBEYOND,
INC.,
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
BIRCH
MANAGEMENT LLC
BIRCH
TELECOM LLC,
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.,
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLC
PRIMUS
HOLDINGS, INC.
FUSION
MPHC ACQUISITION CORP., as Grantors
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Kevin Dotts
|
|
|
Name: Kevin
Dotts
|
|
|
Title: Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Second Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement]
29
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Second Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement]
Schedule
I
Pledged
Equity; Pledged Debt
Pledged
Equity:
Credit Party
|
Issuer
|
Type of Organization
|
Number of Shares/
Interests Owned
|
Total Shares/Interests Outstanding
|
Percentage of Interest Pledged
|
Certificate No
. (if uncertificated,
please indicate so)
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
BCHI Acquisition LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
NBS Acquisition Corp.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
1
|
100%
|
1
|
Fusion
NBS Acquisition Corp.
|
Fusion
LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
1
Unit
|
1
Unit
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
BCHI Acquisition LLC
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Cbeyond,
Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Cbeyond,
Inc.
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Texas Holdings, Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Kansas, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Oklahoma, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Telecom of Missouri, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
2
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
Is
the 99% limited partner and Birch Texas Holdings, Inc. is the
General Partner
|
Birch
Telecom of Texas Ltd., L.L.P.
|
Limited
Liability Partnership
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Bircan
Holdings, LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Primus
Management ULC [
Not a Credit
Party
]
|
Unlimited Liability
Company
|
100
|
100
|
65%
|
C-2
C-3
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
Birch
Management LLC
|
Limited
Liability Company
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
100%
|
Uncertificated
|
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
Fusion
MPHC Acquisition Corp.
|
C
corp.
|
100
|
100
|
100%
|
1
|
Pledged
Debt:
Credit Party
|
Debtor
|
Type of Instrument
|
Outstanding Principal Amount
|
All
Credit Parties
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
|
All
credit parties
Fusion
Global Services, LLC (to be renamed)
Vector
Fusion Holdings (Cayman) Ltd.
|
Intercompany
note
Secured
Note
Unsecured
Note
|
N/A
$613,748.71
$25,000,000
|
Schedule
II
Commercial
Tort Claims
None.
Schedule
III
Intellectual
Property
I.
Copyrights/Copyright Applications
Registered
Owner
|
Copyright
|
Registration/Application
No.
|
Application
Date/
Registration
Date
|
Expiration
Date
|
None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Credit Party is a
licensee)
Licensee
|
Licensor
|
Title
|
Registration
Number
|
Expiration
Date
|
None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III.
Patents/Patent Applications
Registered
Owner
|
Patent
|
Application
No./Registration No.
|
Application
Date/
Registration
Date
|
Expiration
Date
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Client
Application
|
12369185
/ 8219652
|
02/11/2009/
07/10/2012
|
N/A
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
Data
Storage Testing
|
12493546
/ 9697210
|
06/29/2009/
07/04/2017
|
N/A
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Call
Screening System and Method
|
2597377
/2,597,377 (Canada)
|
08/15/2007/
11/16/2010
|
N/A
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
Call
Screening System and Method
|
12/673,377
/ 8577002 (US)
|
02/18/2011/
11/05/2013
|
N/A
|
IV.
Trademarks/Trademark Applications - USA
Registered
Owner
|
Trademark
|
Registration
No.
|
Registration
Date
|
Next
Renewal Date
|
Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.
|
“Clear
Connections in the Cloud”
|
4,775,318
|
July
21, 2015
|
July
21, 2021
|
PingTone
Communications, Inc.
|
“PingTone
Communications”
|
2,880,663
|
September
7, 2004
|
September
7, 2024
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Apptix”
|
4,054,446
|
November
15, 2011
|
November
15, 2021
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,780,287
|
July
28, 2015
|
July
28, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,780,288
|
July
28, 2015
|
July
28, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Cloud
Alliance Network & Design”
|
4,861,836
|
September
15, 2015
|
December
1, 2025
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Mailstreet”
|
2,840,397
|
May 11,
2004
|
May 11,
2024
|
Apptix,
Inc.
|
“Mailstreet”
|
4,054,447
|
November
15, 2011
|
November
15, 2021
|
Bircan
Management ULC
|
“Telegroup”
|
2048650
|
April
1, 1997
|
Not
renewed--Will be cancelled
|
Birch
Communications, LLC
|
“Econsole”
|
86/081,954
4745290
|
May 26,
2015
|
May 26,
2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“B
Birch and design”
|
4826853
|
October
6, 2015
|
October
6, 2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch”
|
2467503
|
July
10, 2001
|
July
10, 2021
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Branch Out”
|
4261286
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Communications and design”
|
3549607
|
December
23, 2008
|
December
23, 2018
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
leaf logo”
|
N/A
|
Not
registered
|
N/A
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Power Merchant”
|
4397170
|
September
3, 2013
|
September
3, 2023
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Telecom”
|
2186707
|
September
1, 1998
|
September
1, 2018
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birch
Telecom and design”
|
2325801
|
March
7, 2000
|
March
7, 2020
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Birchlink”
|
2962432
|
June
14, 2005
|
June
14, 2025
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Branch
Out”
|
4261289
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Branch
Out”
|
4261291
|
December
18, 2012
|
December
18, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Home
Connection”
|
2908160
|
December
7, 2004
|
December
7, 2024
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Mighty
Mouth”
|
2503776
|
November
6, 2001
|
November
6, 2021
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Service.
Savings. Simplicity”
|
2616143
|
September
10, 2002
|
September
10, 2022
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Sp@ce
Host”
|
2691468
|
February
25, 2003
|
February
25, 2023
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Sprawler”
|
3047178
|
January
24, 2006
|
January
24, 2026
|
Birch
Telecom, LLC
|
“Your
Business Best Friend”
|
2558118
|
April
9, 2002
|
April
9, 2022
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondoffice”
|
2805009
|
February
27, 2003
|
January
13, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2805009
|
January
13, 2004
|
January
13, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2793909
|
December
16, 2003
|
December
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice”
|
2794512
|
December
16, 2003
|
December
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
I”
|
2763714
|
September
16, 2003
|
September
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
I”
|
2761638
|
September
9, 2003
|
September
9, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
II”
|
2763713
|
September
16, 2003
|
September
16, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Beyondvoice
II”
|
2816962
|
February
24, 2004
|
February
24, 2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“C
and eye design”
|
2597070
|
July
23, 2002
|
July
23, 2022
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Connect
Securely to Our Cloud Cbeyond This Building is Certified Cloud
Ready at the Speed of Light
|
4528389
|
May 13,
2014
|
May 13,
2024
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Netpbx”
|
3600474
|
March
31, 2009
|
March
31, 2019
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Netsip”
|
3600503
|
March
31, 2009
|
March
31, 2019
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“The
Last Communications Company a Small Business Will Ever
Need”
|
2671389
|
January
7, 2003
|
January
7, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Totalcloud”
|
4382713
|
August
13, 2013
|
August
13, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Totalnetwork”
|
4385711
|
August
13, 2013
|
August
13, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“TotalVoice”
|
4441587
|
November
26, 2013
|
November
26, 2023
|
Cbeyond
Communications, LLC
|
“Your
Technology Ally”
|
4355485
|
June
18, 2013
|
June
18, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2679710
|
January
28, 2003
|
January
28, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2694591
|
March
11, 2003
|
March
11, 2023
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“Primus”
|
2194625
|
October
13, 1998
|
October
13, 2018
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“PTGI”
|
4226291
|
October
16, 2012
|
October
16, 2022
|
Primus
Holdings, Inc.
|
“PTGI”
|
4195302
|
August
21, 2012
|
August
21, 2022
|
Bircan
Holdings, LLC
|
“Telegroup”
|
2048650
|
April
1, 1997
|
April
1, 2027
|
EXHIBIT I
TO SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF] SUPPLEMENT NO. __, dated as of [ ] (this
“
Supplement
”),
to the Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of May 4,
2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Pledge and Security Agreement
”),
among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“
Borrower
”), the
other Grantors party thereto from time to time and Wilmington
Trust, National Association (“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
Reference is made
to the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May
4, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Credit Agreement
”), among the
Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, the
Lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used in this Supplement and
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement or the Pledge and Security
Agreement, as applicable.
The
Grantors have entered into the Pledge and Security Agreement in
order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and other extensions of
credit. Section 6.16 of the Pledge and Security Agreement
provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower
may become Grantors under the Pledge and Security Agreement by
execution and delivery of an instrument substantially in the form
of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted Subsidiary (the
“
New Subsidiary
”) is executing
this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit
Agreement to become a Grantor under the Pledge and Security
Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans
and other extensions of credit and as consideration for permitting
to remain outstanding Loans and other extensions of credit
previously made.
Accordingly, the
Collateral Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as
follows:
SECTION 1.
In accordance with
Section 6.16 of the Pledge and Security Agreement, the New
Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the
Pledge and Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if
originally named therein as a Grantor, and the New Subsidiary
hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Pledge and
Security Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder and (b)
represents and warrants that the representations and warranties
made by it as a Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as
of the date hereof (or, to the extent that such representations and
warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, as of such
earlier date). In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary,
as security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, its
successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors
and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a
security interest in, all of the New Subsidiary’s right,
title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in
the Pledge and Security Agreement) of the New Subsidiary, whether
now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by the New Subsidiary
or in which the New Subsidiary now has or at any time in the future
may acquire any right, title or interest. Each reference to a
“Grantor” in the Pledge and Security Agreement shall be
deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Pledge and Security
Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2.
The New Subsidiary represents
and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties
that (a) the execution and delivery of this Supplement by it have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other
organizational and, if required, stockholder or other equityholder
action on the part of the New Subsidiary and (b) this Supplement
has been duly executed and delivered by the New Subsidiary and is
the legally valid and binding obligation of the New Subsidiary,
enforceable against the New Subsidiary in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to
or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable
principles relating to enforceability.
SECTION 3.
This Supplement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Supplement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplement.
This Supplement shall become effective when the Collateral Agent
shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the
signature of the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent has
executed a counterpart hereof.
SECTION 4.
The New Subsidiary hereby
represents and warrants that (a) Schedule A hereto sets
forth, as of the date hereof, the true and correct legal name of
the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of organization and the
location of its chief executive office, and whether the New
Subsidiary is a transmitting utility (as defined in the UCC) and,
if applicable, the location where its transmitting utility
equipment is held, (b) Schedule B hereto sets forth (and
such Schedule hereby supplements Schedule I set forth in the Pledge
and Security Agreement), as of the date hereof, a true and complete
list of (i) all the Pledged Equity of the New Subsidiary,
specifying the percentage of the issued and outstanding units of
each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof
represented by such Pledged Equity, and (ii) all the Pledged Debt
of the New Subsidiary, specifying the issuer thereof and the
principal amount thereof as of the date hereof, and includes all
Equity Interests, Promissory Notes and Instruments owned by the New
Subsidiary required to be pledged hereunder in order to satisfy the
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (c) Schedule C hereto
sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and complete list of (i)
all Copyrights that have been registered and Copyrights for which
registration applications are pending, (ii) all exclusive Copyright
Licenses under which the New Subsidiary is a licensee, (iii) all
Patents that have been granted and Patents for which applications
are pending and (iv) all Trademarks that have been registered and
Trademarks for which registration applications are pending and
that, in each case, are owned by the New Subsidiary, in each case
truly and completely specifying the name of the registered owner,
title, type or mark, registration or application number, expiration
date (if already registered) or filing date, a brief description
thereof and, if applicable, the licensee and licensor and (d)
Schedule D hereto sets forth, as of the date hereof, each
Commercial Tort Claim of the New Subsidiary as to which the claim
thereunder is $2,000,000 or more in existence on the date
hereof.
SECTION 5.
Except as expressly
supplemented hereby, the Pledge and Security Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect. This Supplement constitutes a Credit
Document for all purpose of the Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents.
SECTION
6. THIS SUPPLEMENT 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7.
In case any provision in or
obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION 8.
All communications and
notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in
Section 6.01 of the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
SECTION 9.
The New Subsidiary agrees to
reimburse the Collateral Agent for its actual reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this
Supplement, including all reasonable and documented fees and
expenses of counsel for the Collateral Agent.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent have
duly executed this Supplement to the Pledge and Security Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
|
|
|
[NAME
OF NEW SUBSIDIARY],
|
|
|
|
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
|
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
Schedule A
NEW SUBSIDIARY
Legal Name
|
Jurisdiction of Organization
|
Location of Chief Executive Office (including county)
|
Transmitting utility? If so, jurisdiction where transmitting
utility equipment is held
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule B
PLEDGED EQUITY; PLEDGED DEBT
EQUITY INTERESTS
Credit Party
|
Issuer
|
Type of Organization
|
Number of Shares/Units Owned
|
Total Shares/Units Outstanding
|
Percentage of Interest Pledged
|
Certificate No. (if uncertificated, please indicate
so)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEBT INSTRUMENTS
Credit Party
|
Debtor
|
Type of Instrument
|
Outstanding Principal Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule C
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
I.
Copyrights and Copyright Applications
Property
|
Description
|
Registration
Status
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II.
Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where the New Subsidiary is a
licensee)
Licensee
|
Licensor
|
Title
|
Registration Number
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title
|
Country
|
Type
|
Registration Number
|
Issue Date
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title
|
Country
|
Type
|
Application Number
|
Date Filed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademark
|
Registration No./Application No.
|
Application Date/Registration No.
|
Goods/Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VI.
Trademark Applications
Trademark
|
Application No.
|
Filing Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
Schedule D
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS
EXHIBIT II
TO SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF]
SECOND LIEN COPYRIGHT SECURITY
AGREEMENT
, dated as of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, this “
Agreement
”), among the
ENTITIES IDENTIFIED AS GRANTORS ON
THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Copyright Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
.
Unless otherwise defined herein,
terms defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement and used herein
have the meaning given to them in the Pledge and Security
Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest
.
As security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Copyright
Collateral
”):
(a) (i)
all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of
the United States or any other country, whether as author,
assignee, transferee or otherwise, whether registered or
unregistered and whether published or unpublished, (ii) all
registrations and applications for registration of any such
copyright in the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending
applications for registration and renewals in the United States
Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule A under the
heading “Copyright Registrations and Applications”,
(iii) all rights and privileges arising under applicable law with
respect to such Grantor’s use of such copyrights, (iv) all
reissues, renewals, continuations and extensions thereof and
amendments thereto, (v) all income, fees, royalties, damages,
claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with
respect to the foregoing, including damages and payments for past,
present or future infringements thereof, (vi) all rights
corresponding thereto throughout the world and (vii) all rights to
sue for past, present or future infringements thereof;
and
(b) any
and all written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any
right to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned
by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright
now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such
Grantor under any such agreement, including each such agreement set
forth on Schedule A under the heading “Exclusive Copyright
Licenses”.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any such asset constitutes Excluded Property, the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall not attach to, and
the Copyright Collateral shall not include, such asset;
provided
,
however
, that the
security interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately
attach to, and the Copyright Collateral shall immediately include,
any such asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such
portion) ceasing to be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Copyright Collateral
made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the
date first set forth above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to Second Lien Copyright Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
|
by
|
|
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
|
|
[Signature
Page to Second Lien Copyright Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
SECOND LIEN COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT
Copyright Registrations and Applications
Registered Owner
|
Property
|
Description
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Registration Status
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Exclusive Copyright Licenses (where a Grantor is a
licensee)
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EXHIBIT III
TO SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
,
dated as of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
“
Agreement
”), is
made among
THE ENTITIES IDENTIFIED
AS GRANTORS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Patent Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
. Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement and used herein have the meaning given to them in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest
.
As security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Patent
Collateral
”): (a) all letters patent of the United
States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for
letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in
any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending
applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or
any similar offices in any other country, including those listed on
Schedule A under the heading “Patents and Patent
Applications”, (b) all rights and privileges arising under
applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any
patents, (c) all inventions and improvements described and claimed
therein, (d) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals,
extensions, reexaminations, supplemental examinations,
inter partes
reviews, adjustments and
continuations-in-part thereof and amendments thereto, (e) all
income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or
hereafter due and/or payable with respect to any of the foregoing
including damages and payments for past, present or future
infringements thereof, (f) all rights corresponding thereto
throughout the world, including the right to prevent others from
making, having made, using, selling, offering to sell, importing or
exporting the inventions claimed therein and (g) rights to sue
for past, present or future infringements thereof.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if, for so long and to the extent
as any such asset constitutes Excluded Property, the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall not attach to, and
the Patent Collateral shall not include, such asset,
provided
,
however
, that the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately attach to,
and the Patent Collateral shall immediately include, any such asset
(or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to
be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Patent Collateral made
and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
.
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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN
THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the
date first set forth above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to Second Lien Patent Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
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by
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Name:
Title:
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[Signature
Page to Second Lien Patent Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
Patent and Patent Applications
Patents
Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Country
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Type
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Registration Number
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Issue Date
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Expiration Date
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Patent Applications
Registered Owner
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Title of Patent
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Type
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Application Number
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Date Filed
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EXHIBIT IV
TO SECOND LIEN PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
SECOND LIEN
TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
, dated as
of [__________], 20[__] (as it may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
“
Agreement
”), is
made among
THE ENTITIES IDENTIFIED
AS GRANTORS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
(collectively, the
“
Grantors
”) and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
(“
Wilmington Trust
”), as Collateral
Agent for the Secured Parties.
WHEREAS
, the Grantors are party to the
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018
(the “
Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time and
Wilmington Trust, as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the
Grantors granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent in the
Trademark Collateral (as defined below) and are required to execute
and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the
foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Grantors hereby agree with the Collateral Agent as
follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms
. Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Pledge and Security
Agreement and used herein have the meaning given to them in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security
. As
security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured
Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, all of such
Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under any and
all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “
Trademark
Collateral
”): (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade
names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious
business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or
business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like
nature, the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or
associated therewith, all registrations and recordings thereof, and
all registration and recording applications filed in connection
therewith, including registrations and registration applications in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar
offices in any State of the United States or any other country or
any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals
thereof, including those listed on Schedule A under the heading
“Trademark Registrations and Applications”, (b) all
rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to
such Grantor’s use of any trademarks, (c) all reissues,
continuations, extensions and renewals thereof and amendments
thereto, (d) all income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now
and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to any of the
foregoing, including damages, claims and payments for past, present
or future infringements thereof, (e) all rights corresponding
thereto throughout the world and (f) rights to sue for past,
present and future infringements or dilutions thereof or other
injuries thereto.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, (a) in no event shall the
Trademark Collateral include or the security interest granted under
this Section 2 attach to any “intent to use”
application for registration of a Trademark filed pursuant to
Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to
filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d)
of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use”
pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto,
solely to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period,
if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would
impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that
issues from such intent to use application under applicable federal
law and (b) if, for so long and to the extent as any such asset
constitutes Excluded Property, the security interest granted under
this Section 2 shall not attach to, and the Trademark
Collateral shall not include, such asset,
provided
,
however
, that the security
interest granted under this Section 2 shall immediately attach to,
and the Trademark Collateral shall immediately include, any such
asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion)
ceasing to be Excluded Property.
SECTION 3. Security Agreement
. The
security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement is granted in
conjunction with the security interest granted to the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the
Pledge and Security Agreement, and the Grantors hereby acknowledge
and affirm that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent
with respect to the security interest in the Trademark Collateral
made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement, the provisions of
the Pledge and Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW
. 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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW OTHER THAN
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 5. Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF
,
each
Grantor has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by
its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth
above.
[NAME
OF GRANTOR]
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[ADD
SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR ANY OTHER GRANTORS]
[Signature
Page to Second Lien Trademark Security Agreement]
Accepted and
Agreed:
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent,
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by
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Name:
Title:
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[Signature
Page to Second Lien Trademark Security Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
to
SECOND LIEN TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
Trademark Registrations and Applications
Trademarks
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Trademark
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Registration No./Application No.
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Application Date/Registration Date
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Trademark Applications
Registered Owner
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Trademark
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Application No.
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Filing Date
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INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT
dated
as of
May 4,
2018,
among
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
First Lien Representative,
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Second Lien Representative,
EACH
ADDITIONAL FIRST LIEN OBLIGATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
and
EACH
ADDITIONAL SECOND LIEN OBLIGATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.01.
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Defined Terms
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1
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SECTION 1.02.
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Terms Generally
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14
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ARTICLE II
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LIEN PRIORITIES
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SECTION 2.01.
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Relative Priorities
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15
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SECTION 2.02.
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Prohibition on Contesting Liens
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15
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SECTION 2.03.
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Similar Liens and Agreements
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16
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SECTION 2.04.
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No Separate Liens
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16
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SECTION 2.05.
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Perfection of Liens
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17
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SECTION 2.06.
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Certain Cash Collateral
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17
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ARTICLE III
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ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS; MATTERS RELATING TO COLLATERAL
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SECTION 3.01.
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Exercise of Rights and Remedies
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18
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SECTION 3.02.
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No Interference
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20
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SECTION 3.03.
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Rights as Unsecured Creditors
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22
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SECTION 3.04.
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Automatic Release of Second Priority Liens
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23
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SECTION 3.05.
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Insurance and Condemnation Awards
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24
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ARTICLE IV
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PAYMENTS
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SECTION 4.01.
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Application of Proceeds
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25
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SECTION 4.02.
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Payment Over
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26
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SECTION 4.03.
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Certain Agreements with Respect to Invalid or Unenforceable
Liens
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26
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ARTICLE V
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BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS
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ARTICLE VI
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INSOLVENCY OR LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS
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SECTION 6.01.
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Finance and Sale Matters
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28
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SECTION 6.02.
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Relief from the Automatic Stay
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31
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SECTION 6.03.
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Reorganization Securities
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31
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SECTION 6.04.
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Post-Petition Interest
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31
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SECTION 6.05.
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Certain Waivers by the Second Lien Secured Parties
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32
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SECTION 6.06.
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Certain Voting Matters
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32
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SECTION 6.07.
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Subordination Agreement
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32
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ARTICLE VII
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OTHER AGREEMENTS
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SECTION 7.01.
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Matters Relating to Loan Documents
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33
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SECTION 7.02.
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Effect of Refinancing of Indebtedness under Loan
Documents
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36
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SECTION 7.03.
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No Waiver by First Lien Secured Parties
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37
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SECTION 7.04.
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Reinstatement
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38
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SECTION 7.05.
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Further Assurances
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38
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ARTICLE VIII
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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ARTICLE IX
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NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE
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SECTION 9.01.
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No Reliance; Information
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39
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SECTION 9.02.
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No Warranties or Liability
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39
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SECTION 9.03.
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Obligations Absolute
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40
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ARTICLE X
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 10.01.
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Notices
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41
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SECTION 10.02.
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Conflicts
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41
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SECTION 10.03.
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Effectiveness; Survival
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41
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SECTION 10.04.
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Severability
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42
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SECTION 10.05.
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Amendments; Waivers
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42
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SECTION 10.06.
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Subrogation
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44
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SECTION 10.07.
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APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS;
WAIVERS
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45
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SECTION 10.08.
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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46
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SECTION 10.09.
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Parties in Interest
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46
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SECTION 10.10.
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Specific Performance
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47
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SECTION 10.11.
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Headings
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47
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SECTION 10.12.
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Counterparts
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47
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SECTION 10.13.
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Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights
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47
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SECTION 10.14.
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Intercreditor Agreement Acknowledgement
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47
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SECTION 10.15.
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Dealings with Borrower, Grantors and Guarantors
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47
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SECTION 10.16.
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Agents and Representatives
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48
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ANNEXES
Annex
I
-
Second Lien
Security Documents Legends
Annex
II
-
Form of
Intercreditor Agreement Acknowledgement
INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT dated as of May 4, 2018 (this “
Agreement
”), among WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“
Wilmington Trust
”), as collateral
agent for the First Lien Lenders (as defined below) (in such
capacity, the “
First Lien
Representative
”), WILMINGTON TRUST, as collateral
agent for the Second Lien Lenders (as defined below) (in such
capacity, the “
Second Lien
Representative
”), and each ADDITIONAL FIRST LIEN
OBLIGATIONS REPRESENTATIVE and each ADDITIONAL SECOND LIEN
OBLIGATIONS REPRESENTATIVE that, in each case, shall have become a
party hereto pursuant to Section 10.05(b).
Reference is made
to (a) the First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as
of May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the
“
First Lien Credit
Agreement
”), among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, the lenders from
time to time party thereto (the “
First Lien Lenders
”) and
Wilmington Trust, as administrative agent and collateral agent,
(b) the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” and, together with the First Lien Credit
Agreement, the “
Credit
Agreements
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, the lenders from
time to time party thereto (the “
Second Lien Lenders
”) and
Wilmington Trust, as administrative agent and collateral agent,
(c) the First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the
“
First Lien Pledge and
Security Agreement
”), among the Borrower, certain
Subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto and
the First Lien Representative, (d) the Second Lien Pledge and
Security Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance
with the terms hereof, the “
Second Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement
”), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries
of the Borrower from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien
Representative, and (e) the other Security Documents referred
to in the Credit Agreements.
WHEREAS, the First
Lien Lenders have agreed to make loans and other extensions of
credit to the Borrower pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement
on the condition, among others, that the First Lien Secured
Obligations shall be secured by first priority Liens on, and
security interests in, the Collateral.
WHEREAS, the Second
Lien Lenders have agreed to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to
the Second Lien Credit Agreement on the condition, among others,
that the Second Lien Secured Obligations shall be secured by second
priority Liens on, and security interests in, the
Collateral.
WHEREAS, the Credit
Agreements require, among other things, that the parties thereto
set forth in this Agreement, among other things, their respective
rights, obligations and remedies with respect to the
Collateral.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01.
Defined Terms
.
As used in the Agreement
(including the preliminary statements hereto), the following terms
shall have the meanings specified below:
“
Account(s)
” means
“accounts” as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code and also means a right to payment of a monetary
obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property
that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or
otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered,
or (c) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or
information contained on or for use with the card.
“
Account Debtor
” means any Person
that is or that may become obligated to any Grantor under, with
respect to or on account of an Account or a “payment
intangible” as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial
Code.
“
Additional First Lien Obligations
”
means Indebtedness of the Grantors incurred following the date of
this Agreement (together with all obligations in respect of such
Indebtedness, including all principal, premium, interest, fees,
attorney’s fees, costs, charges, expenses, reimbursement
obligations, indemnities, guarantees, and all other amounts payable
under or secured by any Additional First Lien Obligations Agreement
(including, in each case, any such Additional First Lien
Obligations arising or accruing during the pendency of any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), notwithstanding that any
such Additional First Lien Obligations or claims therefor shall be
disallowed, voided or subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding or under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law) to
the extent (a) such Indebtedness and such obligations in respect of
such Indebtedness are permitted by the terms of the First Lien
Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Credit Agreement, each Additional
Second Lien Obligations Agreement then in effect and each other
Additional First Lien Obligations Agreement then in effect to be
secured by Liens on the Collateral ranking pari passu in priority
with the First Priority Liens and the Liens on the Collateral
securing other Additional First Lien Obligations (without regard to
the control of remedies) and senior in priority to the Second
Priority Liens and to the Liens on the Collateral securing any
Additional Second Lien Obligations, (b) the Grantors have granted
Liens on the Collateral to secure such Indebtedness and such
obligations in respect of such Indebtedness (it being agreed that
First Lien Secured Obligations incurred or issued after the date
hereof (i) under the First Lien Loan Documents, (ii) in respect of
“Specified Hedge Obligations” (as defined in the First
Lien Credit Agreement) and (iii) in respect of “Specified
Cash Management Services Obligations” (as defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement) shall not constitute Additional First
Lien Obligations) and (c) neither any Grantor nor any Affiliate
thereof has granted any Lien on any property, asset, right or
interest other than the Collateral to secure such Indebtedness
unless the First Lien Secured Obligations incurred or issued (i)
under the First Lien Loan Documents, (ii) in respect of
“Specified Hedge Obligations” (as defined in the First
Lien Loan Documents) and (iii) in respect of “Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations” (as defined in the First
Lien Credit Agreement) have been secured by a pari passu Lien
granted by such Grantor or Affiliate on such other property, asset,
right or interest.
“
Additional First Lien Obligations
Agreement
” means the indenture, credit agreement or
other definitive agreement under which any Additional First Lien
Obligations are incurred.
“
Additional First Lien Obligations
Representative
” means any Person appointed to act as
trustee, collateral agent or a similar representative for the
holders of Additional First Lien Obligations pursuant to any
Additional First Lien Obligations Agreement.
“
Additional Second Lien
Obligations
” means Indebtedness of the Grantors
incurred following the date of this Agreement (together with all
obligations in respect of such Indebtedness, including all
principal, premium, interest, fees, attorney’s fees, costs,
charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, indemnities,
guarantees, and all other amounts payable under or secured by any
Additional Second Lien Obligations Agreement (including, in each
case, any such Additional Second Lien Obligations arising or
accruing during the pendency of any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding), notwithstanding that any such Additional Second Lien
Obligations or claims therefor shall be disallowed, voided or
subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or under
any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law) to the extent (a) such
Indebtedness and such obligations in respect of such Indebtedness
are permitted by the terms of the First Lien Credit Agreement, the
Second Lien Credit Agreement, each Additional First Lien
Obligations Agreement then in effect and each other Additional
Second Lien Obligations Agreement then in effect to be secured by
Liens on the Collateral ranking junior in priority to the First
Priority Liens and to the Liens on the Collateral securing
Additional First Lien Obligations and pari passu in priority to the
Second Priority Liens and to the Liens on the Collateral securing
any Additional Second Lien Obligations (without regard to the
control of remedies) and (b) the Grantors have granted Liens on the
Collateral to secure such Indebtedness and such obligations in
respect of such Indebtedness (it being agreed that Second Lien
Secured Obligations incurred or issued after the date hereof under
the Second Lien Loan Documents shall not constitute Additional
Second Lien Obligations).
“
Additional Second Lien Obligations
Agreement
” means the indenture, credit agreement or
other definitive agreement under which any Additional Second Lien
Obligations are incurred.
“
Additional Second Lien Obligations
Representative
” means any Person appointed to act as
trustee, collateral agent or a similar representative for the
holders of Additional Second Lien Obligations pursuant to any
Additional Second Lien Obligations Agreement.
“
Affiliate
” means, with respect to
a specified Person, another Person that directly or indirectly
Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the
Person specified.
“
Agreement
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“
Bankruptcy Code
” means
Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
“Bankruptcy,” as now and hereinafter in effect, or any
successor statute.
“
Bankruptcy Law
” means the
Bankruptcy Code and any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar law.
“
Borrower
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
Business Day
” means any day other
than a Saturday or Sunday, a day that is a legal holiday under the
laws of the State of New York or a day on which banking
institutions located in such State are authorized or required by
law to remain closed.
“
Capped First Lien Loan Document
Obligations
” means First Lien Loan Document
Obligations (or any Refinancing thereof constituting New First Lien
Obligations in accordance with the provisions of
Section 7.02(a)) in the form of (a) the principal amount of
loans outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or under
any Refinancing thereof constituting New First Lien Obligations in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7.02(a)) and (b) the
“Letter of Credit Usage” (as defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement) (or any comparable successor term) outstanding
under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or under any Refinancing
thereof constituting New First Lien Obligations in accordance with
the provisions of Section 7.02(a)). For the avoidance of doubt,
Capped First Lien Loan Document Obligations shall not include First
Lien Secured Obligations in respect of “Hedge
Agreements” (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
(or any comparable successor term) and the First Lien Secured Cash
Management Obligations or, in each case, any comparable successor
terms under any indenture, credit agreement or other definitive
agreement evidencing any Refinancing of the First Lien Secured
Obligations constituting New First Lien Obligations in accordance
with the provisions of Section 7.02(a).
“
Collateral
” means the First Lien
Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral.
“
Control
” means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies, or the dismissal or
appointment of the management, of a Person, whether through the
ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.
“
Controlling
”
and “
Controlled
”
have meanings correlative thereto.
“
Credit Agreements
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
DIP Financing
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 6.01(a).
“
DIP Financing Liens
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(a).
“
Discharge of Excess First Lien
Obligations
” means, subject to Sections 7.02(a)
and 7.04, (a) payment in full in cash or immediately
available funds of the principal of and interest (including
interest accruing during the pendency of any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable
in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and premium, if any,
on the Excess First Lien Obligations, (b) payment in full in
cash or immediately available funds of all other Excess First Lien
Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing
at or prior to the time such principal and interest are paid
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, contingent expense
reimbursement and indemnification obligations that are not yet due
and payable), (c) cancellation of or the entry into
arrangements satisfactory to the First Lien Representative and the
applicable Issuing Bank (as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement) with respect to all letters of credit issued and
outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement that constitute
Excess First Lien Obligations and (d) termination or
expiration of all commitments to lend and all obligations to issue
or extend letters of credit under the First Lien Credit Agreement
that constitute Excess First Lien Obligations.
“
Discharge of First Lien Loan Document
Obligations
” means, subject to Sections 7.02(a)
and 7.04, (a) payment in full in cash or immediately
available funds of the principal of and interest (including
interest accruing during the pendency of any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable
in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) and premium, if any,
on the First Lien Loan Document Obligations, (b) payment in
full in cash or immediately available funds of all other First Lien
Loan Document Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise
accrued and owing at or prior to the time such principal and
interest are paid (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
contingent expense reimbursement and indemnification obligations
that are not yet due and payable), (c) cancellation of or the
entry into arrangements satisfactory to the First Lien
Representative and the applicable Issuing Bank (as defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement) with respect to all letters of credit
issued and outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement and
(d) termination or expiration of all commitments to lend and
all obligations to issue or extend letters of credit under the
First Lien Credit Agreement.
“
Discharge of First Lien Secured
Obligations
” means, subject to Sections 7.02(a)
and 7.04, the occurrence of (a) the Discharge of First Lien
Loan Document Obligations, (b) cancellation of or the entry into
arrangements satisfactory to the First Lien Representative and each
applicable hedging counterparty with respect to all obligations
under Hedge Agreements (as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement) that constitute First Lien Secured Obligations,
(c) payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of
all First Lien Secured Cash Management Obligations that constitute
First Lien Secured Obligations, (d) payment in full in cash or
immediately available funds of all other First Lien Secured
Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing
at or prior to the time the foregoing payments are made (excluding,
in the case of this clause (d), contingent expense reimbursement
and indemnification obligations that are not yet due and payable)
and (e) adequate provision reasonably satisfactory to the
applicable First Lien Secured Parties having been made for any
contingent or unliquidated First Lien Secured Obligations related
to claims, causes of action or liabilities that have theretofore
been asserted in writing by the First Lien Secured Parties and for
which reimbursement or indemnification is required under the First
Lien Loan Documents.
“
Discharge of Second Lien Secured
Obligations
” means, subject to Section 7.02(b),
(a) payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of
the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during
the pendency of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding) and premium, if any, on the Second Lien
Secured Obligations, (b) payment in full in cash or immediately
available funds of all other Second Lien Secured Obligations that
are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing at or prior to
the time such principal and interest are paid (excluding, for the
avoidance of doubt, contingent expense reimbursement and
indemnification obligations that are not yet due and payable) and
(c) adequate provision reasonably satisfactory to the applicable
Second Lien Secured Parties having been made for any contingent or
unliquidated Second Lien Secured Obligations related to claims,
causes of action or liabilities that have theretofore been asserted
in writing by the Second Lien Secured Parties and for which
reimbursement or indemnification is required under the Second Lien
Loan Documents.
“
Disposition
” means any sale,
lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition. “
Dispose
” has a correlative
meaning.
“
Enforcement Action
” means any
action under applicable law to: (a) foreclose, execute, levy
or collect on, take possession or control of, sell or otherwise
realize upon (judicially or non-judicially), or lease, license or
otherwise exercise or enforce remedial rights with respect to
Collateral (including by way of set-off, notification of a public
or private sale or other disposition under the Uniform Commercial
Code or other applicable law, notification to Account Debtors,
notification to third parties under control agreements, or exercise
of rights under landlord or bailee consents or similar
arrangements, if applicable), (b) solicit bids from third parties
to conduct the liquidation or Disposition of any Collateral, or,
solely to the extent such action is not a Second Lien Permitted
Action, to engage or retain sales brokers, marketing agents,
investment bankers, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers or other
third parties for the purposes of marketing, promoting and selling
any Collateral, (c) to credit bid in respect of any Collateral in
satisfaction of Indebtedness or other First Lien Secured
Obligations or Second Lien Secured Obligations secured thereby or
(d) to otherwise enforce a security interest or exercise
another right or remedy as a secured creditor pertaining to any
Collateral (other than, to the extent the Grantors fail to perform
any action required under any protective covenant relating to the
Collateral under any Security Document, the performance thereof by
the First Lien Representative or the Second Lien Representative, in
each case to the extent permitted by the applicable Security
Documents) at law, in equity or pursuant to the First Lien Loan
Documents or Second Lien Loan Documents (including the commencement
of applicable legal proceedings or other actions with respect to
all or any portion of the Collateral, including seeking relief from
or modification of an automatic stay or any other stay in an
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to facilitate the actions
described in the preceding clause (a), (b) or (c), and exercising
voting rights in respect of Equity Interests comprising
Collateral).
“
Equity Interests
” means any and
all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however
designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all
equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a
corporation), including partnership interests and membership
interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase
or acquire any of the foregoing (other than, prior to the date of
such conversion, Indebtedness that is convertible into any such
Equity Interests).
“
Excess First Lien Obligations
”
means the sum of (a) the portion of the Capped First Lien Loan
Document Obligations that is in excess of the Maximum First Lien
Principal Amount, plus (b) without duplication, unpaid interest and
fees solely to the extent accrued with respect to such portion of
the Capped First Lien Loan Document Obligations.
“
Excess Second Lien Obligations
”
means the sum of (a) the portion of principal of the Second Lien
Secured Obligations that is in excess of the Maximum Second Lien
Principal Amount, plus (b) without duplication, unpaid interest and
fees solely to the extent accrued with respect to such portion of
the Second Lien Secured Obligations.
“
First Lien Collateral
” means all
“Collateral”, as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time
hereafter subject, or purported under the terms of any First Lien
Security Document to be made subject, to any Lien securing any
First Lien Secured Obligations.
“
First Lien Credit Agreement
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of
this Agreement.
“
First Lien Lenders
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
First Lien Loan Documents
” means
the “Credit Documents”, as defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement.
“
First Lien Loan Document
Obligations
” means the “Obligations”, as
defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, set forth in clause (a)
of the definition of such term in the First Lien Credit Agreement
(including any such “Obligations” arising or accruing
under Section 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 of the First
Lien Credit Agreement or during the pendency of any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding), notwithstanding that any such
“Obligations” or claims therefor shall be disallowed,
voided or subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding
or under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for all purposes under this
Agreement (other than the definition of “Capped First Lien
Loan Document Obligations”), Excess First Lien Obligations
shall not be included in the First Lien Loan Document
Obligations.
“
First Lien Mortgages
” means,
collectively, each mortgage, deed of trust, leasehold mortgage,
assignment of leases and rents, modifications and any other
agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien on real
property is granted to secure any First Lien Secured Obligations or
under which rights or remedies with respect to any such Lien are
governed.
“
First Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
the preliminary statement of this Agreement.
“
First Lien Refinancing Notice
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02(a).
“
First Lien Representative
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“
First Lien Required Lenders
” means
the “Requisite Lenders”, as defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement.
“
First Lien Secured Cash Management
Obligations
” means the “Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations”, as defined in the First
Lien Credit Agreement (including any such “Specified Cash
Management Services Obligations” arising or accruing during
the pendency of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding),
notwithstanding that any such “Specified Cash Management
Services Obligations” or claims therefor shall be disallowed,
voided or subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding
or under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law.
“
First Lien Secured Obligations
”
means the “Secured Obligations”, as defined in the
First Lien Pledge and Security Agreement (including any such
“Secured Obligations” arising or accruing under Section
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 of the First Lien Credit
Agreement or during the pendency of any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding), notwithstanding that any such “Secured
Obligations” or claims therefor shall be disallowed, voided
or subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or
under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for all purposes under this Agreement (other than
the definition of “First Priority Liens” and Sections
3.02(a)(vii), 6.03, 9.01 and 10.13), Excess First Lien Obligations
shall not be included in the First Lien Secured
Obligations.
“
First Lien Secured Parties
” means
the “Secured Parties”, as defined in the First Lien
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
First Lien Security Documents
”
means the “Collateral Documents”, as defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement, and any other agreement, document or
instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be
granted to secure any First Lien Secured Obligations or under which
rights or remedies with respect to any such Lien are
governed.
“
First Priority Liens
” means all
Liens on the First Lien Collateral securing the First Lien Secured
Obligations, whether created under the First Lien Security
Documents or acquired by possession, statute (including any
judgment lien), operation of law, subrogation or
otherwise.
“
Governmental Authority
” means any
federal, state, municipal, national, supranational or other
government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof
or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether
associated with the United States of America, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia or a foreign entity or government
(including any supra-national body exercising such powers or
functions, such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“
Grantors
” means the Borrower, each
other Guarantor and each other Person that shall have created or
purported to create any First Priority Lien or any Second Priority
Lien on all or any part of its assets to secure any First Lien
Secured Obligations or any Second Lien Secured
Obligations.
“
Guarantors
” means the Borrower and
each Subsidiary that has guaranteed, or that may from time to time
hereafter guarantee, the First Lien Secured Obligations or the
Second Lien Secured Obligations, whether by executing and
delivering the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Second Lien
Credit Agreement, as applicable, a counterpart agreement thereto or
otherwise.
“
Indebtedness
” means and includes
all obligations that constitute “Indebtedness”, as
defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Second Lien
Credit Agreement, as applicable.
“
Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding
” means (a) any voluntary or
involuntary proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other
Bankruptcy Law with respect to any Grantor, (b) any voluntary
or involuntary appointment of a trustee, examiner, custodian,
receiver, liquidator or similar official for any Grantor or for all
or a substantial part of the property or assets of any Grantor,
(c) any voluntary or involuntary winding-up or liquidation of
any Grantor, or (d) a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors by any Grantor.
“
Lien
” means any lien, mortgage,
pledge, assignment, security interest, hypothecation, charge or
encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature
thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement
having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.
“
Loan Documents
” means the First
Lien Loan Documents and the Second Lien Loan
Documents.
“
Maximum First Lien Principal
Amount
” means the sum of (a) the excess of (i) 110% of
the amount equal to the sum of (A) $595,000,000 plus (B) the
aggregate amount of “Incremental Commitments” (as
defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) (or any comparable
successor term) established from time to time under Section 2.23 of
the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any comparable successor
provision) or pursuant to any comparable successor provisions in
any Refinancing thereof, in each case, to the extent (1) if the
establishment of such Incremental Commitments (or any comparable
successor term) is conditioned upon the absence of any event of
default under the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any event of
default under any Refinancing thereof), no such event of default
(or event of default under any such Refinancing) shall have
occurred and be continuing at the time of establishment of such
Incremental Commitments (or any comparable successor term) (it
being understood and agreed that any such event of default (or
event of default under any such Refinancing) may be waived prior to
the establishment of such Incremental Commitments (or any
comparable successor term)) and (2) such First Lien Credit
Agreement provisions and such comparable successor provisions,
taken as a whole, do not permit an aggregate amount of such
Incremental Commitments (or any such comparable successor term) in
excess of the amount that would have been permitted to be
established as Incremental Commitments under such First Lien Credit
Agreement provisions as in effect on the date hereof, it being
understood that any such Incremental Commitments (or any such
comparable successor term) established as permitted under such
First Lien Credit Agreement provisions as in effect on the date
hereof (or as permitted pursuant to such comparable successor
provisions, subject to the foregoing limitations in this definition
on the amount thereof) shall be included in the Maximum First Lien
Principal Amount under this clause (B) whether or not such
Incremental Commitments shall have subsequently terminated or been
Refinanced and whether or not any financial ratio tests the
satisfaction of which were a condition to such establishment
continue to be satisfied on the date of determination of
“Maximum First Lien Principal Amount” so long as such
financial ratio tests were satisfied as of the time set forth in
such condition, over (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate principal
amount of all repayments and prepayments of term loans outstanding
under the First Lien Credit Agreement or under any Refinancing
thereof that are First Lien Loan Document Obligations actually made
from and after the date hereof, (B) permanent reductions of
commitments under the revolving credit facility provided for in the
First Lien Credit Agreement or in any Refinancing thereof actually
made from and after the date hereof (excluding any permanent
reductions of such commitments resulting from the commencement of
any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or resulting from the
exercise by any or all of the First Lien Secured Parties of their
right to reduce or terminate such commitments following the
occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default under
the First Lien Credit Agreement (or any event of default under any
Refinancing thereof), but only if the principal amount of revolving
credit loans shall have been prepaid and any “Letter of
Credit Usage” (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
(or any comparable successor term) shall have been reduced (and all
accrued and unpaid interest and fees in respect thereof have been
paid in full), in each case, to the extent required in order for
the sum thereof not to exceed the revolving credit commitments as
so reduced and (C) permanent reductions of unfunded
commitments under any incremental term loan facility provided for
in the First Lien Credit Agreement or in any Refinancing thereof
actually made from and after the date hereof, and excluding, in the
case of each of clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, repayments,
prepayments and reductions in connection with a Refinancing thereof
or a “roll-up” of such First Lien Loan Document
Obligations (or such Refinancing thereof) or such revolving credit
commitments in connection with a DIP Financing, plus (b) the
sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate amount of all
interest, fees and premiums, in each case, accrued in respect of or
attributable to any First Lien Loan Document Obligations that has
been paid in-kind or capitalized and (ii) the aggregate amount of
all interest, fees and premium (if any) in respect of or
attributable to any First Lien Loan Document Obligations that are
included in the principal amount of any Refinancing thereof, any
original issue discount applicable to any such Refinancing and any
fees (including upfront fees), costs and expenses relating to such
Refinancing. It is understood and agreed that any Incremental
Commitments (or any such comparable successor term) that are
established by the First Lien Lenders in good faith in reliance on
any written determination or certification by or on behalf of the
Borrower or the other Grantors that any financial ratio test or
other condition (including as to the absence of any event of
default) to the establishment thereof has been satisfied shall be
included under clause (a)(i)(B) above even if subsequently to the
establishment thereof it shall be determined that such written
determination or certification was inaccurate and such financial
ratio test or other condition was not in fact
satisfied.
“
Maximum Second Lien Principal
Amount
” means the sum of (a) the excess of (i) 110% of
the amount equal to the sum of (A) $85,000,000 plus (B) the
aggregate amount of “Incremental Commitments” (as
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement) (or any comparable
successor term) established from time to time under Section 2.23 of
the Second Lien Credit Agreement (or any comparable successor
provision) or pursuant to any comparable successor provisions in
any Refinancing thereof, in each case, to the extent (1) if the
establishment of such Incremental Commitments (or any comparable
successor term) is conditioned upon the absence of any event of
default under the Second Lien Credit Agreement (or any event of
default under any Refinancing thereof), no such event of default
(or event of default under any such Refinancing) shall have
occurred and be continuing at the time of establishment of such
Incremental Commitments (or any comparable successor term) (it
being understood and agreed that any such event of default (or
event of default under any such Refinancing) may be waived prior to
the establishment of such Incremental Commitments (or any
comparable successor term)) and (2) such Second Lien Credit
Agreement provisions and such comparable successor provisions,
taken as a whole, do not permit an aggregate amount of such
Incremental Commitments (or any such comparable successor term) in
excess of the amount that would have been permitted to be
established as Incremental Commitments under such Second Lien
Credit Agreement provisions as in effect on the date hereof, it
being understood that any such Incremental Commitments (or any such
comparable successor term) established as permitted under such
Second Lien Credit Agreement provisions as in effect on the date
hereof (or as permitted pursuant to such comparable successor
provisions, subject to the foregoing limitations in this definition
on the amount thereof) shall be included in the Maximum Second Lien
Principal Amount under this clause (B) whether or not such
Incremental Commitments shall have subsequently terminated or been
Refinanced and whether or not any financial ratio tests the
satisfaction of which were a condition to such establishment
continue to be satisfied on the date of determination of
“Maximum Second Lien Principal Amount” so long as such
financial ratio tests were satisfied as of the time set forth in
such condition, over (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate
principal amount of all repayments and prepayments of term loans
outstanding under the Second Lien Credit Agreement or under any
Refinancing thereof that are Second Lien Secured Obligations
actually made from and after the date hereof and (B) permanent
reductions of unfunded commitments under any incremental term loan
facility provided for in the Second Lien Credit Agreement or in any
Refinancing thereof actually made from and after the date hereof,
and excluding, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B) above,
repayments, prepayments and reductions in connection with a
Refinancing thereof or a “roll-up” of such Second Lien
Secured Obligations (or such Refinancing thereof) in connection
with a DIP Financing, plus (b) the sum, without duplication,
of (i) the aggregate amount of all interest, fees and premiums, in
each case, accrued in respect of or attributable to any Second Lien
Secured Obligations that has been paid in-kind or capitalized and
(ii) the aggregate amount of all interest, fees and premium (if
any) in respect of or attributable to any Second Lien Secured
Obligations that are included in the principal amount of any
Refinancing thereof, any original issue discount applicable to any
such Refinancing and any fees (including upfront fees), costs and
expenses relating to such Refinancing. It is understood and agreed
that any Incremental Commitments (or any such comparable successor
term) that are established by the Second Lien Lenders in good faith
in reliance on any written determination or certification by or on
behalf of the Borrower or the other Grantors that any financial
ratio test or other condition (including as to the absence of any
event of default) to the establishment thereof has been satisfied
shall be included under clause (a)(i)(B) above even if
subsequently to the establishment thereof it shall be determined
that such written determination or certification was inaccurate and
such financial ratio test or other condition was not in fact
satisfied.
“
New First Lien Loan Documents
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.02(a).
“
New First Lien Obligations
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.02(a).
“
New First Lien Representative
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.02(a).
“
New Second Lien Loan Documents
”
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.02(b).
“
New Second Lien Obligations
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.02(b).
“
New Second Lien Representative
”
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.02(b).
“
Officer’s Certificate
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 10.15.
“
Person
” means any natural person,
corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, joint stock
company, joint venture, association, company, trust, bank, trust
company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether
or not a legal entity, and any Governmental Authority.
“
Pledged or Controlled Collateral
”
means Collateral as to which perfection can be accomplished by the
possession or control (as such term is defined in the Uniform
Commercial Code) of such Collateral or of any account in which such
Collateral is held.
“
Proceeds
” means (a) all
“proceeds” as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code and (b) whatever is recovered when Collateral is
sold, exchanged, collected, or Disposed of, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, including any additional or replacement collateral
provided during any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and any
payment or property received in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding under Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code on
account of any “secured claim” (within the meaning of
Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or similar Bankruptcy
Law).
“
Purchase
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.01(d).
“
Purchase Event
” means the
occurrence of any of the following: (a) receipt by the Second
Lien Representative of written notice from the First Lien
Representative that the Indebtedness then outstanding under the
First Lien Credit Agreement has been accelerated, (b) the
commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with
respect to any Grantor, (c) the exercise of remedies following an
event of default under the applicable First Lien Loan Documents
undertaken by any First Lien Representative or any First Lien
Secured Party against any material portion of the Collateral under
the First Lien Loan Documents or (d) an event of default under any
First Lien Loan Document as a result of any Grantor’s failure
to pay any principal or interest in respect of First Lien Secured
Obligations when due and such failure to pay remains unremedied and
event of default remains unwaived for a period of 30
days.
“
Purchase Notice
” means an
irrevocable notice delivered by the Second Lien Representative
indicating the intention of the applicable Second Lien Secured
Parties to exercise the purchase option under Section 3.01(d) and
setting forth the date of the intended purchase, which shall be (a)
not fewer than five days, nor more than 10 days, after the delivery
of such notice to the First Lien Representative and (b) not more
than 30 days after (i) the Second Lien Representative received
written notice from the First Lien Representative of any Purchase
Event set forth in clause (a), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof
or (ii) the occurrence of any Purchase Event set forth in clause
(b) of the definition thereof.
“
Recovery
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 7.04.
“
Refinance
” means, in respect of
any Indebtedness or commitment, to refinance, extend, renew,
restructure or replace or to issue other Indebtedness or commitment
in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness or commitment, in
whole or in part. “
Refinanced
” and
“
Refinancing
”
have correlative meanings.
“
Release
” has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.04.
“
Reorganization Securities
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.
“
Representatives
” means the First
Lien Representative and the Second Lien
Representative.
“
Second Lien Collateral
” means all
“Collateral”, as defined in the Second Lien Credit
Agreement, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time
hereafter subject, or purported under the terms of any Second Lien
Security Document to be made subject, to any Lien securing any
Second Lien Secured Obligations.
“
Second Lien Credit Agreement
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of
this Agreement.
“
Second Lien Lenders
” has the
meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this
Agreement.
“
Second Lien Loan Documents
” means
the “Credit Documents”, as defined in the Second Lien
Credit Agreement.
“
Second Lien Mortgages
” means,
collectively, each mortgage, deed of trust, leasehold mortgage,
assignment of leases and rents, modifications and any other
agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which any Lien on
real property is granted to secure any Second Lien Secured
Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to any
such Lien are governed.
“
Second Lien Permitted Actions
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.01(a).
“
Second Lien Pledge and Security
Agreement
” has the meaning assigned to such term in
the preliminary statement of this Agreement.
“
Second Lien Refinancing Notice
”
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.02(b).
“
Second Lien Representative
” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“
Second Lien Required Lenders
”
means the “Requisite Lenders”, as defined in the Second
Lien Credit Agreement.
“
Second Lien Secured Obligations
”
means the “Secured Obligations”, as defined in the
Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement (including any such
“Secured Obligations” arising or accruing under
Section 2.1, 2.23, 2.24 or 2.25 of the Second Lien Credit
Agreement or during the pendency of any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding) (or any Refinancing thereof constituting New Second
Lien Obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section
7.02(b)) notwithstanding that any such “Secured
Obligations” or claims therefor shall be disallowed, voided
or subordinated in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or
under any Bankruptcy Law or other applicable law.
“
Second Lien Secured Parties
” means
the “Secured Parties”, as defined in the Second Lien
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“
Second Lien Security Documents
”
means the “Collateral Documents”, as defined in the
Second Lien Credit Agreement, and any other agreement, document or
instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be
granted to secure any Second Lien Secured Obligations or under
which rights or remedies with respect to any such Lien are
governed.
“
Second Priority Liens
” means all
Liens on the Second Lien Collateral securing the Second Lien
Secured Obligations, whether created under the Second Lien Security
Documents or acquired by possession, statute (including any
judgment lien), operation of law, subrogation or
otherwise.
“
Secured Parties
” means the First
Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties, or any
one of them.
“
Security Documents
” means the
First Lien Security Documents and the Second Lien Security
Documents.
“
Standstill Period
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a).
“
Subsidiary
” means, with respect to
any Person (the “
parent
”) at any date, (a) any
Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of
the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements
if such financial statements were prepared in conformity with
United States generally accepted accounting principles as of such
date and (b) any other Person of which Equity Interests
representing more than 50% of the equity value or more than 50% of
the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more
than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date,
owned, controlled or held, by the parent or one or more
Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more
Subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to
Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“
Uniform Commercial Code
” or
“
UCC
” means the
Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation)
as in effect from time to time in any applicable
jurisdiction.
“
Wilmington Trust
” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.
SECTION
1.02.
Terms Generally
. The definitions of
terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter
forms. The words “include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect as the word “shall”. The words
“asset” and “property” shall be construed
to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all
real and personal, tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. The word
“law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes,
rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official
rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or
with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments,
orders, writs and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless
the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference
to any agreement, instrument or other document (including this
Agreement and the Loan Documents) shall be construed as referring
to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to
time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set
forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any
statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto
as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
(including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any
reference herein to (i) any Person shall be construed to
include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any
restrictions on assignment set forth herein), (ii) the Borrower or
any other Grantor shall be construed to include the Borrower or
such Grantor as debtor and debtor-in-possession and any receiver or
trustee for the Borrower or any other Grantor, as the case may be,
in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and (iii) in the case
of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority
that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the
words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof and (e) all references herein to
Articles or Sections shall be construed to refer to Articles or
Sections of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
LIEN PRIORITIES
SECTION
2.01.
Relative Priorities
. Notwithstanding the
date, manner or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any
Second Priority Lien or any First Priority Lien, and
notwithstanding any provision of the UCC or any other applicable
law or the provisions of any Security Document or any other Loan
Document or any other circumstance whatsoever, the Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, and the First Lien Representative, for itself and
on behalf of the other First Lien Secured Parties, hereby agrees
that so long as the Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has
not occurred, (a) any First Priority Lien now or hereafter
held by or for the benefit of any First Lien Secured Party shall be
senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects
to any and all Second Priority Liens, and the First Priority Liens
shall be and remain senior in right, priority, operation, effect
and all other respects to any Second Priority Liens for all
purposes, whether or not any First Priority Liens are subordinated
in any respect to any other Lien securing any other obligation of
the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other Person and
(b) any Second Priority Lien now or hereafter held by or for
the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be junior and
subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other
respects to any and all First Priority Liens;
provided
that, so long as the
Discharge of Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than Excess
Second Lien Obligations) has not occurred, any Lien on the
Collateral securing any Excess First Lien Obligations now or
hereafter held by or on behalf of any First Lien Secured Party
shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation,
effect and all other respects to any and all Liens on the
Collateral securing any of the Second Lien Secured Obligations
(other than any Excess Second Lien Obligations);
provided
further
that, so long as the
Discharge of Excess First Lien Obligations has not occurred, any
Lien on the Collateral securing any Excess Second Lien Obligations
now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Second Lien Secured
Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority,
operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Liens on
the Collateral securing any of the Excess First Lien
Obligations.
SECTION
2.02.
Prohibition on Contesting Liens
. Each of
the First Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the
other First Lien Secured Parties, and the Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, agrees that it will not, and hereby waives any
right to, contest or join or otherwise support any other Person in
contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding), the existence, validity, enforceability,
perfection or priority of any Second Priority Lien or any First
Priority Lien, as the case may be;
provided
that (a) nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the
rights of the First Lien Representative or any other First Lien
Secured Party to enforce this Agreement, including the priority of
the Liens securing the First Lien Secured Obligations or the
provisions for exercise of remedies, and (b) nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the
Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party
to enforce this Agreement.
SECTION
2.03.
Similar Liens and Agreements
. The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention
that the First Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral be
identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto
agree:
(a)
to cooperate in
good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request in
writing by the First Lien Representative or the Second Lien
Representative, the specific assets included in the First Lien
Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral, the steps taken to
perfect the First Priority Liens and the Second Priority Liens
thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under
the First Lien Loan Documents and the Second Lien Loan Documents;
and
(b)
that the documents,
agreements and instruments creating or evidencing the Second Lien
Collateral and the Second Priority Liens shall be in all material
respects in the same form as the documents, agreements and
instruments creating or evidencing the First Lien Collateral and
the First Priority Liens, other than with respect to the first
priority and second priority nature of the Liens created or
evidenced thereunder, the identity of the Secured Parties that are
parties thereto or secured thereby and other matters contemplated
by this Agreement.
SECTION
2.04.
No Separate Liens
. The parties hereto
agree that, so long as the Discharge of First Lien Secured
Obligations has not occurred, (a) neither the Second Lien
Representative nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall
acquire or hold, or accept from any Grantor or any of its
Subsidiaries, any Lien on any asset or property of any Grantor or
any of its Subsidiaries (and none of the Grantors shall, or shall
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, grant any such Lien) securing
any Second Lien Secured Obligations unless such asset or property
is also subject to a Lien securing the First Lien Secured
Obligations and (b) neither the First Lien Representative nor
any other First Lien Secured Party shall acquire or hold, or accept
from any Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries, any Lien on any asset
or property of any Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries (and none of
the Grantors shall, or shall permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
grant any such Lien) securing any First Lien Secured Obligations
unless such asset or property is also subject to a Lien securing
the Second Lien Secured Obligations (including on account of the
agreements of the First Lien Representative pursuant to Article V
hereof), with each such Lien to be subject to the provisions of
this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the
immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any
reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to any
Secured Party hereunder, the Second Lien Representative agrees, for
itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, that
any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured
Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien acquired, held,
accepted or granted in contravention of this Section 2.04
shall be subject to Section 4.02.
SECTION
2.05.
Perfection of Liens
. Except for the
agreements of the First Lien Representative and the Second Lien
Representative pursuant to Article V hereof, (a) none of the First
Lien Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall
be responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of
Liens with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Second
Lien Representative or the other Second Lien Secured Parties and
(b) none of the Second Lien Representative and the other Second
Lien Secured Parties shall be responsible for perfecting and
maintaining the perfection of Liens with respect to the Collateral
for the benefit of the First Lien Representative or the other First
Lien Secured Parties. The provisions of this Agreement are intended
solely to govern the respective Lien priorities as among the First
Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties and shall
not impose on either Representative or the other Secured Parties
represented by such Representative any obligations in respect of
the disposition of Proceeds of any Collateral which would conflict
with any prior perfected claims in such Proceeds in favor of any
other Person or any order or decree of any court or governmental
authority or any applicable law.
SECTION
2.06.
Certain Cash Collateral
. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement or any other First Lien Loan Document or
Second Lien Loan Document to the contrary, collateral consisting of
cash and cash equivalents pledged to secure First Lien Loan
Document Obligations under any First Lien Loan Document consisting
of reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit issued
thereunder shall be applied as specified in the relevant First Lien
Loan Document and will not constitute Collateral (or First Lien
Collateral or Second Lien Collateral) hereunder.
ARTICLE III
ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS; MATTERS RELATING TO
COLLATERAL
SECTION
3.01.
Exercise of Rights and Remedies
. (a) So
long as the Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has not
occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding
has been commenced, the First Lien Representative and the other
First Lien Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right to
enforce rights and exercise remedies (including any right of
setoff) with respect to the Collateral (including making
determinations regarding the release, Disposition or restrictions
with respect to the Collateral), or to commence or seek to commence
and maintain or seek to maintain any Enforcement Action, in each
case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second
Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party;
provided
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding, any Second Lien Secured Party may file a
proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Second
Lien Secured Obligations and vote on a plan of reorganization
(including a vote to accept or reject a plan of partial or complete
liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
extension), in each case, to the extent not in contravention of the
terms of this Agreement;
provided
that no Second Lien
Secured Party shall be a petitioning creditor or otherwise make any
filing or take any action (or join any other Person in making any
filing or taking any action) to commence any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding; (ii) the Second Lien Representative
may take any action to preserve or protect the validity,
enforceability and perfection of the Second Priority Liens (but not
to enforce such Liens),
provided
that no such action
is, or could reasonably be expected to be, (A) adverse to the
First Priority Liens or the rights of the First Lien Representative
or any other First Lien Secured Party to exercise remedies in
respect thereof or (B) otherwise in contravention of the terms
of this Agreement, including the automatic release of the Second
Priority Liens provided in Section 3.04; (iii) the Second
Lien Secured Parties may file any responsive or defensive pleadings
in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other
pleading made by any Person objecting to or otherwise seeking the
disallowance, subordination or recharacterization of the claims of
any of the Second Lien Secured Parties, including any claims
secured by the Collateral, or the avoidance or subordination of any
Second Priority Lien (other than pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement) or otherwise make any agreements or file any motions
pertaining to the Second Lien Secured Obligations or the Second
Priority Liens, in each case, to the extent not in contravention of
the terms of this Agreement; (iv) the Second Lien Secured
Parties may exercise rights and remedies available to unsecured
creditors to the extent (and only to the extent) provided in
Section 3.03; (v) the Second Lien Secured Parties may
join (but not exercise any control over) a judicial foreclosure or
Lien enforcement proceeding with respect to the Collateral
initiated by the First Lien Representative, to the extent that such
action does not, and could not reasonably be expected to,
materially interfere with any Enforcement Action by the First Lien
Secured Parties and otherwise is not in contravention of the terms
of this Agreement, it being further agreed that no Second Lien
Secured Party may receive any Proceeds thereof unless expressly
permitted herein; (vi) the Second Lien Secured Parties may bid for
or purchase any Collateral at any public, private or judicial
foreclosure upon such Collateral initiated by the First Lien
Representative, or any sale of any Collateral during an Insolvency
or Liquidation Proceeding;
provided
that such bid may not
include a “credit bid” in respect of any Second Lien
Secured Obligations unless the proceeds of such bid are otherwise
sufficient to cause the Discharge of First Lien Secured
Obligations; (vii) subject to Section 3.02(a), the Second
Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may
commence or seek to commence, and maintain or seek to maintain, any
Enforcement Action after the termination of the Standstill Period;
(viii) the Second Lien Representative may
inspect or appraise the Collateral
so long as such actions do not interfere with, hinder or delay, in
any manner, any enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies
of the First Lien Secured Parties
under the First Lien Loan
Documents or this Agreement and otherwise are not in contravention
of the terms of this Agreement
;
(ix) the Second Lien
Secured Parties may seek or commence an action to obtain specific
performance or injunctive relief to compel a Grantor to comply with
the delivery of financial information, the further assurances
regarding perfection of Liens and the maintenance of insurance
covenants under the Second Lien Loan Documents, to the extent such
action is not an Enforcement Action, does not seek to enjoin a
Disposition of Collateral consented to or approved by the First
Lien Representative and otherwise is not in contravention of the
terms of this Agreement; (x) the Second Lien Secured Parties may
accelerate the Indebtedness under the Second Lien Loan Documents in
accordance with the terms thereof; and (xi) the Second Lien
Secured Parties may take any action or exercise any right to the
extent (and only to the extent) provided in Article VI (the
permitted actions described in clauses (i) through (xi) are
collectively referred to herein as the “
Second Lien Permitted Actions
”).
Except for the Second Lien Permitted Actions, unless and until the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has occurred, the sole
right of the Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien
Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral shall be to receive
the Proceeds of the Collateral, if any, remaining after the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has occurred and in
accordance with the Second Lien Loan Documents and applicable
law.
(b)
In exercising
rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the First Lien
Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties may enforce
the provisions of the First Lien Loan Documents, exercise remedies
thereunder and under applicable law and take other Enforcement
Actions, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine
in their sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall
include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of
Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with
any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of
a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the
Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law or any other applicable
law.
(c)
The Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant,
agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security
Document or any other Second Lien Loan Document shall be deemed to
restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the First Lien
Representative or the other First Lien Secured Parties with respect
to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the other
First Lien Loan Documents.
(d)
Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, within 30 days
following the occurrence of a Purchase Event, the Second Lien
Representative or another representative acting on behalf of the
Second Lien Secured Parties may, at the sole expense and effort of
the Second Lien Secured Parties, upon delivery of a Purchase Notice
to the Borrower and the First Lien Representative, require the
First Lien Secured Parties to transfer and assign to the Second
Lien Secured Parties on the date specified in such Purchase Notice
in accordance with the definition thereof, without warranty or
representation or recourse, all (but not less than all) of the
First Lien Secured Obligations (such transfer and assignment, the
“
Purchase
”);
provided
that (i)
such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation
or order of any court or other Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction and shall be effected pursuant to an assignment
agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien
Representative, (ii) the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have
paid to the First Lien Representative, for the account of the First
Lien Secured Parties, in cash or immediately available funds, an
amount equal to 100% of the principal of such Indebtedness
(including any unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit but
excluding any undrawn letters of credit) plus all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon plus all accrued and unpaid fees plus all
the other First Lien Secured Obligations then outstanding (other
than any acceleration prepayment penalties or premiums) (which
shall include (A) with respect to any letters of credit outstanding
under the First Lien Credit Agreement, an amount in cash or
immediately available funds equal to 103% of the aggregate face
amount thereof (other than any portion of such amount that
represents unreimbursed drawings thereunder), (B) with respect
to Hedge Agreements (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
that constitute First Lien Secured Obligations, 100% of the
aggregate amount of such First Lien Secured Obligations (giving
effect to any netting arrangements) that the applicable Grantor
would be required to pay if such Hedge Agreements were terminated
at such time, (C) with respect to Specified Cash Management
Services Agreements (as defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement), the net aggregate amount then owing to creditors
thereunder to the extent constituting First Lien Secured
Obligations, including all amounts owing to such creditors as a
result of the termination (or early termination) thereof, and (D)
an amount reasonably calculated by the First Lien Representative
with respect to any contingent or unliquidated First Lien Secured
Obligations related to claims, causes of action or liabilities that
have theretofore been asserted in writing by the First Lien Secured
Parties and for which indemnification or reimbursement is required
under the First Lien Loan Documents) and (iii) each First Lien
Secured Party is permitted to retain all rights to indemnification
provided in the relevant First Lien Loan Documents for all claims
and other amounts relating to periods prior to such transfer of the
First Lien Secured Obligations (
provided
that such rights and
claims shall not be secured by the Collateral after the
consummation of the Purchase). In order to effectuate the Purchase,
the First Lien Representative shall calculate, upon the written
request of the Second Lien Representative from time to time, the
amount in cash or immediately available funds that would be
necessary so to purchase the First Lien Secured Obligations (based
on information available to it, and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain information not available to it
necessary to perform such calculation).
(e)
The First Lien
Representative shall provide to the Second Lien Representative, and
the Second Lien Representative shall provide to the First Lien
Representative, reasonable prior notice of its initial material
Enforcement Action.
SECTION
3.02.
No Interference
. (a) The Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, agrees that, so long as the Discharge of First
Lien Secured Obligations has not occurred, and whether or not any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, the Second
Lien Secured Parties:
(i)
except for Second
Lien Permitted Actions, will not (A) commence (or file with any
court documents that seek to commence) or maintain or seek to
maintain any Enforcement Action, (B) commence (or file with any
court documents that seek to commence) or join with any Person
(other than the First Lien Representative) in commencing, or
petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any action or
proceeding with respect to any Enforcement Action or (C) commence
(or file with any court documents that seek to commence) or join
with any Person (other than the First Lien Representative) in
commencing any involuntary case or proceeding under any Insolvency
or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to any Grantor;
provided
,
however
, that the Second Lien
Representative may commence or seek to commence, and maintain or
seek to maintain, any Enforcement Action, or join with any Person
in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution
for, any such action or proceeding, after a period of 150 days
has elapsed (which period shall be tolled during any period in
which the First Lien Representative is not entitled, on behalf of
the First Lien Secured Parties, to take any Enforcement Action with
respect to any Collateral as a result of (x) any injunction issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction (which the First Lien
Representative is diligently seeking to vacate) or (y) the
automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency
or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien
Representative has delivered to the First Lien Representative
written notice (with a copy to the Borrower) of the occurrence of
an event of default under the Second Lien Loan Documents (the
“
Standstill
Period
”);
provided
that all other
provisions of this Agreement (including the turnover provisions of
Article IV or Article VI) are complied with;
provided
further
,
however
, that notwithstanding
the expiration of the Standstill Period or anything herein to the
contrary, in no event shall the Second Lien Representative or any
other Second Lien Secured Party commence (or file with any court
documents that seek to commence) or maintain or seek to maintain
any Enforcement Action, or commence (or file with any court
documents that seek to commence), join with any Person in
commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for,
any action or proceeding with respect to any Enforcement Action, if
the First Lien Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party
shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing any
Enforcement Action with respect to any Collateral or any such
action or proceeding;
(ii)
will
not contest, protest or object to any Enforcement Action sought or
maintained by the First Lien Representative or any other First Lien
Secured Party relating to the Collateral under the First Lien Loan
Documents or otherwise, so long as the Second Priority Liens attach
to the Proceeds thereof subject to the relative priorities set
forth in Section 2.01 and such Enforcement Action is not in
contravention of the terms of this Agreement and applicable
law;
(iii)
subject
to the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties under
clause (i) above, will not contest, protest or object to
the forbearance by the First Lien Representative or any other First
Lien Secured Party from commencing or pursuing any Enforcement
Action or to the terms or conditions applicable to any such
forbearance;
(iv)
will
not, except for the Second Lien Permitted Actions, take or receive
any Collateral, or any Proceeds thereof or payment with respect
thereto (other than, subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.03,
Reorganization Securities), in connection with any Enforcement
Action with respect to any Collateral or in connection with any
insurance policy award under a policy of insurance relating to any
Collateral or any condemnation award (or deed in lieu of
condemnation) relating to any Collateral;
(v)
will not, except
for the Second Lien Permitted Actions, take any action that would,
or could reasonably be expected to, hinder, in any material
respect, any enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies
under the First Lien Loan Documents, including any Disposition of
any Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise;
(vi)
will
not, except for the Second Lien Permitted Actions, contest, protest
or object to the manner in which the First Lien Representative or
any other First Lien Secured Party may seek to enforce or collect
the First Lien Secured Obligations or the First Priority Liens,
regardless of whether any action or failure to act by or on behalf
of the First Lien Representative or any other First Lien Secured
Party is, or could be, adverse to the interests of the Second Lien
Secured Parties,
provided
that any such action
or failure to act is not in contravention of this Agreement and
applicable law, and will not assert, and hereby waive, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request,
plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling,
appraisal, valuation or other similar statutory right that may be
available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or
any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under
applicable law; and
(vii)
will
not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceeding
or otherwise, and hereby waive any right, to contest, challenge or
question the validity or enforceability of any First Lien Secured
Obligation or any First Lien Security Document, including this
Agreement, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities,
rights or obligations established by this Agreement.
SECTION
3.03.
Rights as Unsecured Creditors
. The
Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties may, in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Loan
Documents and applicable law, enforce rights and exercise remedies
against the Borrower and any Guarantor that are available to
unsecured creditors (other than initiating or joining in an
involuntary case or proceeding under any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding with respect to any Grantor or taking any other
Enforcement Action);
provided
that no such action is
in contravention of the terms of this Agreement (including Article
VI hereof). Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the receipt by
the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured
Party of the required payments of principal, premium, interest,
fees and other amounts due under the Second Lien Loan Documents so
long as such receipt is not the direct or indirect result of a
distribution or recovery in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding in contravention of this Agreement (but subject to
Section 4.02), any Enforcement Action by the Second Lien
Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party in
contravention of this Agreement or any other enforcement or
exercise by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien
Secured Party of rights or remedies as a secured creditor
(including any right of setoff) in contravention of this Agreement
or enforcement in contravention of this Agreement of any Second
Priority Lien (including any judgment lien resulting from the
exercise of remedies available to an unsecured creditor, to the
extent such judgment lien applies to Collateral), with the Second
Lien Representative, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, hereby agreeing that any amounts received by or
distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party in contravention of
the foregoing shall be subject to Section 4.02.
SECTION
3.04.
Automatic Release of Second Priority
Liens
. (a) If, in connection with (i) any Disposition
of any Collateral permitted under the terms of the First Lien Loan
Documents or (ii) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or
remedies with respect to the Collateral, including any Disposition
of Collateral, the First Lien Representative, for itself and on
behalf of the other First Lien Secured Parties, (A) releases
the First Priority Liens on any Collateral or (B) releases any
Guarantor the Equity Interests in which are subject to such
Disposition or such enforcement or exercise from its obligations
under its guarantee of the First Lien Secured Obligations (in each
case, a “
Release
”), other than any such
Release granted (except as a result of the enforcement or exercise
of any rights or remedies pursuant to clause (ii) above) in
connection with the Discharge of First Lien Loan Document
Obligations, then the Second Priority Liens on such Collateral, and
the obligations of such Guarantor under its guarantee of the Second
Lien Secured Obligations, shall be immediately, automatically,
unconditionally and simultaneously released, and upon delivery to
the Second Lien Representative of an Officer’s Certificate
stating that any such Release in respect of the First Lien Secured
Obligations has become effective (or shall become effective
concurrently with such release of the Second Priority Liens on such
Collateral granted to the Second Lien Secured Parties and the
Second Lien Representative or the release of the obligations of
such Guarantor under its guarantee of the Second Lien Secured
Obligations, as the case may be) and any necessary or proper
instruments of termination or release prepared by the Borrower or
any other Grantor or Guarantor, the Second Lien Representative
shall, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured
Parties, promptly execute and deliver to the First Lien
Representative, the relevant Grantor or such Guarantor, at the
Borrower’s or the other Grantor’s or Guarantor’s
sole cost and expense and without any representation or warranty,
such termination statements, releases and other documents as the
First Lien Representative or the relevant Grantor or Guarantor may
reasonably request to effectively confirm such Release;
provided
that,
in the case of any Disposition of Collateral, notwithstanding the
release of the Second Priority Liens thereon, the Second Priority
Liens shall attach to the Proceeds thereof subject to the relative
priorities set forth in Section 2.01 (and, for the avoidance of
doubt, nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to be a release of
the Second Priority Liens on any such Proceeds, it being the
express intent of the Second Lien Secured Parties that the Second
Priority Liens attach to such Proceeds);
provided
further
that (x) in the
case of any Disposition of any Collateral (other than any such
Disposition in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any
rights or remedies with respect to such Collateral or pursuant to
an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the Second Priority Liens
on such Collateral shall not be so released if such Disposition is
not permitted under the terms of the Second Lien Credit Agreement
or such Disposition is to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and
(y) in the case of any Disposition of any Collateral, the Second
Priority Liens shall not be so released without the consent of the
Second Lien Representative unless the net cash Proceeds of such
Disposition will be applied (if applicable, upon judicial approval
of such application) to permanently repay or prepay (or otherwise
reduce, in the case of a “credit bid”) (1) the First
Lien Secured Obligations, it being understood that any such
repayment or prepayment of principal of Capped First Lien Loan
Document Obligations shall reduce the Maximum First Lien Principal
Amount by an equal amount, or (2) any DIP Financing.
In the case of any Disposition of
any Collateral by the First Lien Representative (other than
pursuant to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the First
Lien Representative (I) shall provide the Second Lien
Representative with at least 10 Business Days’ prior written
notice of such Disposition and (II) shall take reasonable care (as
determined in the reasonable credit judgment of the First Lien
Representative) to conduct such Disposition in a commercially
reasonable manner (it being understood that the First Lien
Representative shall have no obligation to postpone any such
Disposition in order to achieve a higher
price).
(b)
Until the Discharge
of First Lien Loan Document Obligations occurs, the Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien
Secured Party, hereby appoints the First Lien Representative, and
any officer or agent of the First Lien Representative, with full
power of substitution, as the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien
Secured Party for the purpose of carrying out the express
provisions of this Section 3.04 and taking any action and
executing any instrument that the First Lien Representative
reasonably deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this
Section 3.04 (including any endorsements or other instruments
of transfer or release), which appointment is irrevocable and
coupled with an interest.
SECTION
3.05.
Insurance and Condemnation Awards
. So
long as the Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has not
occurred, the First Lien Representative and the other First Lien
Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right, subject to the
rights of the Grantors under the First Lien Loan Documents, to
settle and adjust claims in respect of Collateral under policies of
insurance covering Collateral and to approve any award granted in
any condemnation or similar proceeding, or any deed in lieu of
condemnation, in respect of the Collateral. All Proceeds of any
such policy and any such award, or any payments with respect to a
deed in lieu of condemnation, shall (a) first, prior to the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations and subject to the
rights of the Grantors under the First Lien Loan Documents, be paid
to the First Lien Representative for the benefit of First Lien
Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Loan
Documents, (b) second, after the Discharge of First Lien
Secured Obligations and subject to the rights of the Grantors under
the Second Lien Loan Documents, be paid to the Second Lien
Representative for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties
pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Loan Documents until the
Discharge of Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than Excess
Second Lien Obligations), (c)
third, after the Discharge of Second
Lien Secured Obligations (other than Excess Second Lien
Obligations), be paid to the First Lien Representative for the
benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of
the First Lien Loan Documents on account of the Excess First Lien
Obligations, (d) fourth, after the Discharge of Excess First Lien
Obligations, be paid to the Second Lien Representative for the
benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of
the Second Lien Loan Documents on account of the Excess Second Lien
Obligations and (e) fifth, be paid to the owner of the subject
property, such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a
court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has occurred, if the
Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party
shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance
policy or any such award or payment, it shall transfer and pay over
such proceeds to the First Lien Representative in accordance with
Section 4.02
.
ARTICLE IV
PAYMENTS
SECTION
4.01.
Application of Proceeds
. So long as the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has not occurred, any
Collateral or Proceeds thereof received by the First Lien
Representative in connection with any Enforcement Action or in
connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding shall be
applied by the First Lien Representative to the First Lien Secured
Obligations in accordance with the terms of the First Lien Loan
Documents. Upon the Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations,
(a) if the Discharge of Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than
Excess Second Lien Obligations) has not occurred, subject to
Section 2.05, the First Lien Representative shall deliver
(without any representation, warranty or recourse) to the Second
Lien Representative any remaining Collateral and any Proceeds
thereof then held by it in the same form as received, together with
any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction
may otherwise direct, to be applied by the Second Lien
Representative to the Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than
Excess Second Lien Obligations) and (b) so long as the Discharge of
Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than Excess Second Lien
Obligations) has not occurred, any Collateral or Proceeds thereof
received by the Second Lien Representative pursuant to clause (a)
of this sentence or in connection with any Enforcement Action or in
connection with any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding shall be
applied by the Second Lien Representative to the Second Lien
Secured Obligations (other than Excess Second Lien Obligations) in
accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Loan Documents. Upon
the Discharge of Second Lien Secured Obligations (other than Excess
Second Lien Obligations), (i) if the Discharge of Excess First Lien
Obligations has not occurred, subject to Section 2.05, the
Second Lien Representative shall deliver (without any
representation, warranty or recourse) to the First Lien
Representative any remaining Collateral and any Proceeds thereof
then held by it in the same form as received, together with any
necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
otherwise direct, to be applied by the First Lien Representative to
the Excess First Lien Obligations and (ii) so long as the Discharge
of Excess First Lien Obligations has not occurred, any Collateral
or Proceeds thereof received by the First Lien Representative
pursuant to clause (i) of this sentence or in connection with any
Enforcement Action or in connection with any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding shall be applied by the First Lien
Representative to the Excess First Lien Obligations in accordance
with the terms of the First Lien Loan Documents. Upon the Discharge
of Excess First Lien Obligations, (A) if the Discharge of Second
Lien Secured Obligations has not occurred, subject to
Section 2.05, the First Lien Representative shall deliver
(without any representation, warranty or recourse) to the Second
Lien Representative any remaining Collateral and any Proceeds
thereof then held by it in the same form as received, together with
any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction
may otherwise direct, to be applied by the Second Lien
Representative to the Excess Second Lien Obligations and (B) if the
Discharge of Second Lien Secured Obligations has also occurred, the
First Lien Representative or the Second Lien Representative, as
applicable, shall deliver (without any representation, warranty or
recourse) to the Person entitled thereto any remaining Collateral
and any Proceeds thereof then held by it in the same form as
received, together with any necessary endorsements, or as a court
of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
SECTION
4.02.
Payment Over
. So long as the Discharge
of First Lien Secured Obligations has not occurred, any Collateral,
or any Proceeds thereof or payment in connection therewith or on
account thereof (together with assets or Proceeds subject to Liens
referred to in the final sentence of Section 2.04 or in the
final proviso of Section 6.01(b) or amounts referred to in the
parenthetical at the end of Section 3.03 or Collateral, Proceeds or
distributions referred to in the last two sentences of Section
7.04), received by the Second Lien Representative or any other
Second Lien Secured Party as a distribution or recovery in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (other than any post-petition
amounts received by the Second Lien Secured Parties as contemplated
by Section 6.04(b) or Reorganization Securities), or in connection
with any Enforcement Action, or in connection with any insurance
policy claim or any condemnation award (or deed in lieu of
condemnation), shall be segregated and held in trust and promptly
transferred or paid over to the First Lien Representative for the
benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties in the same form as
received, together with any necessary endorsements, or as a court
of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until the Discharge
of First Lien Secured Obligations occurs, the Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien
Secured Party, hereby appoints the First Lien Representative, and
any officer or agent of the First Lien Representative, with full
power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien
Secured Party for the purpose of carrying out the express
provisions of this Section 4.02 and taking any action and
executing any instrument that the First Lien Representative
reasonably deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this
Section 4.02, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled
with an interest.
SECTION
4.03.
Certain Agreements with Respect to Invalid or
Unenforceable Liens
. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any
Collateral is not valid, perfected or enforceable for any reason,
or is subordinated in any respect to any other Liens, then the
Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties agree that any distribution or recovery they may receive
with respect to, or on account of, the value of the assets intended
to constitute such Collateral or any Proceeds thereof shall (for so
long as the Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has not
occurred) be segregated and held in trust and promptly paid over to
the First Lien Representative for the benefit of the First Lien
Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse,
representation or warranty (other than a representation of the
Second Lien Representative that it has not otherwise sold,
assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in
and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary
endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise
direct until such time as the Discharge of First Lien Secured
Obligations has occurred. Until the Discharge of First Lien Secured
Obligations occurs, the Second Lien Representative, for itself and
on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints
the First Lien Representative, and any officer or agent of the
First Lien Representative, with full power of substitution, the
attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party for the limited
purpose of carrying out the express provisions of this
Section 4.03 and taking any action and executing any
instrument that the First Lien Representative reasonably deems
necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.03,
which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an
interest.
ARTICLE
V
BAILMENT FOR
PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS
(a)
The First Lien
Representative agrees that if it shall at any time hold a First
Priority Lien on any Pledged or Controlled Collateral and if such
Pledged or Controlled Collateral is in fact in the possession or
under the control of the First Lien Representative, or of agents or
bailees of the First Lien Representative, the First Lien
Representative shall, solely for the purpose of perfecting by
possession or control, as applicable, the Second Priority Liens
granted under the Second Lien Loan Documents and subject to the
terms and conditions of this Article V, also hold and control such
Pledged or Controlled Collateral as gratuitous bailee and
gratuitous agent for the Second Lien Representative and hereby
acknowledges that it has control of any Pledged or Controlled
Collateral in its control on behalf of and for the benefit of the
Second Lien Representative.
(b)
So long as the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has not occurred, the
First Lien Representative shall be entitled to deal with the
Pledged or Controlled Collateral in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement and the other First Lien Loan Documents and
applicable law as if the Second Priority Liens did not exist. The
obligations and responsibilities of the First Lien Representative
to the Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties under this Article V shall be limited solely to holding or
controlling the Pledged or Controlled Collateral as gratuitous
bailee or gratuitous agent for the Second Lien Representative, and
transferring the Pledged or Controlled Collateral, in each case,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Article V. Without
limiting the foregoing, the First Lien Representative shall have no
obligation or responsibility to ensure that any Pledged or
Controlled Collateral is genuine or owned by any of the Grantors or
to preserve the rights or benefits of any Person. The First Lien
Representative acting pursuant to this Article V shall not, by
reason of this Agreement, any other Security Document or any other
document, have a fiduciary relationship in respect of any other
First Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Representative or any
other Second Lien Secured Party. The parties recognize that the
interest of the First Lien Representative, on the one hand, and the
Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties, on the other hand, may differ, and the First Lien
Representative may act in its own interest without taking into
account the interest of the Second Lien Representative or any other
Second Lien Secured Party.
(c)
Upon the Discharge
of First Lien Secured Obligations, the First Lien Representative
shall transfer the possession and control of the Pledged or
Controlled Collateral (other than with respect to any deposit
account as to which control is maintained pursuant to Section
9-104(a)(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code), together with any
necessary endorsements but without recourse, representation or
warranty, (i) if the Second Lien Secured Obligations are
outstanding at such time, to the Second Lien Representative, and
(ii) if no Second Lien Secured Obligations are outstanding at
such time, to the applicable Grantor, in each case so as to allow
such Person to obtain possession and control of such Pledged or
Controlled Collateral. In connection with any transfer under
clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence, the First
Lien Representative agrees to take all commercially reasonable
actions as shall be reasonably requested by the Second Lien
Representative to permit the Second Lien Representative to obtain,
for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, a first
priority security interest in the Pledged or Controlled
Collateral.
(d)
The Second Lien
Representative agrees that if it shall at any time prior to the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations hold a Second Priority
Lien on any Pledged or Controlled Collateral and if,
notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement (and disregarding
any control the Second Lien Representative might have solely as a
result of the foregoing provisions of this Article V), such Pledged
or Controlled Collateral is in fact in the possession or under the
control of the Second Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees
of the Second Lien Representative, the Second Lien Representative
shall (i) solely for the purpose of perfecting by possession or
control, as applicable, the First Priority Liens granted under the
First Lien Loan Documents, also hold and control such Pledged or
Controlled Collateral as gratuitous bailee and gratuitous agent for
the First Lien Representative (and hereby acknowledges that it has
control of any Pledged or Controlled Collateral in its control on
behalf of and for the benefit of the First Lien Representative),
(ii) promptly inform the First Lien Representative thereof and
(iii) other than with respect to any deposit account as to
which control is maintained pursuant to Section 9-104(a)(1) of the
Uniform Commercial Code, transfer the possession and control of
such Pledged or Controlled Collateral, together with any necessary
endorsements but without recourse, representation or warranty, to
the First Lien Representative and, in connection therewith, take
all commercially reasonable actions as shall be reasonably
requested by the First Lien Representative to permit the First Lien
Representative to obtain, for the benefit of the First Lien Secured
Parties, a first priority security interest in such Pledged or
Controlled Collateral.
ARTICLE
VI
INSOLVENCY OR
LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS
SECTION
6.01.
Finance and Sale Matters
. (a) Until the
Discharge of First Lien Loan Document Obligations has occurred, the
Second Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
Second Lien Secured Parties, agrees that, in the event of any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the Second Lien Secured
Parties:
(i)
will be deemed to
have consented to, and will not oppose or object to (or support any
other Person in opposing or objecting to), the use of any
Collateral constituting cash collateral under Section 363 of
the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision of any other
Bankruptcy Law, that is consented to, or not opposed or objected
to, by the First Lien Representative or any other representative
authorized by the First Lien Secured Parties (and neither the
Second Lien Representative nor any Second Lien Secured Party shall
seek any relief in connection therewith that is in conflict with
the relief being sought by the First Lien Secured Parties (it being
understood that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of the
Second Lien Secured Parties to seek adequate protection as provided
in Section 6.01(b)));
(ii)
will
be deemed to have consented to, and will not oppose or object to
(or support any other Person in opposing or objecting to), any
post-petition financing provided by one or more of the First Lien
Secured Parties under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, or
any comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law (a
“
DIP
Financing
”), or the Liens securing any DIP Financing
(“
DIP Financing
Liens
”), that is consented to, or not opposed or
objected to, by the First Lien Representative or any other
representative authorized by the First Lien Secured Parties and, to
the extent that (A) such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank
pari passu with, the First Priority Liens securing the First Lien
Secured Obligations, (B) the economic terms of such DIP Financing
(i.e., the interest rate, fees, original issue discount and other
similar terms) and the scheduled amortization applicable to such
DIP Financing are on commercially reasonable terms, (C) such DIP
Financing does not compel the Borrower or any other Grantor to seek
confirmation of a specific plan of reorganization of which the
material terms are set forth in the DIP Financing documentation or
a related document (it being agreed that the inclusion of
termination events or milestones in the DIP Financing documentation
shall not be deemed to constitute such a condition), (D) the DIP
Financing documentation does not expressly require the sale,
disposition or liquidation of all or any material portion of the
Collateral prior to a default under the DIP Financing
documentation, (E) the Second Lien Secured Parties are not required
to release their Liens on the Collateral as a condition to such DIP
Financing and (F) the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of loans and letters of credit under, together
with the aggregate amount of undrawn commitments under, any DIP
Financing (after giving effect to any Refinancing or
“roll-up” of First Lien Loan Document Obligations) plus
(y) the aggregate outstanding amount of the Capped First Lien Loan
Document Obligations does not exceed the Maximum First Lien
Principal Amount, the Second Lien Representative will, for itself
and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate
(and will be deemed to have subordinated) the Second Priority Liens
to (1) the First Priority Liens and the DIP Financing Liens on the
terms of this Agreement and (2) any customary
“carve-out” for U.S. trustee fees specified in the
financing order relating to such DIP Financing;
(iii)
except
to the extent permitted by Section 6.01(b), in connection with
the use of cash collateral as described in clause (i) above or
a DIP Financing, will not request adequate protection or any other
relief in connection with such use of cash collateral, DIP
Financing or DIP Financing Liens; and
(iv)
will
be deemed to have consented to, and will not oppose or object to
(or support any other Person in opposing or objecting to) any
Disposition of any Collateral free and clear of the Second Priority
Liens or other claims under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code
(
provided
that the
Second Lien Representative may object to the Disposition on any
grounds that may be asserted by an unsecured creditor), or any
comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, if the First Lien
Secured Parties, or a representative authorized by the First Lien
Secured Parties, shall consent to, or not oppose or object to, such
Disposition;
provided
that, in the case of any such
Disposition, notwithstanding the release of the Second Priority
Liens thereon, the Second Priority Liens shall attach to the
Proceeds thereof subject to the relative priorities set forth in
Section 2.01 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the
foregoing shall be deemed to be a release of the Second Priority
Liens on any such Proceeds, it being the express intent of the
Second Lien Secured Parties that the Second Priority Liens attach
to such Proceeds).
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this
Section 6.01(a) shall prohibit any Second Lien Secured Party
from proposing a DIP Financing so long as (A) no First Lien Secured
Party has offered to provide a DIP Financing within three days of
commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (B) the
DIP Financing Liens with respect to such DIP Financing are junior
to the First Priority Liens securing the First Lien Secured
Obligations, (C) the economic terms of such DIP Financing (i.e.,
the interest rate, fees, original issue discount and other similar
terms) and the scheduled amortization applicable to such DIP
Financing are on commercially reasonable terms, (D) such DIP
Financing does not compel the Borrower or any other Grantor to seek
confirmation of a specific plan of reorganization of which the
material terms are set forth in the DIP Financing documentation or
a related document (it being agreed that the inclusion of
termination events or milestones in the DIP Financing documentation
shall not be deemed to constitute such a condition), (E) the DIP
Financing documentation does not expressly require the sale,
disposition or liquidation of all or any material portion of the
Collateral prior to a default under the DIP Financing
documentation, (F) the First Lien Secured Parties are not required
to release their Liens on the Collateral as a condition to such DIP
Financing and (G) the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of loans and letters of credit under, together
with the aggregate amount of undrawn commitments under, any such
DIP Financing (after giving effect to any Refinancing or
“roll-up” of Second Lien Secured Obligations) plus (y)
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Second Lien
Secured Obligations does not exceed the Maximum Second Lien
Principal Amount plus $30,000,000.
(b)
The Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, agrees that, until the Discharge of First Lien
Loan Document Obligations has occurred, no Second Lien Secured
Party shall contest, or join or otherwise support any other Person
in contesting, (i) any request by the First Lien
Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party for adequate
protection or (ii) any objection, based on a claim of a lack
of adequate protection, by the First Lien Representative or any
other First Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or
proceeding. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, (A)
if any First Lien Secured Party is granted adequate protection in
the form of a replacement Lien or a Lien on additional collateral,
the Second Lien Representative may, for itself and on behalf of the
other Second Lien Secured Parties, seek or request adequate
protection in the form of a replacement Lien or a Lien on such
additional collateral, which Liens will be subordinated to the
First Priority Liens and DIP Financing Liens on the same basis as
the other Second Priority Liens are subordinated to the First
Priority Liens under this Agreement, and (B) the Second Lien
Representative and other Second Lien Secured Parties may seek
adequate protection with respect to their rights in the Collateral
in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in the form of (x)
Liens on additional collateral or replacement Liens on the
Collateral,
provided
that, in either such
case, as adequate protection for the First Lien Secured
Obligations, the First Lien Representative, on behalf of the First
Lien Secured Parties, is also granted (or has previously been
granted) a senior Lien on such additional collateral or senior
replacement Liens on the Collateral, as applicable, (y) an
administrative expense claim (including a superpriority
administrative claim),
provided
that, as adequate
protection for the First Lien Secured Obligations, the First Lien
Representative, on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties, is
also granted (or has previously been granted) an administrative
expense claim that is senior and prior to the administrative
expense claim (including any superpriority administrative claim) of
the Second Lien Representative and the Second Lien Secured Parties,
or (z) the current payment of out-of-pocket fees and expenses of
counsel and advisors incurred by the Second Lien Representative;
provided
further
that, in
the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), (I) to the
extent the First Lien Secured Parties are not granted such adequate
protection in the applicable form, any amounts recovered by or
distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to or as a
result of any such Lien on additional collateral, any such
replacement Lien or any such administrative expense claim granted
to or for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties shall be
subject to Section 4.02 and (II) the Second Lien Secured
Parties shall have agreed (and by virtue of accepting any such
adequate protection shall be deemed to have agreed) pursuant to
Section 1129(a)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code that any Section
507(b) claims arising in respect of any adequate protection granted
to the Second Lien Secured Parties may be paid under a plan of
reorganization in any form having a value on the effective date of
such plan equal to the allowed amount of such claims (i.e., are not
required to be paid solely in cash). It is understood and agreed
that nothing in clause (B) above shall modify or otherwise affect
the other agreements by or on behalf of the Second Lien
Representative or the Second Lien Secured Parties set forth in this
Agreement (including the agreements to consent to or not to oppose
or object that are set forth in Section 6.01(a)). Until the
Discharge of First Lien Loan Document Obligations has occurred, the
Second Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
Second Lien Secured Parties, agrees that, in the event of any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, except to the extent
permitted by the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01(b),
the Second Lien Secured Parties will not assert any claim (or
support any other Person in asserting any claim) under
Section 507(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.
SECTION
6.02.
Relief from the Automatic Stay
. The
Second Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
Second Lien Secured Parties, agrees that, so long as the Discharge
of First Lien Loan Document Obligations has not occurred, no Second
Lien Secured Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
First Lien Representative, seek or request relief from or
modification of the automatic stay or any other stay in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of any part of the
Collateral, any Proceeds thereof or any Second Priority
Lien.
SECTION
6.03.
Reorganization Securities
. Nothing in
this Agreement prohibits or limits the right of the Second Lien
Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party to receive
and retain any debt or equity obligations or securities that are
issued by a reorganized debtor pursuant to a plan of reorganization
or similar dispositive restructuring plan in connection with any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (any such debt or equity
obligations or securities, “
Reorganization Securities
”). If,
in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, Reorganization
Securities are so permitted to be distributed on account of both
the First Lien Secured Obligations and the Second Lien Secured
Obligations, then, to the extent the Reorganization Securities
distributed on account of the First Lien Secured Obligations and on
account of the Second Lien Secured Obligations are secured by Liens
upon the same assets or property, the provisions of this Agreement
will survive the distribution of such Reorganization Securities
pursuant to such plan and will apply with like effect to the Liens
securing such Reorganization Securities.
SECTION
6.04.
Post-Petition Interest
. (a) The Second
Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second
Lien Secured Parties, agrees that no Second Lien Secured Party
shall oppose or seek to challenge (or support any other Person in
opposing or challenging) any claim by the First Lien Representative
or any other First Lien Secured Party for allowance in any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of First Lien Secured
Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees, expenses or
indemnities to the extent of the value of the First Priority Liens
(it being understood and agreed that such value shall be determined
without regard to the existence of the Second Priority Liens on the
Collateral).
(b)
The First Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other First Lien
Secured Parties, agrees that no First Lien Secured Party shall
oppose or seek to challenge (or support any other Person in
opposing or challenging) any claim by the Second Lien
Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance
in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Secured
Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees, expenses or
indemnities to the extent of the value of the Second Priority Liens
(it being understood and agreed that such value shall be determined
taking into account the First Priority Liens on the Collateral and
the amount of the First Lien Secured Obligations secured
thereby).
SECTION
6.05.
Certain Waivers by the Second Lien Secured
Parties
. The Second Lien Representative, for itself and on
behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim
any Second Lien Secured Party may hereafter have against any First
Lien Secured Party arising out of (a) the election by any
First Lien Secured Party of the application of
Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable
provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, or (b) any use of cash
collateral or financing arrangement, or any grant of a security
interest in the Collateral, in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding to the extent that the same is not in contravention of
this Agreement.
SECTION
6.06.
Certain Voting Matters.
Each of the
First Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
First Lien Secured Parties, and the Second Lien Representative, for
itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties,
agrees that, without the written consent of the other, it will not
seek to vote with the other as a single class in connection with
any plan of reorganization in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding.
SECTION
6.07.
Subordination Agreement
. The parties
hereto expressly acknowledge that this Agreement is intended to
constitute a “subordination agreement” within the scope
of Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, which will be effective
before, during and after the commencement of an Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding. All references in this Agreement to any
Grantor will include such Person as a debtor-in-possession and any
receiver or trustee for such Person in an Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding.
ARTICLE VII
OTHER AGREEMENTS
SECTION
7.01.
Matters Relating to Loan Documents
. (a)
The First Lien Loan Documents may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with their terms,
and the Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Agreement may be
Refinanced, in each case, without the consent of any Second Lien
Secured Party;
provided
,
however
,
that, without the consent of the Second Lien Required Lenders, no
such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or
Refinancing (or successive amendments, restatements, supplements,
modifications or Refinancings) shall (i) contravene the
provisions of this Agreement, (ii) directly increase the
interest rate margins accruing on the principal of loans and
letters of credit under the First Lien Credit Agreement or any
Refinancing thereof (determined on a weighted average basis) to an
amount greater than 3.00% per annum above the applicable interest
rate margins accruing on the principal of loans and letters of
credit under the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the
date hereof (excluding, without limitation, any underlying
benchmark rates or any fluctuations thereof, any benchmark rate
“floor” not exceeding 1.00% per annum in respect of any
eurodollar rate “floor” or 2.00% per annum in respect
of any alternate base rate “floor”, any default rate
not exceeding 2.00% per annum, any interest or fees that are
paid-in-kind (and not paid in cash until the final scheduled
maturity date of the First Lien Secured Obligations or any
Refinancing thereof, as applicable), any original issue discount,
upfront fees and prepayment premiums and any fees payable in
connection with any amendment, restatement, supplement,
modification, Refinancing, waiver, consent or similar agreement),
(iii)
add or modify in a
manner adverse to the interests of the Second Lien Secured Parties
any express prohibition or restriction on the payment of the Second
Lien Secured Obligations
except
as set forth in Section 7.01(b) or in the First Lien Credit
Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, (iv) modify (A) any
of the restrictions as set forth in the First Lien Credit Agreement
as in effect on the date hereof on assignment of, or participation
in, all or any portion of the First Lien Secured Obligations or
Excess First Lien Obligations to the Borrower or any Affiliate
(including any Subsidiary) thereof or (B) any of the requirements
as set forth in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the
date hereof that any First Lien Secured Obligations or Excess First
Lien Obligations acquired by the Borrower are deemed automatically
cancelled and no longer outstanding,
(v)
restrict the amendment or other modification of the Second Lien
Loan Documents or impose express restrictions or conditions on any
Refinancing thereof except as set forth in Section 7.01(b) or
in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof
or (vi) amend, modify, affect the rights, duties, privileges,
protections, indemnities or immunities of, or otherwise impose
duties that are adverse on, the Second Lien Representative without
its prior written consent
;
provided
further
that, in the event of a
Refinancing, the holders of the Indebtedness resulting from any
such Refinancing, or a duly authorized agent on their behalf (to
the extent such holders and the agent of such holders, in such
capacity, are not already bound by the terms of this Agreement),
agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
pursuant to an amendment effected in accordance with Section
10.05.
(b)
The Second Lien
Loan Documents may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified in accordance with their terms, in each case, without the
consent of any First Lien Secured Party;
provided
,
however
,
that, without the consent of the First Lien Required Lenders, no
such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or
Refinancing (or successive amendments, restatements, supplements,
modifications or Refinancings) shall (i)
contravene the
provisions of this Agreement, (ii)
directly increase the interest rate margins
accruing on the principal of loans under the Second Lien Credit
Agreement or any Refinancing thereof (determined on a weighted
average basis) to an amount greater than 3.00% per annum above the
applicable interest rate margins accruing on the principal of loans
under the Second Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the date
hereof (excluding, without limitation, any underlying benchmark
rates or any fluctuations thereof, any benchmark rate
“floor” not exceeding 1.00% per annum in respect of any
eurodollar rate “floor” or 2.00% per annum in respect
of any alternate base rate “floor”, any default rate
not exceeding 2.00% per annum, any interest or fees that are
paid-in-kind (and not paid in cash until the final scheduled
maturity date of the Second Lien Secured Obligations or any
Refinancing thereof, as applicable), any original issue discount,
upfront fees and prepayment premiums and any fees payable in
connection with any amendment, restatement, supplement,
modification, Refinancing, waiver, consent or similar agreement),
(iii) shorten the final scheduled maturity date or decrease
the weighted average life to maturity of any Indebtedness
constituting Second Lien Secured Obligations or any Refinancing
thereof, (iv) provide for new affirmative covenants, new negative
covenants, new financial maintenance covenants, new events of
default or modifications of existing exceptions, baskets, levels or
thresholds in negative covenants, financial maintenance covenants
or events of default that are more restrictive on the Grantors,
unless, in each case, the Borrower has provided written notice
thereof to the First Lien Representative and has offered to make
(and, at the request of the First Lien Representative, the Borrower
has made) a corresponding change to the First Lien Loan Documents
(with the same percentage “cushion” applicable to such
covenants or events of default as in effect on the date hereof),
(v) add any express prohibition or restriction on the payment of
the First Lien Secured Obligations, (vi) restrict the
amendment or other modification of the First Lien Loan Documents or
impose express restrictions or conditions on any Refinancing
thereof except as set forth in Section 7.01(a) or in the Second
Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof or (vii)
amend, modify, affect the rights, duties, privileges, protections,
indemnities or immunities of, or otherwise impose duties that are
adverse on, the First Lien Representative without its prior written
consent
;
provided
further
that, in the event of a
Refinancing, the holders of the Indebtedness resulting from any
such Refinancing, or a duly authorized agent on their behalf (to
the extent such holders and the agent of such holders, in such
capacity, are not already bound by the terms of this Agreement),
agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
pursuant to an amendment effected in accordance with Section
10.05.
(c)
The Second Lien
Representative agrees that the Second Lien Credit Agreement shall
contain provisions substantially similar to those set forth in
Section 10.24 of the Second Lien Credit Agreement as in effect
on the date hereof, or similar provisions approved by the First
Lien Representative, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed, and each Second Lien Security Document shall
contain the provisions set forth on Annex I hereto, or similar
provisions approved by the First Lien Representative, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Second
Lien Representative further agrees that each Second Lien Mortgage
covering any Collateral shall contain such other language as the
First Lien Representative may reasonably request to reflect the
subordination of such Second Lien Mortgage to the First Lien
Security Document covering such Collateral pursuant to this
Agreement.
(d)
[Reserved].
(e)
The
Second Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
Second Lien Secured Parties, and the First Lien Representative, for
itself and on behalf of the other First Lien Secured Parties,
acknowledge and agree that (i) the grants of Liens pursuant to the
First Lien Security Documents and the Second Lien Security
Documents constitute two separate and distinct grants of Liens, and
(ii) because of, among other things, their differing rights in
the Collateral, the Second Lien Secured Obligations are
fundamentally different from the First Lien Secured Obligations (as
defined without reference to the final sentence of the definition
of such term) and must be separately classified in any plan of
reorganization proposed or adopted in an Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as
provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that
the claims of the First Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien
Secured Parties in respect of the Collateral constitute only one
secured claim (rather than separate classes of senior and junior
secured claims), then each of the parties hereto hereby
acknowledges and agrees that, subject to the provisions hereof
(including Sections 2.01 and 4.01), all distributions shall be made
as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured
claims against the Grantors in respect of the Collateral (with the
effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the
Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all Second Lien
Secured Obligations held by the Second Lien Secured Parties) to
satisfy the First Lien Secured Obligations, the First Lien Secured
Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts
otherwise distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition
interest and other claims constituting First Lien Secured
Obligations, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition
interest, including any additional interest payable pursuant to the
First Lien Credit Agreement, arising from or related to a default,
which is included in the First Lien Secured Obligations but which
is disallowed as a claim in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding) before any distribution is made in respect of the
claims held by the Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the
Collateral, and the Second Lien Representative, for itself and on
behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, hereby
acknowledges and agrees to turn over to the First Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other First Lien
Secured Parties, amounts otherwise received or receivable by the
Second Lien Secured Parties to the extent necessary to effectuate
the intent of this sentence (with respect to the payment of
post-petition interest), even if such turnover has the effect of
reducing the claim or recovery of the Second Lien Secured
Parties.
SECTION
7.02.
Effect of Refinancing of Indebtedness under
Loan Documents
. (a) If, substantially contemporaneously with
the Discharge of First Lien Loan Document Obligations, the Borrower
Refinances the Indebtedness outstanding under the First Lien Loan
Documents and
provided
that (i) such
Refinancing is permitted hereby, (ii) the Borrower gives to
the Second Lien Representative advance written notice (the
“
First Lien Refinancing
Notice
”) electing the application of the provisions of
this Section 7.02(a) to such Refinancing Indebtedness,
provided
that no
First Lien Refinancing Notice shall be required to be given in
respect of, and the provisions of this Section 7.02(a) shall
apply automatically to, any Refinancing Indebtedness incurred under
the First Lien Credit Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 2.25 thereof), and (iii) the holders of such
Refinancing Indebtedness, and the trustee, collateral agent or
similar representative of such holders (to the extent such holders
and the trustee, collateral agent or similar representative of such
holders, in such capacity, are not already bound by the terms of
this Agreement), agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement pursuant to an amendment effected in accordance with
Section 10.05, then (A) such Discharge of First Lien Loan
Document Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have
occurred for all purposes of this Agreement, (B) such
Refinancing Indebtedness and all other obligations under the
indenture, credit agreement or other definitive agreement
evidencing such Refinancing Indebtedness (the “
New First Lien Obligations
”) shall
automatically be treated as First Lien Secured Obligations for all
purposes of this Agreement (but, for the avoidance of doubt, shall
be subject to the cap limitations in the definitions of the terms
“First Lien Loan Document Obligations” and “First
Lien Secured Obligations”), including for purposes of the
Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth
herein, (C) the indenture, credit agreement or other
definitive agreement evidencing such Refinancing Indebtedness and
the security and other documents relating thereto (the
“
New First Lien Loan
Documents
”) shall automatically be treated as the
First Lien Credit Agreement and the First Lien Loan Documents and,
in the case of New First Lien Loan Documents that are security
documents, as the First Lien Security Documents for all purposes of
this Agreement, (D) the trustee, collateral agent or similar
representative for the holders of the New First Lien Obligations
under the New First Lien Loan Documents (the “
New First Lien Representative
”)
shall be deemed to be the First Lien Representative for all
purposes of this Agreement and (E) the holders of the Indebtedness
under the New First Lien Loan Documents shall be deemed to be the
First Lien Lenders for all purposes of this Agreement.
(b)
If, substantially
contemporaneously with the Discharge of Second Lien Secured
Obligations, the Borrower Refinances the Indebtedness outstanding
under the Second Lien Loan Documents and
provided
that (i) such
Refinancing is permitted hereby, (ii) the Borrower gives to the
First Lien Representative advance written notice (the
“
Second Lien Refinancing
Notice
”) electing the application of the provisions of
this Section 7.02(b) to such Refinancing Indebtedness,
provided
that no Second Lien
Refinancing Notice shall be required to be given in respect of, and
the provisions of this Section 7.02(b) shall apply automatically
to, any Refinancing Indebtedness incurred under the Second Lien
Credit Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.25 thereof), and
(iii) the holders of such Refinancing Indebtedness, and the
trustee, collateral agent or similar representative of such holders
(to the extent such holders and the trustee, collateral agent or
similar representative of such holders, in such capacity, are not
already bound by the terms of this Agreement), agree in writing to
be bound by the terms of this Agreement pursuant to an amendment
effected in accordance with Section 10.05, then (A) such Discharge
of Second Lien Secured Obligations shall automatically be deemed
not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement, (B) such
Refinancing Indebtedness and all other obligations under the
indenture, credit agreement or other definitive agreement
evidencing such Refinancing Indebtedness (the “
New Second Lien Obligations
”)
shall automatically be treated as Second Lien Secured Obligations
for all purposes of this Agreement (but, for the avoidance of
doubt, shall be subject to the cap limitation in the definition of
the term “Maximum Second Lien Principal Amount”),
including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect
of Collateral set forth herein, (C) the indenture, credit agreement
or other definitive agreement evidencing such Refinancing
Indebtedness and the security and other documents relating thereto
(the “
New Second Lien Loan
Documents
”) shall automatically be treated as the
Second Lien Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Loan Documents
and, in the case of New Second Lien Loan Documents that are
security documents, as the Second Lien Security Documents for all
purposes of this Agreement, (D) the trustee, collateral agent or
similar representative for the holders of the New Second Lien
Obligations under the New Second Lien Loan Documents (the
“
New Second Lien
Representative
”) shall be deemed to be the Second Lien
Representative for all purposes of this Agreement and (E) the
holders of the Indebtedness under the New Second Lien Loan
Documents shall be deemed to be the Second Lien Lenders for all
purposes of this Agreement.
SECTION
7.03.
No Waiver by First Lien Secured Parties
.
Other than with respect to the Second Lien Permitted Actions,
nothing contained herein shall prohibit or in any way limit the
First Lien Representative or any other First Lien Secured Party
from opposing, challenging or objecting to, in any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, any action taken, or any claim
made, by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien
Secured Party, including any request by the Second Lien
Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party for adequate
protection or any exercise by the Second Lien Representative or any
other Second Lien Secured Party of any of its rights and remedies
under the Second Lien Loan Documents or otherwise, or any proposal
by the Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured
Party to provide any DIP Financing.
SECTION
7.04.
Reinstatement
. If, in any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, all or part of any payment
with respect to the First Lien Secured Obligations previously made
shall be rescinded, invalidated, avoided, declared to be fraudulent
or preferential, set aside, or otherwise required to be transferred
to a debtor-in-possession, trustee, receiver or similar Person or
the estate of any Grantor (a “
Recovery
”) for any reason
whatsoever, then the First Lien Secured Obligations shall be
reinstated to the extent of the amount so subject to Recovery as if
such payment had not occurred (and the Discharge of First Lien
Secured Obligations shall be deemed not to have occurred) and, if
theretofore terminated, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full
force and effect and such prior termination shall not diminish,
release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the Lien priorities
and the relative rights and obligations of the First Lien Secured
Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties provided for herein.
Upon any such reinstatement of First Lien Secured Obligations, each
Second Lien Secured Party will deliver to the First Lien
Representative, in accordance with Section 4.02, any Collateral or
Proceeds thereof received between the Discharge of First Lien
Secured Obligations and such reinstatement.
SECTION
7.05.
Further Assurances
. Each of the First
Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other First
Lien Secured Parties, and the Second Lien Representative, for
itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties,
agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and
all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all
such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law,
or which the First Lien Representative or the Second Lien
Representative may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of
this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for
herein.
ARTICLE
VIII
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
Each
Representative party hereto represents and warrants to the other
Representative as follows:
(a)
Such Representative
is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
perform its obligations hereunder.
(b)
This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by such Representative and
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such
Representative, enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
(c)
Such Representative
has been authorized by the First Lien Lenders (in the case of First
Lien Representative) and the Second Lien Lenders (in the case of
the Second Lien Representative) to enter into this
Agreement.
ARTIVLE
IX
NO RELIANCE; NO
LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE
SECTION
9.01.
No Reliance; Information
. Each
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the applicable other
Secured Parties, acknowledges that (a) it and such Secured
Parties have, independently and without reliance upon, in the case
of the First Lien Secured Parties, any Second Lien Secured Party
and, in the case of the Second Lien Secured Parties, any First Lien
Secured Party, and based on such documents and information as they
have deemed appropriate, made their own credit analysis and
decision to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are party
and (b) it and such Secured Parties will, independently and
without reliance upon, in the case of the First Lien Secured
Parties, any Second Lien Secured Party and, in the case of the
Second Lien Secured Parties, any First Lien Secured Party, and
based on such documents and information as they shall from time to
time deem appropriate, continue to make their own credit decision
in taking or not taking any action under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document to which they are party. The First Lien Secured
Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to
disclose to any Second Lien Secured Party or to any First Lien
Secured Party, respectively, any information relating to the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or any other circumstance
bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of any of the First Lien
Secured Obligations or the Second Lien Secured Obligations, as the
case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any
of their Affiliates. In the event any First Lien Secured Party or
any Second Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes
at any time or from time to time to provide any such information
to, respectively, any Second Lien Secured Party or any First Lien
Secured Party, it shall be under no obligation (i) to make,
and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or
implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the
accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information
so provided, (ii) to provide any additional information or to
provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or
(iii) to undertake any investigation.
SECTION
9.02.
No Warranties or Liability
. (a) The
First Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other
First Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except
for the representations and warranties set forth in
Article VIII, neither the Second Lien Representative nor any
other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied
representation or warranty, including with respect to the
execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or
enforceability of any of the Second Lien Loan Documents, the
ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any
Liens thereon. The Second Lien Representative, for itself and on
behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and
agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set
forth in Article VIII, neither the First Lien Representative
nor any other First Lien Secured Party has made any express or
implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the
execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or
enforceability of any of the First Lien Loan Documents, the
ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any
Liens thereon.
(b)
The Second Lien
Representative and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have
no express or implied duty to the First Lien Representative or any
other First Lien Secured Party, and the First Lien Representative
and the other First Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or
implied duty to the Second Lien Representative or any other Second
Lien Secured Party, to act or refrain from acting in a manner which
allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default
or an event of default under any First Lien Loan Document and any
Second Lien Loan Document (other than, in each case, this
Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have
or be charged with.
(c)
The Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, agrees no First Lien Secured Party shall have any
liability to the Second Lien Representative or any other Second
Lien Secured Party, and hereby waives any claim against any First
Lien Secured Party, arising out of any and all actions which the
First Lien Representative or the other First Lien Secured Parties
may take or permit or omit to take with respect to (i) the
First Lien Loan Documents (other than this Agreement),
(ii) the collection of the First Lien Secured Obligations or
(iii) the maintenance of, the preservation of, the foreclosure
upon or the Disposition of any Collateral.
SECTION
9.03.
Obligations Absolute
. The Lien
priorities provided for herein and the respective rights,
interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the First Lien
Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties and the
Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective
of:
(a)
any lack of
validity or enforceability of any Loan Document;
(b)
any change in the
time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of
(including, subject to the limitations set forth in Section
7.01(a), the Refinancing of), all or any portion of the First Lien
Secured Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a
portion of the First Lien Secured Obligations consists or may
consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount
thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time
may be increased or reduced and subsequently
reborrowed;
(c)
any amendment,
waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or
otherwise, of any Loan Document;
(d)
the securing of any
First Lien Secured Obligations or Second Lien Secured Obligations
with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange,
release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security
interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release
of any guarantee securing any First Lien Secured Obligations or
Second Lien Secured Obligations; or
(e)
the commencement of
an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or any other circumstances
that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a
discharge of, the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other Person
in respect of the First Lien Secured Obligations or this Agreement,
or any of the Second Lien Secured Parties in respect of this
Agreement.
ARTIVLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
10.01.
Notices
. 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 or email, as
follows:
(a)
if to the First
Lien Representative, to Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
Collateral Agent, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis,
MN 55402, Attention: Fusion First Lien Loan Administrator, Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com, and
(b)
if to the Second
Lien Representative, to Wilmington Trust, National Association, as
Collateral Agent, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis,
MN 55402, Attention: Fusion Second Lien Loan Administrator, Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com.
All
notices and other communications given to any party hereto in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement 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; and notices and other communications sent to an email
address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of
an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the
“return receipt requested” function, as available,
return email or other written acknowledgement), 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.
SECTION
10.02.
Conflicts
. In the event of any conflict
or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the
provisions of the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this
Agreement shall control.
SECTION
10.03.
Effectiveness; Survival
. This Agreement
shall become effective when executed and delivered by the parties
hereto. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties
made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have
been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement. The terms of this
Agreement shall survive, and shall continue in full force and
effect, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. The Second
Lien Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second
Lien Secured Parties, hereby waives any and all rights the Second
Lien Secured Parties may now or hereafter have under applicable law
to revoke this Agreement or any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
SECTION
10.04.
Severability
. In the event any one or
more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it
being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a
particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the
validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties
shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the
economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION
10.05.
Amendments; Waivers
. (a) No failure or
delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any power or
right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of
the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any
rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same
shall be permitted by Section 10.05(b), and then such waiver
or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the purpose for which given.
(b)
Neither this
Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the First Lien Representative and the Second Lien
Representative;
provided
that:
(i)
no such
agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or
obligations of any Grantor without the Borrower’s prior
written consent;
(ii)
in
connection with any Refinancing contemplated by
Section 7.01(a) or 7.01(b), the First Lien Representative and
the Second Lien Representative shall enter (and are hereby
authorized to enter without the consent of any other Secured
Party), at the written request and expense of the Borrower, into
such amendments or other modifications or supplements of this
Agreement as are reasonably necessary or appropriate to add the new
trustee, collateral agent or similar representative in respect of
such Refinancing Indebtedness as a party hereto and to provide such
new trustee, collateral agent or similar representative, and the
other holders of such Refinancing Indebtedness, the rights and
obligations hereunder of the Representative in respect of, or the
holders of, the Indebtedness or other First Lien Secured
Obligations or Second Lien Secured Obligations being Refinanced and
to otherwise reflect such Refinancing (and in connection therewith
to provide for technical modifications to this Agreement to
facilitate the foregoing), it being the intent that such amendments
or other modifications (A) establish that the Liens on any
Collateral securing any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of
First Lien Secured Obligations will have the same priorities
relative to the Liens on such Collateral securing Second Lien
Secured Obligations as the Liens that secured the Indebtedness
being Refinanced had immediately prior to such Refinancing,
(B) establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Second Lien Secured
Obligations will have the same priorities relative to the Liens on
such Collateral securing First Lien Secured Obligations as the
Liens that secured the Indebtedness being Refinanced had
immediately prior to such Refinancing, (C) provide to the
parties benefited by the Liens on any Collateral securing such
Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of First Lien Secured
Obligations the same rights and obligations relative to the parties
holding Liens on such Collateral securing Second Lien Secured
Obligations as the parties that were benefited by the Liens that
secured such Indebtedness or other First Lien Secured Obligations
being Refinanced had immediately prior to such Refinancing and
(D) provide to the parties benefited by the Liens on any
Collateral securing such Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of
Second Lien Secured Obligations the same rights and obligations
relative to the parties holding Liens on such Collateral securing
First Lien Secured Obligations as the parties that were benefited
by the Liens that secured such Indebtedness or other Second Lien
Secured Obligations being Refinanced had immediately prior to such
Refinancing;
(iii)
in
connection with the incurrence of any Additional First Lien
Obligations, the First Lien Representative and the Second Lien
Representative shall enter (and are hereby authorized to enter
without the consent of any other Secured Party), at the written
request and expense of the Borrower, into such amendments or other
modifications or supplements of this Agreement as are reasonably
necessary or appropriate to add an Additional First Lien
Obligations Representative as a party hereto, to provide such
Additional First Lien Obligations Representative and the other
holders of such Additional First Lien Obligations rights and
obligations hereunder substantially identical to those of the First
Lien Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties
(subject, with respect to the exercise of remedies and certain
other rights set forth herein, to the allocation of control between
the First Lien Secured Parties and the holders of such Additional
First Lien Obligations in the manner agreed by them) and otherwise
to treat such Additional First Lien Obligations and any Liens on
any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary securing such
Additional First Lien Obligations in a manner that is substantially
identical to the treatment hereunder of the First Lien Secured
Obligations and the First Priority Liens (and in connection
therewith to provide for technical modifications to this Agreement
to facilitate the foregoing, including, for the avoidance of doubt,
modifications to the cap limitations (but not any increase in the
aggregate amount of such cap limitations, except to the extent
otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Loan Documents then extant)
in the definition of the term “Maximum First Lien Principal
Amount” and in Section 6.01(a)(ii) (and modifications to
related definitions) to include such Additional First Lien
Obligations in such cap limitations in a manner that is
substantially identical to the treatment hereunder of the First
Lien Loan Document Obligations and the First Lien Secured
Obligations); and
(iv)
in
connection with the incurrence of any Additional Second Lien
Obligations, the First Lien Representative and the Second Lien
Representative shall enter (and are hereby authorized to enter
without the consent of any other Secured Party), at the written
request and expense of the Borrower, into such amendments or other
modifications or supplements of this Agreement as are reasonably
necessary or appropriate to add an Additional Second Lien
Obligations Representative as a party hereto, to provide such
Additional Second Lien Obligations Representative and the other
holders of such Additional Second Lien Obligations rights and
obligations substantially similar to those of the Second Lien
Representative and the other Second Lien Secured Parties (subject,
with respect to the exercise of remedies and certain other rights
set forth herein, to the allocation of control between the Second
Lien Secured Parties and the holders of such Additional Second Lien
Obligations in the manner agreed by them) and otherwise to treat
such Additional Second Lien Obligations and any Liens on any assets
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary securing such Additional Second
Lien Obligations in a manner that reflects the status thereof as
Additional Second Lien Obligations secured on a basis, and Liens
that are, junior to the First Priority Liens and the Liens securing
any Additional First Lien Obligations (and in connection therewith
to provide for technical modifications to this Agreement to
facilitate the foregoing).
(c)
Notwithstanding the
terms of Section 10.05(b), in the event that the Second Lien
Representative has not commenced the actions contemplated by
Section 10.05(b)(ii) or 10.05(b)(iii) in connection with any
permitted Refinancing of the First Lien Secured Obligations or the
incurrence of any Additional First Lien Obligations, as applicable,
within 10 Business Days after the delivery by the Borrower to the
Second Lien Representative of a written request to do so, then,
unless the Second Lien Representative has provided written notice
to the Borrower and the First Lien Representative within such 10
Business Day period setting forth in reasonable detail the basis
for its determination that it is not required to take such action
in accordance with Section 10.05(b)(ii) or 10.05(b)(iii), as
applicable, the First Lien Representative, without the consent of
the Second Lien Representative, is authorized to amend or otherwise
modify this Agreement in the manner set forth in Section
10.05(b)(ii) or 10.05(b)(iii), as applicable;
provided
that such Refinancing
or Additional First Lien Obligations, as applicable (and any Liens
relating thereto), are permitted under the Second Lien Loan
Documents then extant.
(d)
Notwithstanding the
terms of Section 10.05(b), in the event that the First Lien
Representative does not take the actions contemplated by Section
10.05(b)(ii) or 10.05(b)(iv) in connection with any permitted
Refinancing of the Second Lien Secured Obligations or the
incurrence of any Additional Second Lien Obligations, as
applicable, within 10 Business Days after the delivery by the
Borrower to the First Lien Representative of a written request to
do so, then, unless the First Lien Representative has provided
written notice to the Borrower and the Second Lien Representative
within such 10 Business Day period setting forth in reasonable
detail the basis for its determination that it is not required to
take such action in accordance with Section 10.05(b)(ii) or
10.05(b)(iv), as applicable, the Second Lien Representative,
without the consent of the First Lien Representative, is authorized
to amend or otherwise modify this Agreement in the manner set forth
in Section 10.05(b)(ii) or 10.05(b)(iv), as applicable;
provided
that such
Refinancing or Additional Second Lien Obligations, as applicable
(and any Liens relating thereto), are permitted under the First
Lien Loan Documents then extant.
SECTION
10.06.
Subrogation
. The Second Lien
Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien
Secured Parties, hereby waives any rights of subrogation it or they
may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the
Discharge of First Lien Secured Obligations has occurred;
provided
,
however
, that, as between the
Borrower and the other Grantors, on the one hand, and the Second
Lien Secured Parties, on the other hand, any such payment that is
paid over to the First Lien Representative pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed not to reduce any of the Second Lien
Secured Obligations unless and until the Discharge of First Lien
Secured Obligations shall have occurred and the First Lien
Representative delivers any such payment to the Second Lien
Representative.
SECTION
10.07.
APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO
SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVERS
.
(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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b)
ALL JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO OR ANY OTHER SECURED
PARTY OR GRANTOR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL
BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES
NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN
THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS
AGREEMENT, EACH REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ITSELF AND ITS RELATED SECURED
PARTIES AND ITS AND THEIR PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (I) ACCEPTS
GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE
OF SUCH COURTS, (II) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS,
(III) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.01, (IV) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS
PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER
PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER IT AND ITS PROPERTY IN ANY SUCH
PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE
AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT AND (V) AGREES THAT A
FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PROVIDED BY LAW.
(c)
BY EXECUTING AND
DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ITSELF AND ITS
RELATED SECURED PARTIES AND ITS AND THEIR PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY
AGREES THAT THE ONLY NECESSARY PARTIES TO ANY AND ALL JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
THE PARTIES HERETO, EXCEPT WHERE IN ANY SUCH JUDICIAL PROCEEDING
RELIEF (INCLUDING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF OR THE RECOVERY OF MONEY) IS
BEING SOUGHT DIRECTLY AGAINST OR FROM A PERSON THAT IS NOT A PARTY.
WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, AND CONSISTENT
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 10.13, NONE OF THE FIRST LIEN
SECURED PARTIES (OTHER THAN THE FIRST LIEN REPRESENTATIVE) OR THE
SECOND LIEN SECURED PARTIES (OTHER THAN THE SECOND LIEN
REPRESENTATIVE) SHALL BE NECESSARY OR OTHERWISE APPROPRIATE PARTIES
TO ANY SUCH JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, UNLESS IN SUCH JUDICIAL
PROCEEDING SUMS ARE BEING SOUGHT TO BE RECOVERED DIRECTLY FROM SUCH
PERSONS, INCLUDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.02, OR THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS AGREEMENT ARE SOUGHT TO BE ENFORCED DIRECTLY AGAINST SUCH
PERSONS.
SECTION
10.08.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH
REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF ITS RELATED SECURED
PARTIES, HEREBY WAIVES ITS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY
TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT. 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 HEREOF, INCLUDING
CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER
COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ITSELF
AND ON BEHALF OF ITS RELATED SECURED PARTIES, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT
AND 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 REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ITSELF AND
ON BEHALF OF ITS RELATED SECURED PARTIES, 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 10.08 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A
TRIAL BY THE COURT.
SECTION
10.09.
Parties in Interest
. (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, as
well as the other First Lien Secured Parties and Second Lien
Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be
third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement. Other than with
respect to Sections 7.02, 10.05(b), 10.05(c), and 10.05(d), which
shall also inure to the benefit of the Borrower, no other Person,
including any trustee, debtor-in-possession, creditor trust or
other representative of an estate or creditor of any Grantor
(including where such estate or creditor representative is the
beneficiary of a Lien securing Collateral by virtue of the
avoidance of such Lien in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding),
shall have or be entitled to assert rights or benefits
hereunder.
(b)
If either the First
Lien Representative or the Second Lien Representative resigns or is
replaced pursuant to the First Lien Loan Documents or the Second
Lien Loan Documents, as applicable, its successor will be party to
this Agreement with all the rights, and subject to all the
obligations of the predecessor First Lien Representative or the
Second Lien Representative, as applicable, of this
Agreement.
SECTION
10.10.
Specific Performance
. Each
Representative may demand specific performance of this Agreement
and, on behalf of itself and the respective other Secured Parties,
hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a
remedy at law and any other defense that might be asserted to bar
the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be
brought by the respective Secured Parties. No bond shall be
required as a condition to the specific performance by any Secured
Parties.
SECTION
10.11.
Headings
. Article and Section headings
used herein and the Table of Contents hereto are for convenience of
reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to
affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in
interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION
10.12.
Counterparts
. This Agreement may be
executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original
but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single
contract, and shall become effective as provided in
Section 10.03. Delivery of an executed signature page to this
Agreement by facsimile or in electronic format (i.e.,
“pdf” or “tif”) shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this
Agreement.
SECTION
10.13.
Provisions Solely to Define Relative
Rights
. The provisions of this Agreement are and are
intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of
the First Lien Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Second
Lien Secured Parties, on the other hand. Except as expressly
provided in Section 10.09(a), none of the Borrower or any other
Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or
obligations, and none of the Borrower, any other Grantor or any
Guarantor may rely on the terms hereof. Nothing in this Agreement
is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Borrower or
any other Grantor or any Guarantor, which are absolute and
unconditional, to pay the First Lien Secured Obligations and the
Second Lien Secured Obligations as and when the same shall become
due and payable in accordance with their terms.
SECTION
10.14.
Intercreditor Agreement
Acknowledgement
.
Reference is made to the
Intercreditor Agreement Acknowledgement, substantially in the form
of Annex II hereto, executed and delivered in respect of this
Agreement (a) on the date hereof by the Borrower and each other
Grantor that is a Grantor on the date hereof and (b) after the date
hereof, pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreements, by each
Subsidiary that becomes a Grantor after the date
hereof.
SECTION
10.15.
Dealings with Borrower, Grantors and
Guarantors
. Upon any application, demand or request by the
Borrower or any other Grantors or Guarantors to any Representative
to take or permit any action under any of the provisions of this
Agreement or under any Security Document (if such action is subject
to the provisions hereof), the Borrower or such other Grantor or
Guarantor, as appropriate, shall furnish to such Representative a
certificate of an authorized officer (an “
Officer’s Certificate
”)
stating that all conditions precedent, if any provided for in this
Agreement or such Security Document, as the case may be, relating
to the proposed action have been complied with, except that in the
case of any such application, demand or request as to which the
furnishing of such document is specifically required by any
provisions of this Agreement or any Security Document relating to
such particular application, demand or request, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.
SECTION
10.16.
Agents and Representatives
. It is
understood and agree that (a) the First Lien Representative is
entering into this Agreement in its capacity as administrative
agent and collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement
and the provisions of Section 9 of the First Lien Credit Agreement
applicable to the Agents (as defined therein) thereunder shall also
apply to the First Lien Representative hereunder and (b) the Second
Lien Representative is entering into this Agreement in its capacity
as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Second Lien
Credit Agreement and the provisions of Section 9 of the Second Lien
Credit Agreement applicable to the Agents (as defined therein)
thereunder shall also apply to the Second Lien Representative
hereunder.
[Signature
pages follow.]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as First Lien
Representative,
|
By
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
|
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Second Lien
Representative,
|
By
|
/s/
Jamie Roseberg
|
|
Name:
Jamie Roseberg
Title:
Banking Officer
|
|
|
[Signature
Page to Fusion Intercreditor Agreement]
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Reference is made
to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“
Intercreditor
Agreement
”), among Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as First Lien Representative, Wilmington Trust,
National Association, as Second Lien Representative, each
Additional First Lien Obligations Representative that may become a
party thereto and each Additional Second Lien Obligations
Representative that may become a party thereto. Capitalized terms
used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned thereto in
the Intercreditor Agreement.
1.
Acknowledgements
and Agreements
. Each of Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “
Borrower
”), and each of the
undersigned Subsidiaries of the Borrower (together with the
Borrower, collectively, the “
Grantors
”) acknowledges that it
has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement and consents
thereto, agrees to recognize all rights granted thereby to the
First Lien Representative, the other First Lien Secured Parties,
the Second Lien Representative and the other Second Lien Secured
Parties, and agrees that it will not do any act or perform any
obligation that is not in accordance with the agreements set forth
in the Intercreditor Agreement. Each Grantor further acknowledges
and agrees that (i) as between the Grantors and the First Lien
Representative and the other First Lien Secured Parties, the First
Lien Loan Documents remain in full force and effect as written and
are in no way modified by the Intercreditor Agreement and nothing
in the Intercreditor Agreement shall impair the obligations of the
Grantors to pay principal, interest, fees and other amounts as
provided in the First Lien Loan Documents, (ii) as between the
Grantors and the Second Lien Representative and the other Second
Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Loan Documents remain in full
force and effect as written and are in no way modified by the
Intercreditor Agreement and nothing in the Intercreditor Agreement
shall impair the obligations of the Grantors to pay principal,
interest, fees and other amounts as provided in the Second Lien
Loan Documents, (iii) except as expressly provided in Section
10.09(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement, no Grantor is a
beneficiary or third party beneficiary of the Intercreditor
Agreement and (iv) except as expressly provided in Section
10.09(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement, no Grantor has any rights
under the Intercreditor Agreement, no Grantor may assert or enforce
any rights or benefits under the Intercreditor Agreement, and no
Grantor may rely on the terms of the Intercreditor
Agreement.
2.
Notices
.
Notices and other communications to the Borrower or any other
Grantor hereunder and under the Intercreditor Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier
service, or mailed by certified or registered mail to it at (or to
it in c/o) Fusion Connect, Inc., 420 Lexington Avenue,
Suite 1718, New York, New York 10170, Attention: James P.
Prenetta, Jr., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel.
All
notices and other communications given to the Borrower or any other
Grantor in accordance with the provisions hereof sent by hand or
overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered
mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; 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.
3.
Counterparts
.
This Acknowledgement may be executed in counterparts (and by
different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which
shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed
signature page to this Acknowledgement by facsimile transmission or
in electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”)
shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Acknowledgement.
4.
Additional
Subsidiaries
. Pursuant to the Credit Agreements, certain
Subsidiaries not party hereto on the date hereof may be required to
enter into this Acknowledgement. Upon execution and delivery to the
Representatives after the date hereof by any Subsidiary of a
counterpart signature page hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a
party hereto with the same force and effect as if originally named
as such herein. The execution and delivery of such a counterpart
signature page shall not require the consent of any party hereto.
The rights and obligations under this Acknowledgement of each other
party hereto shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding
the addition of any new Subsidiary as a party to this
Acknowledgement.
5.
APPLICABLE
LAW
.
THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF
THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
6.
Credit
Document
. This Acknowledgement shall constitute a First Lien
Loan Document and a Second Lien Loan Document.
7.
Miscellaneous
.
The provisions of Sections 10.07(b), 10.07(c) and 10.08 of the
Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this
Acknowledgement,
mutatis
mutandis
, as though the
references therein to each party thereto or each Representative
refer instead to each Grantor. The First Lien Representative, the
other First Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Representative
and the other Second Lien Secured Parties are the intended
beneficiaries of this Acknowledgement.
[Signature
pages follow.]
ACKNOWLEDGED AS OF THE DATE FIRST WRITTEN ABOVE:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.,
FUSION
NBS ACQUISITION CORP.,
FUSION
LLC,FUSION BCHI ACQUISITION LLC,
BIRCH
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
CBEYOND,
INC.,
CBEYOND
COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
BIRCH
MANAGEMENT LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM, LLC,
BIRCH
TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF KANSAS, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF OKLAHOMA, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF MISSOURI, LLC,
BIRCH
TELECOM OF TEXAS LTD., L.L.P.,
BIRCAN
HOLDINGS, LLC,
PRIMUS
HOLDINGS, INC.,
FUSION
MPHC ACQUISITION CORP.,
|
|
by
|
|
/s/
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
|
|
|
Name: James
P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title: Executive
Vice President and General Counsel
|
|
|
|
|
[Signature
Page to Acknowledgment to Fusion Intercreditor
Agreement]
Provision for the Second Lien Security Documents
“Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of
May 4, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “
Intercreditor
Agreement
”), among Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as First Lien Representative (as defined therein),
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Second Lien
Representative (as defined therein), each Additional First Lien
Obligations Representative (as defined therein) that may become a
party thereto and each Additional Second Lien Obligations
Representative (as defined therein) that may become a party
thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien
and security interest granted to the [Collateral Agent], for the
benefit of the [Secured Parties], pursuant to this Agreement and
the exercise of any right or remedy by the [Collateral Agent] and
the other [Secured Parties] hereunder are subject to the provisions
of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or
inconsistency between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement
and this Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement
shall control.”
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT
(Blocked Account)
This
Deposit Account Control Agreement (Blocked Account) (this
“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 4, 2018, by
Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Borrower”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, a
national banking association (“First Lien Secured
Party”), and East West Bank, a California banking corporation
(“Deposit Holder”). All references herein to the
“Uniform Commercial Code” refers to the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New
York. Terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code have the same
meanings when used herein.
RECITALS
A. Borrower,
First Lien Secured Party, as administrative agent and collateral
agent (in such capacities, the “First Lien Agent”), the
guarantors from time to time party thereto and the lenders from
time to time party thereto are parties to that certain First Lien
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018 (as the same
may hereafter be amended, supplemented, amended and restated or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”).
B. On
the date hereof, First Lien Secured Party will deposit $62,000,000
of the proceeds of certain term loans being made under the Credit
Agreement into the Account (as defined below), which Account shall
constitute the Escrow Cash Collateral Account under and as defined
in the Credit Agreement.
C. Borrower
has granted to (a) First Lien Secured Party a first-priority
security interest in the account listed under Schedule A to this
Agreement and related rights and property (the
“Account”) pursuant to that certain First Lien Pledge
and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, executed by
Borrower and the other grantors from time to time party thereto in
favor of First Lien Secured Party, as the First Lien Agent, and (b)
Wilmington Trust, National Association (“Second Lien Secured
Party”), as administrative agent and collateral agent (in
such capacities, the “Second Lien Agent”) under that
certain Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May
4, 2018 (as the same may hereafter be amended, supplemented,
amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time),
among Borrower, the Second Lien Agent, the guarantors from time to
time party thereto and the lenders from time to time party thereto,
a second-priority security interest in the Account pursuant to that
certain Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of May
4, 2018, executed by Borrower and the other grantors from time to
time party thereto in favor of Second Lien Secured
Party.
D. Borrower
and First Lien Secured Party are requesting that Deposit Holder
enter into this Agreement to perfect First Lien Secured
Party’s security interests in the Account by control (and to
enable First Lien Secured Party to hold and control the Account as
gratuitous bailee and gratuitous agent for Second Lien Secured
Party in accordance with that certain Intercreditor Agreement,
dated as of May 4, 2018, among the First Lien Representative, the
Second Lien Representative and each Additional First Lien
Obligations Representative from time to time party thereto and each
Additional Second Lien Obligations Representative from time to time
party thereto, each as defined therein).
E. Deposit
Holder is willing to act as Deposit Holder, but only under the
terms of this Agreement. Deposit Holder has no obligation or duties
with respect to any other agreements between Borrower and First
Lien Secured Party or Second Lien Secured Party.
AGREEMENT
Deposit
Holder acknowledges the security interests of First Lien Secured
Party and Second Lien Secured Party in the Account. Borrower
ratifies and confirms the security interests it has granted to each
of First Lien Secured Party and Second Lien Secured Party in the
Account. This Agreement evidences First Lien Secured Party’s
control over the Account.
2.
Control
of Account by First Lien Secured Party; Borrower’s Rights in
Account.
2.1
Notwithstanding any
separate agreement Borrower may have with Deposit Holder, First
Lien Secured Party shall be entitled at any time to give Deposit
Holder instructions as to the withdrawal or disposition of
available funds from time to time credited to the Account, or as to
any other matters relating to the Account, all without further
consent of Borrower or any other person. Deposit Holder shall, and
is fully entitled to, rely upon any such instructions from First
Lien Secured Party even if such instructions are contrary to any
instructions or demands that Borrower may give to Deposit Holder.
Between Borrower and First Lien Secured Party, First Lien Secured
Party agrees that that it shall provide instructions to Deposit
Holder in accordance with the terms of the Credit
Agreement.
2.2
Deposit Holder
acknowledges and agrees that (a) in accordance with paragraph 2.1
above, it shall comply with the instructions originated by First
Lien Secured Party directing disposition of any available funds
from time to time credited to the Account without further consent
of Borrower; (b) First Lien Secured Party now has exclusive control
of the Account for purposes of Sections 9-312(b) and 9-314 of the
Uniform Commercial Code, (c) Borrower does not have a right to make
withdrawals or otherwise transact on the Account and (d) the
Account will be maintained as a “deposit account” as
defined in Section 9-102(a)(29) of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at
any time Deposit Holder shall receive conflicting orders or
instructions from First Lien Secured Party and Borrower, Deposit
Holder shall follow the orders or instructions of First Lien
Secured Party, and not the orders or instructions of
Borrower.
2.3
Borrower represents
and warrants to First Lien Secured Party and Deposit Holder that it
has not assigned or granted a security interest in the Account,
except to First Lien Secured Party and Second Lien Secured Party.
Borrower will not permit the Account to become subject to any other
pledge, assignment, lien, charge or encumbrance of any kind, other
than security interests of First Lien Secured Party and Second Lien
Secured Party referred to herein.
3.
Deposit
Holder’s Responsibility.
3.1
Deposit Holder
shall have no duty to inquire or determine whether Borrower’s
obligations to First Lien Secured Party are in default or whether
First Lien Secured Party or Borrower is entitled, under any
separate agreement between First Lien Secured Party and Borrower,
to give any instructions relating to the Account. Deposit Holder
shall have no responsibility or liability to First Lien Secured
Party or Borrower for complying with any order or instruction,
whether oral or written, concerning the Account, except to the
extent such compliance would violate the provisions of this
Agreement, or Deposit Holder acted with gross negligence or engaged
in willful misconduct. Deposit Holder shall have no responsibility
or liability to First Lien Secured Party or Borrower for losses or
liabilities resulting from any failure to comply with instructions
relating to the Account or delay in complying with such
instructions if the failure or delay is due to circumstances beyond
Deposit Holder’s reasonable control, including without
limitation interruptions of communications facilities, civil
unrest, acts of God, wars, or terrorist attacks, and provided
Deposit Holder had reasonable opportunity to act thereon. Without
limiting the foregoing, in no event shall Deposit Holder have any
liability for indirect, punitive, exemplary or consequential loss
or damages, including without limitation lost profits, whether or
not any claim for such loss or such damages is based on tort or
contract or Deposit Holder knew or should have known the likelihood
of such damages in any circumstances.
3.2
Upon reasonable
opportunity for Deposit Holder to act after receipt of First Lien
Secured Party’s instructions to that effect and continuing on
each Business Day thereafter, Deposit Holder shall transfer all
available balances in the Account to First Lien Secured Party at
the account specified in such instructions. Any disposition of
funds Deposit Holder makes in response to instructions from First
Lien Secured Party is subject to Deposit Holder’s standard
policies, procedures and documentation governing the type of
disposition made. Borrower agrees to pay all fees for the transfer
of funds as per instructions. Funds are not available if, in the
reasonable determination of Deposit Holder, they are subject to a
dispute or legal process preventing their withdrawal. A
“Business Day” is each day except Saturdays, Sundays,
or a day on which Deposit Holder is authorized or required by
applicable law, regulation or executive order to close in New
York.
3.3
Deposit Holder may
rely on notices and communications it believes in good faith to be
genuine and given by the appropriate party.
4.
Priority
of Security Interests; Rights Reserved by Deposit
Holder.
Deposit
Holder agrees that all of its present and future rights against the
Account are subordinate to the security interests of First Lien
Secured Party and Second Lien Secured Party therein;
provided
,
however
, that it is agreed that
nothing herein subordinates or waives, and that Deposit Holder
expressly reserves, all of its present and future rights (whether
described as rights of setoff, banker’s lien, chargeback or
otherwise, and whether available to Deposit Holder under the law or
under any other agreement between Deposit Holder and Borrower
concerning the Account or otherwise) with respect to (a) items
deposited to the Account and returned unpaid, whether for
insufficient funds or for any other reason, and without regard to
the timeliness of return of any such item; (b) overdrafts on the
Account; (c) automated clearing house entries; (d) claims of breach
of the Uniform Commercial Code’s transfer or presentment
warranties made against Deposit Holder in connection with items
deposited to the Account; and (e) Deposit Holder’s usual and
customary charges for services rendered in connection with the
Account, to the extent that, in each case, Borrower has not
separately paid or reimbursed Deposit Holder therefore. To the
extent the Account is a certificate of deposit or time deposit,
Deposit Holder will be entitled to deduct any applicable early
withdrawal penalty prior to disbursing funds from such Account in
response to instructions from First Lien Secured
Party.
In
addition to the original deposit account statement for the Account
which is provided to Borrower, Deposit Holder will send duplicate
statements to First Lien Secured Party. Borrower authorizes Deposit
Holder to provide any additional information relating to the
Account to First Lien Secured Party upon its request without
Borrower’s further consent.
6.
Notice
of Adverse Claims; Record of Security Interest.
6.1
Deposit Holder
represents to First Lien Secured Party that Deposit Holder has not
received notice of any lien, encumbrance or other claim to the
Account from any other person (other than Second Lien Secured
Party) and has not entered into, and covenants with First Lien
Secured Party that it will not enter into, any agreement with any
other person by which Deposit Holder is obligated to comply with
instructions from such other person as to the disposition of funds
from the Account or other dealings with the Account. Deposit Holder
will use commercially reasonable efforts, subject to applicable
law, to promptly notify First Lien Secured Party if any other
person claims that it has a property interest in the Account (other
than Second Lien Secured Party) or seeks to enter into a deposit
account control agreement or similar agreement with respect to the
Account.
6.2
Deposit Holder
further represents and warrants that it has marked its books and
records to indicate the security interests of First Lien Secured
Party and Second Lien Secured Party in and liens upon the
Account.
Borrower and First
Lien Secured Party understand and agree that Deposit Holder will
pay returned items by debiting the Account. Borrower agrees to pay
the amount of any returned item immediately upon demand to the
extent that there are not sufficient funds in the Account to cover
such amount on the day of the debit. First Lien Secured Party
agrees that First Lien Secured Party will pay any such amount that
is not paid in full by Borrower within twenty (20) days after
written demand on First Lien Secured Party by Deposit Holder, up to
the amount of any proceeds received by First Lien Secured Party
under this Agreement. Borrower further agrees to make additional
deposits into the Account as necessary to maintain a balance in the
Account equal to the Escrow Cash Amount (as defined in the Credit
Agreement). “Returned item” means (a) any item
deposited to the Account and returned unpaid, whether for
insufficient funds or for any other reason and without regard to
timeliness of the return or on any drawee’s notice of
non-payment; (b) any item subject to a Commercial Code or
Regulation CC (12 CFR Section 229), as in effect from time to time;
(c) any automated clearing house entry credited to the Account and
returned unpaid or subject to an adjustment entry under applicable
clearing house rules, whether for insufficient funds or any other
reason; (d) any credit to the Account from a merchant card
transaction, against which a contractual demand of chargeback has
been made; and (e) any credit made to the Account in
error.
Borrower and, to
the extent not indemnified by Borrower with ten (10) Business
Days’ prior written demand, First Lien Secured Party, agree
to indemnify Deposit Holder, its officers, directors, employees and
agents against claims, demands, losses, liabilities, damages, costs
and reasonable expenses arising out of this Agreement including any
reasonable fees and costs incurred by Deposit Holder in complying
with instructions or requests given by First Lien Secured Party
hereunder, and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
disbursements and the reasonable estimate of the allocated costs
and expenses of in-house legal counsel and staff, except to the
extent the claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses
are caused by Deposit Holder’s gross negligence or willful
misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction. IN NO EVENT WILL DEPOSIT HOLDER BE
LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL,
INDIRECT OR SPECIAL DAMAGES.
First
Lien Secured Party may terminate this Agreement at any time by
written notice to Deposit Holder and Borrower. Deposit Holder may
terminate this Agreement on thirty (30) days’ prior written
notice to First Lien Secured Party and Borrower. Borrower may not
terminate this Agreement except with written consent of First Lien
Secured Party.
10.1
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) shall be governed by, and shall
be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State
of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof
that would result in the application of any law other than the law
of the State of New York.
10.2
Deposit
Holder’s jurisdiction for purposes of Section 9-304 of the
Uniform Commercial Code shall be the State of New
York.
This
Agreement is the entire agreement among the parties regarding the
subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreements and
contemporaneous oral agreements of the parties concerning its
subject matter. This Agreement will control over any conflicting
agreement between Deposit Holder and Borrower.
No
amendment of, or waiver of a right under, this Agreement will be
binding unless it is in writing and signed by Borrower, First Lien
Secured Party and Deposit Holder.
To the
extent a provision of this Agreement is unenforceable, this
Agreement will be construed as if the unenforceable provision were
omitted.
14.
Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of Deposit Holder, First Lien Secured Party and Borrower
and their respective successors and assigns.
All
notices, instructions and/or communications to a party under this
Agreement will be in writing and will be sent to the party’s
address set forth below or to such other address as the party may
notify the other parties.
First Lien Secured
Party:
Wilmington
Trust, National Association
50
South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Email:
jjames@wilmingtontrust.com
Borrower:
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
Address:
420 Lexington Ave, Suite 1718
Attention:
General Counsel
Email:
jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
Deposit Holder:
East
West Bank
Address:
9300 Flair Drive #100W
Attention:
Central Relationship Service
Email:
centralrelationshipservice@eastwestbank.com
With
copy to:
East
West Bank
Telecommunications
Lending
135 North Los Robles Ave, 2
nd
Floor
Pasadena,
CA 91101
Email:
richard.vian@eastwestbank.com
david.hill@eastwestbank.com
To the
extent that Deposit Holder is precluded from making demand or
giving notice hereunder by reason of the commencement of a
bankruptcy or similar proceeding, then such demand or notice shall
be deemed to have been made or given at the commencement of such
proceeding.
16.
Deposit
Account Agreement.
The
Account shall also be governed by the Deposit Holder’s
account agreement and applicable fee schedules, provided however
that in event of conflict, this Agreement shall
control.
Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall create any agency, fiduciary,
joint venture or partnership relationship between or among
Borrower, First Lien Secured Party and Deposit Holder.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
19.
Waiver
of Jury Trial.
EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY
TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING
HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. 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 AGREEMENT,
INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT
CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER
IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP,
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 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 19 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A
TRIAL BY THE COURT.
[Signature
pages follow.]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.
|
FIRST
LIEN SECURED PARTY
Wilmington Trust,
National Association, a National Banking Association
Name:
Joshua G. James
Title:
Vice President
BORROWER
Fusion
Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice Present and General Counsel
DEPOSIT
HOLDER
East
West Bank, a California Banking Corporation
Name:
Richard Vian
Title:
Senior Vice President
|
[Signature Page to
Deposit Account Control Agreement]
THIS INSTRUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO) OWED BY MAKER (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND THE OTHER
CREDIT PARTIES (AS DEFINED IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO
BELOW) PURSUANT TO (A) THAT CERTAIN FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (THE “
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
”)
AMONG FUSION CONNECT, INC. (“
PARENT”)
, MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER
SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT, AND THE LENDERS FROM
TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED,
SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, (B) THAT
CERTAIN SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY
4, 2018 (THE “
SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT
” AND, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE “
CREDIT AGREEMENTS
”) AMONG PARENT,
MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT,
AND THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED,
AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME
TO TIME, AND (C) THE OTHER SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX
A ATTACHED HERETO); AND EACH HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN ANNEX A ATTACHED
HERETO.
Date: May 4, 2018
|
Amount $1,475,316.78
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC
(as successor in interest by merger to Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware limited liability company
(“
Maker
”),
hereby promises to pay to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (together with his
heirs, successors and permitted assigns, the
“
Holder
”)
at his offices, or at such other place as Holder may from time to
time direct, in lawful money of the United States, the principal
sum of ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
SIXTEEN and 78/100 DOLLARS ($
1,475,316.78
), or such lesser amount as shall then be
outstanding hereunder, on March 31, 2019, with interest (computed
on the basis of a 360-day year payable for the number of days
actually elapsed) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 12%
per annum until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable.
Subject in all respects to the subordination
provisions set forth in Annex A attached hereto, a
ll interest hereon shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date (as defined
below).
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable on
the last day of each of March, June, September and December of each
year (each an “
Interest Payment
Date
”) commencing June 30, 2018.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, the outstanding principal amount hereof will be
due and payable as follows: (i) two consecutive installments of
$491,772.26 shall be due and payable on September 30, 2018 and
December 31, 2018, respectively; and (ii) a final installment of
the entire remaining outstanding principal balance shall be due and
payable in full on March 31, 2019, together with all accrued but
unpaid interest thereon.
Events of
Default
. Each of the following
shall constitute an “
Event of
Default
”:
(i)
Maker fails to pay any amount due hereunder within ten (10) days of
demand by Holder therefor;
(ii)
Maker
fails to comply with or to perform in accordance with, or otherwise
breaches, any other provision contained in this Note that is not
cured within thirty (30) days after such failure first occurs;
or
(iii)
the execution of an assignment for the
benefit of creditors by Maker or the filing or commencement of any
proceedings for relief under any applicable bankruptcy laws or
insolvency laws or any laws relating to the relief of debtors,
readjustment of any indebtedness, reorganization, composition,
extension of debt, or the appointment of a trustee for, by or
against Maker.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, upon and after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, Holder shall have the right, without presentment, notice,
or demand of any kind, to accelerate this Note and to declare all
of the obligations of Maker under this Note due and payable
immediately, and to exercise all of Holder’s rights and
remedies as provided in this Note or under applicable law;
provided
that, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (iii) above, all
obligations of Maker under this Note shall automatically become due
and payable immediately. Maker hereby waives presentment, demand
for payment, notice of nonpayment, protests, notice of protests,
notice of dishonor and all other notices in connection with this
Note.
Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in this Note, the aggregate interest rate
per annum charged with respect to this Note (including, without
limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be interest pursuant to
applicable law), shall not exceed the maximum rate per annum
permitted by applicable law. In the event that the aggregate
interest rate per annum payable with respect to this Note
(including, without limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be
interest under applicable laws) exceeds the maximum legal rate, (i)
Maker shall only pay interest at the maximum permitted rate, (ii)
Maker shall continue to make such interest payments at the maximum
permitted rate until all such interest payments and other charges
and fees payable hereunder (in the absence of such legal
limitations) have been paid in full, (iii) any interest in excess
of the maximum permitted rate received by the Holder shall, at the
Holder’s option, be applied to a prepayment of the principal
amount of this Note or refunded to Maker, and (iv) neither
Maker nor any other Person shall have any right of action against
the Holder for any damages or penalties arising out of the payment
or collection of any such excess interest. In determining whether
the interest contracted for, charged, or received with respect to
this Note exceeds the maximum permitted rate, the Holder 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 this Note.
Payments of
principal of and interest on this Note are to be made in lawful
money of the United States of America at the address shown in the
register maintained by the Holder for such purpose or at such other
place as the Holder shall have designated.
This
Note re-evidences certain outstanding obligations previously
evidenced by that certain Subordinated Promissory Note dated
October 28, 2016, in the original face amount of $3,425,000.00
issued by the Maker to Holder (the “
Previous
Note
”). The face amount of this Note reflects (i) a
principal payment made on the date hereof in the amount of
$1,712,500 and (ii) an offset to the principal amount hereunder on
the date hereof in the amount of $920,000, such amount representing
a payable owing from Holder to Maker. This Note is not in payment
or satisfaction of the Previous Note, nor is this Note in any way
intended to constitute a novation of the Previous
Note.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF
THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW THEREOF.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed, or have caused
their duly authorized officer or representative to execute, this
Note as of the date first above written.
MAKER
:
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC
By:
/s/ Kevin M.
Dotts
Name:
Kevin M. Dotts
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Address:
420
Lexington Ave., Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE]
[Bircan
Sub Note – Green]
HOLDER:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Holcombe
T. Green, Jr.
Address:
320
Interstate North Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30339
[Bircan
Sub Note – Green]
Annex
A
to
Subordinated Promissory Note
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
1.
Definitions
.
1.1
General
Terms
. As used in these Subordination Provisions, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
“
Bankruptcy
Code
” means Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled “Bankruptcy”.
“
Collateral
”
means, collectively, (a) the “Collateral” as such term
is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, (b) the
“Collateral” as such term is defined in the Second Lien
Credit Agreement and (c) any other property (including equity
interests) on which liens are purported to be granted pursuant to
any Senior Indebtedness Agreement as security for any Senior
Indebtedness.
“
Distribution
”
means any payment, distribution or dividend (whether in respect of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise), whether in cash, in kind,
securities or any other property, or security for any such payment,
distribution or dividend.
“
Event
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“
First Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
First Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the First Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Parent
” means
Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors
and assigns.
“
Second Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Senior
Creditors
” means, collectively, (a) the “Secured
Parties” as such term is defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement, (b) the “Secured Parties” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, (c) any other holders
of Senior Indebtedness and (d) the Senior Representatives of any of
the foregoing.
“
Senior
Default
” means a Default or an Event of Default (or
any comparable term) under (and as defined in) any Senior
Indebtedness Agreement.
“
Senior
Indebtedness
” means, collectively, (a) all
“Obligations” as such term is defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement, (b) all “Obligations” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement and (c) all obligations
of every nature of Parent, Maker and each of Parent’s other
subsidiaries under (i) any “Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement or (ii) any “Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined
in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, whether for principal,
interest (including default interest accruing pursuant to the terms
of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements in respect of such Senior
Indebtedness and interest (including such default interest) that
would continue to accrue pursuant to such Senior Indebtedness
Agreements on any such obligations after the commencement of any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law or the
occurrence of any other Event with respect to Parent, Maker or such
other subsidiary, whether or not such interest is allowed or
allowable against Parent, Maker or such other subsidiary in any
such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees (including
prepayment fees), expenses, indemnification or otherwise;
provided
that
Senior Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness of Parent,
Maker or any of Parent’s other subsidiaries described in this
clause (c) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment
to any other indebtedness of Parent, Maker or such other
subsidiary. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to constitute Senior
Indebtedness, notwithstanding the fact that such Senior
Indebtedness or any claim for such Senior Indebtedness is
subordinated, avoided or disallowed under the Bankruptcy Code or
other applicable law.
“
Senior Indebtedness
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, the other “Credit Documents” as such
term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the First Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect, (b) the Second Lien Credit
Agreement and the other “Credit Documents” as such term
is defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect and (c) any other credit agreement,
indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing
the rights of the holders from time to time of any Senior
Indebtedness, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter be
amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Senior
Representatives
” means, collectively, (a) the First
Lien Agent, (b) the Second Lien Agent and (c) any other agent,
trustee or other representative of the holders from time to time of
any Senior Indebtedness.
“
Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means all principal, interest and other
amounts payable or chargeable in connection with the Subordinated
Note and any other Subordinated Lending Agreement.
“
Subordinated
Lender
” means the Holder and its heirs, successors and
assigns. References to the Subordinated Lender as “it”
is intended to mean the Subordinated Lender notwithstanding that
the Subordinated Lender is a natural person.
“
Subordinated Lending
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the Subordinated
Note, including the Subordination Provisions, and (b) all
agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter
executed and/or delivered by Maker or any other Person to, with or
in favor of the Subordinated Lender in connection therewith or
related thereto, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter
be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Subordinated
Note
” means the Amended and Restated Subordinated
Promissory Note, dated as of May 4, 2018, executed by Maker,
payable to the order of the Subordinated Lender, in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $1,475,316.78, as may be amended, amended
and restated, refinanced, extended, supplemented and/or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the
Subordinated Note and the Senior Indebtedness
Agreements.
“
Subordination
Provisions
” means the provisions of this Annex
A.
1.2
Other
Terms
. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Subordinated
Note.
2.
Covenants
.
Each of Maker and the Subordinated Lender, and any transferee of
any Subordinated Indebtedness, hereby covenants that until the
Senior Indebtedness shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements shall have been irrevocably terminated, all
in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements,
it will comply with such of the Subordination Provisions hereof as
are applicable to it:
2.1
Transfers
.
These Subordination Provisions constitute a continuing offer to all
Persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of,
or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representatives thereof, and such provisions are made for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representative thereof, and such holders, and the Senior
Representative thereof, are hereby made obligees and express third
party beneficiaries hereunder the same as if their names were
written herein as such, and they and/or each of them may proceed to
enforce such provisions. The Subordinated Lender covenants that any
transferee from it of any Subordinated Indebtedness shall, prior to
acquiring such interest, execute and deliver a joinder to, or
acknowledgment of, the Subordination Terms in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Agent and the Second Lien
Agent.
2.2
Subordination
Provisions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Subordinated Lending Agreements to the contrary, any Distribution
with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness is and shall be
expressly junior and subordinated in right of payment to all
amounts due and owing upon all Senior Indebtedness outstanding from
time to time. Specifically, but not by way of
limitation:
(a)
Payments
.
If a Senior Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and,
other than in the case of a Senior Default arising in respect of
any Event, any Senior Representative or other Senior Creditor shall
have provided prior written notice to Maker that no Distribution be
made, then (i) no Distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash securities or other property, and whether directly, by
purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise,
shall be made by or on behalf of Maker with respect to the
Subordinated Note to the Subordinated Lender and (ii) no amounts
payable under the Subordinated Note shall be forgiven or otherwise
reduced in any way.
(b)
Limitation
on Remedies
. The Subordinated Lender shall not be entitled
to exercise any remedies as a creditor or commence any other action
or proceeding to recover any amounts due or to become due with
respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness prior to the indefeasible
payment in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) of all Senior
Indebtedness and the irrevocable termination of the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements.
(c)
Prior
Payment of Senior Indebtedness in Bankruptcy, etc
. In the
event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings relative to Maker
or its property, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization
or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, or, in the
event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or
other winding up of Maker or distribution or marshalling of its
assets or any composition with creditors of Maker, whether or not
involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or if Maker shall cease its
operations, call a meeting of its creditors or no longer do
business as a going concern (each individually or collectively, an
“
Event
”), then
all Senior Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably terminated before any
Distribution shall be made on account of any Subordinated
Indebtedness. Any such Distribution which would, but for the
provisions hereof, be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Subordinated Indebtedness, shall be paid or delivered directly to
the Senior Creditors or their respective Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each,
until amounts owing upon Senior Indebtedness shall have been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably
terminated.
(d)
Power
of Attorney
. To enable the Senior Creditors to assert and
enforce their rights hereunder in any proceeding referred to in
Section 2.2(c) or upon the happening of any Event, each Senior
Representative or any Person whom it may designate is hereby
irrevocably appointed attorney-in-fact for the Subordinated Lender
with full power to act in the place and stead of the Subordinated
Lender, including the right to make, present, and file and to vote
such proofs of claim against Maker on account of all or any part of
the Subordinated Indebtedness as such Senior Representative may
deem advisable and to receive and collect any and all payments made
thereon and to apply the same on account of the Senior
Indebtedness. The Subordinated Lender will execute and deliver to
any Senior Representative such instruments as may be required by
such Senior Representative to enforce any and all Subordinated
Indebtedness, to effectuate the aforesaid power of attorney and to
effect collection of any and all payments which may be made at any
time on account thereof, and the Subordinated Lender hereby
irrevocably appoints each Senior Representative as the lawful
attorney and agent of the Subordinated Lender to execute such
instruments on behalf of the Subordinated Lender and hereby further
authorizes the Senior Representatives to file such instruments in
any appropriate public office.
(e)
Payments
Held in Trust
. Should any Distribution or the proceeds
thereof, in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness, be collected
or received by the Subordinated Lender or any Affiliate (as such
term is defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933) of the Subordinated Lender at a time when the Subordinated
Lender is not permitted to receive any such Distribution or
proceeds thereof, including if same is collected or received when
there is or would be after giving effect to such payment a Senior
Default, then the Subordinated Lender will forthwith deliver, or
cause to be delivered, the same to the Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, in
precisely the form held by the Subordinated Lender (except for any
necessary endorsement) and until so delivered, the same shall be
held in trust by the Subordinated Lender, or any such Affiliate, as
the property of the Senior Representatives and shall not be
commingled with other property of the Subordinated Lender or any
such Affiliate.
(f)
Subrogation
.
Subject to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash or cash
equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which by
their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) of the Senior Indebtedness and the
irrevocable termination of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, to
the extent that any Senior Creditor or any Senior Representative
thereof has received any Distribution on the applicable Senior
Indebtedness which, but for the Subordination Provisions hereof,
would have been applied to the Subordinated Indebtedness, the
Subordinated Lender shall be subrogated to then or thereafter
rights of such Senior Creditor or such Senior Representative
thereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive any
Distribution made on the applicable Senior Indebtedness until the
principal of, interest on and other charges due under the
Subordinated Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and,
for the purposes of such subrogation, no Distribution to any Senior
Creditor or any Senior Representative thereof to which the
Subordinated Lender would be entitled except for the Subordination
Provisions hereof shall, as between Maker, its creditors (other
than the Senior Creditors and the Senior Representatives) and the
Subordinated Lender, be deemed to be a Distribution by Maker to or
on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the
provisions hereof are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender on the one
hand, and the Senior Creditors on the other hand.
(g)
Scope
of Subordination
. The Subordination Provisions hereof are
solely to define the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender and
the Senior Creditors. Nothing in this Annex A shall impair, as
between Maker and the Subordinated Lender the unconditional and
absolute obligation of Maker to punctually pay the principal,
interest and any other amounts and obligations owing under the
Subordinated Note and the Subordinated Lending Agreements in
accordance with the terms thereof, subject to the rights of the
Senior Creditors hereunder.
2.3
Unsecured
Creditor of Maker
. The Subordinated Lender hereby agrees and
acknowledges that the Subordinated Indebtedness is an unsecured
obligation of Maker.
3.
Miscellaneous
.
3.1
Survival
of Rights
. The rights of the Senior Creditors to enforce the
Subordination Provisions shall not be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or omitted act of Maker, the Subordinated Lender or any Senior
Creditor, including, without limitation, forbearance, waiver,
consent, compromise, amendment, extension, renewal, or taking or
release of security in respect of any Senior Indebtedness or
noncompliance by Maker with such provisions, regardless of the
actual or imputed knowledge of any Senior Creditor.
3.2
Bankruptcy
Financing Issues
. The Subordinated Note shall continue in
full force and effect after the filing of any petition
(“
Petition
”) by or against
Maker under the Bankruptcy Code and all converted or succeeding
cases in respect thereof. All references herein to Maker shall be
deemed to apply to Maker as debtor-in-possession and to a trustee
for Maker. If Maker shall become subject to a proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code, and if any Senior Creditors shall desire to permit
the use of cash collateral or to provide post-Petition financing
from such Senior Creditors to Maker under the Bankruptcy Code, the
Subordinated Lender agrees as follows: (a) adequate notice to
Subordinated Lender shall be deemed to have been provided for such
consent or post-Petition financing if the Subordinated Lender
receives notice thereof three (3) Business Days (or such shorter
notice as is given to the Senior Creditors or the Senior
Representatives thereof) prior to the earlier of (i) any hearing on
a request to approve such post-petition financing or (ii) the date
of entry of an order approving same and (b) no objection will be
raised by the Subordinated Lender to any such use of cash
collateral or such post-Petition financing from such Senior
Creditors.
3.3
Insurance
Proceeds
. The Senior Representatives of any Senior
Indebtedness that is secured by any Collateral, as holders of a
senior security interest on the Collateral insured shall have the
sole and exclusive right, as against the Subordinated Lender, to
adjust settlement of insurance claims in the event of any covered
loss, theft or destruction of such Collateral. All proceeds of such
insurance shall inure to the applicable Senior Representatives, to
the extent of the applicable Senior Creditors’ claim, and the
Subordinated Lender shall cooperate (if necessary) in a reasonable
manner in effecting the payment of insurance proceeds to the
applicable Senior Creditors. In the event the applicable Senior
Representatives, in their sole discretion or pursuant to agreement
with Maker, permits Maker to utilize the proceeds of insurance to
replace Collateral, the consent of such Senior Representatives
thereto shall be deemed to include the consent of the Subordinated
Lender.
3.4
Receipt
of Agreements
. The Subordinated Lender hereby acknowledges
that it has delivered to each Senior Representative a correct and
complete copy of the Subordinated Lending Agreements as in effect
on the date hereof. The Subordinated Lender, solely for the payment
of the Subordinated Note, hereby acknowledges receipt of a correct
and complete copy of each of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements as
in effect on the date hereof.
3.5
No
Amendment of Subordinated Lending Agreements
. So long as any
Senior Indebtedness Agreement remains in effect, neither Maker nor
the Subordinated Lender shall enter into any amendment, waiver or
modification of the Subordinated Lending Agreements, without the
prior written consent of the Senior Representatives.
3.6
Amendments
to Senior Indebtedness Agreements
. Nothing contained herein
shall in any manner limit or restrict the ability of the Senior
Creditors to increase or change the terms of the Senior
Indebtedness under any Senior Indebtedness Agreements, or to
otherwise waive, amend or modify the terms and conditions of the
Senior Indebtedness Agreements, in such manner as the applicable
Senior Creditors and Maker shall mutually determine. The
Subordinated Lender hereby consents to any and all such waivers,
amendments, modifications and compromises, and any other renewals,
extensions, indulgences, releases of collateral or other
accommodations granted by the Senior Creditors to Maker from time
to time, and agrees that none of such actions shall in any manner
affect or impair the subordination established hereby in respect of
the Subordinated Indebtedness.
3.7
Notice
of Default and Certain Events
. The Subordinated Lender shall
notify the Senior Representatives of the occurrence of any of the
following as applicable:
(a) the
obtaining of actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of
Default under any of the Subordinated Notes;
(b) the
acceleration of any Subordinated Indebtedness by the Subordinated
Lender; or
(c) the
granting of any waiver of any Event of Default by the Subordinated
Lender.
3.8
Binding
Effect; Governing Law
. The Subordination Provisions shall be
a continuing agreement and shall be binding upon Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns and inure to the benefit of the Senior Creditors, Maker and
the Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns, shall be irrevocable and shall remain in full force and
effect until the Senior Indebtedness shall have been satisfied or
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements shall have been irrevocably
terminated, but shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated,
as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of
any amount paid by or on behalf of Maker with regard to the Senior
Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of Maker, or upon or as a result of the appointment
of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee, custodian,
or similar officer, for Maker or any substantial part of its
property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been
made. No action which any Senior Creditor or Maker may take or
refrain from taking with respect to the Senior Indebtedness,
including any amendments thereto, shall affect the Subordination
Provisions or the obligations of Maker or the Subordinated Lender
hereunder. The headings in the Subordination Provisions are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not alter or otherwise
affect the meaning hereof.
THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MAKER, THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND
5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW
THEREOF.
3.9
Waiver
of Substantive Consolidation
. By its acceptance of the
Subordinated Note, the Subordinated Lender agrees that, in any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any proceeding under any
similar law, it will not, directly or indirectly, request, join in
or support any request, or provide any assistance or encouragement
or solicit any other Person to make any request, for substantive
consolidation of Maker with any one or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities or for a determination that piercing the corporate
veil, alter ego or any similar theory is applicable to Maker and
one or more of its subsidiaries or parent entities and waive any
and all rights they may have to do so. In the event that Maker is
substantively consolidated with any or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities, the Subordinated Lender agrees that it will not
benefit from such substantive consolidation and will be treated as
if the substantive consolidation did not occur (and any such
benefit that would have accrued to the Subordinated Lender shall be
turned over to the creditors of the subsidiary or subsidiaries that
are so substantively consolidated). The Subordinated Lender
acknowledges that the Senior Creditors are expressly relying on the
separateness of Maker from its subsidiaries and parent entities,
and agrees that the Senior Creditors may rely on the agreements and
waivers in this paragraph.
4.
PROCEEDINGS
.
SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
AGAINST MAKER, THE SUBORDINATED LENDER OR ANY SENIOR CREDITOR
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN
ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING OR ACCEPTING THE SUBORDINATED
NOTE, EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER, FOR ITSELF AND IN
CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH
COURTS (SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF
FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS
IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED
OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE
PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE PAGES TO THE
SUBORDINATED NOTE; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE
(C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE
APPLICABLE PERSON IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND
OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY
RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE SENIOR CREDITORS RETAIN THE RIGHT
TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MAKER OR THE SUBORDINATED LENDER IN THE COURTS
OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY
RIGHTS UNDER THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS, THE SUBORDINATED LENDING
AGREEMENTS OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENTS OR ANY EXERCISE OF
REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS
TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH COURT.
5.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR
CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS
BETWEEN THEM OR THE SENIOR CREDITORS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER
HEREOF. 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 HEREOF, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS,
TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER
INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR
CREDITORS HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THE
SUBORDINATED LENDING AGREEMENTS AND/OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
AGREEMENTS, AND THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS WILL
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS.
EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER 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 5 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF MAKER AND THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND CONSENTED TO IN WRITING BY EACH SENIOR
REPRESENTATIVE), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
6.
Maker
Acknowledgement
. Maker agrees that (a) nothing contained in
the Subordination Provisions shall be deemed to amend, modify,
supersede or otherwise alter the terms of the respective agreements
between Maker and any Senior Creditor or between Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and (b) the Subordination Provisions are solely
for the benefit of the Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Lender
and shall not give Maker, its successors or assigns, or any other
Person any rights vis-à-vis any Senior Creditor or the
Subordinated Lender.
THIS INSTRUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO) OWED BY MAKER (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND THE OTHER
CREDIT PARTIES (AS DEFINED IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO
BELOW) PURSUANT TO (A) THAT CERTAIN FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (THE “
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
”)
AMONG FUSION CONNECT, INC. (“
PARENT”)
, MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER
SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT, AND THE LENDERS FROM
TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED,
SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, (B) THAT
CERTAIN SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY
4, 2018 (THE “
SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT
” AND, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE “
CREDIT AGREEMENTS
”) AMONG PARENT,
MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT,
AND THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED,
AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME
TO TIME, AND (C) THE OTHER SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX
A ATTACHED HERETO); AND EACH HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN ANNEX A ATTACHED
HERETO.
Date: May 4, 2018
|
Amount $1,276,336.68
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC
(as successor in interest by merger to Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware limited liability company
(“
Maker
”),
hereby promises to pay to R. Kirby Godsey (together with his heirs,
successors and permitted assigns, the “
Holder
”)
at his offices, or at such other place as Holder may from time to
time direct, in lawful money of the United States, the principal
sum of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
THIRTY-SIX and 68/100 DOLLARS ($
1,276,336.68
), or such lesser amount as shall then be
outstanding hereunder, on March 31, 2019, with interest (computed
on the basis of a 360-day year payable for the number of days
actually elapsed) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 12%
per annum until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable.
Subject in all respects to the subordination
provisions set forth in Annex A attached hereto, a
ll interest hereon shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date (as defined
below).
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable on
the last day of each of March, June, September and December of each
year (each an “
Interest Payment
Date
”) commencing June 30, 2018.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, the outstanding principal amount hereof will be
due and payable as follows: (i) two consecutive installments of
$425,445.56 shall be due and payable on September 30, 2018 and
December 31, 2018, respectively; and (ii) a final installment of
the entire remaining outstanding principal balance shall be due and
payable in full on March 31, 2019, together with all accrued but
unpaid interest thereon.
Events of
Default
. Each of the following
shall constitute an “
Event of
Default
”:
(i)
Maker fails to pay any amount due hereunder within ten (10) days of
demand by Holder therefor;
(ii)
Maker
fails to comply with or to perform in accordance with, or otherwise
breaches, any other provision contained in this Note that is not
cured within thirty (30) days after such failure first occurs;
or
(iii)
the execution of an assignment for the
benefit of creditors by Maker or the filing or commencement of any
proceedings for relief under any applicable bankruptcy laws or
insolvency laws or any laws relating to the relief of debtors,
readjustment of any indebtedness, reorganization, composition,
extension of debt, or the appointment of a trustee for, by or
against Maker.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, upon and after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, Holder shall have the right, without presentment, notice,
or demand of any kind, to accelerate this Note and to declare all
of the obligations of Maker under this Note due and payable
immediately, and to exercise all of Holder’s rights and
remedies as provided in this Note or under applicable law;
provided
that, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (iii) above, all
obligations of Maker under this Note shall automatically become due
and payable immediately. Maker hereby waives presentment, demand
for payment, notice of nonpayment, protests, notice of protests,
notice of dishonor and all other notices in connection with this
Note.
Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in this Note, the aggregate interest rate
per annum charged with respect to this Note (including, without
limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be interest pursuant to
applicable law), shall not exceed the maximum rate per annum
permitted by applicable law. In the event that the aggregate
interest rate per annum payable with respect to this Note
(including, without limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be
interest under applicable laws) exceeds the maximum legal rate, (i)
Maker shall only pay interest at the maximum permitted rate, (ii)
Maker shall continue to make such interest payments at the maximum
permitted rate until all such interest payments and other charges
and fees payable hereunder (in the absence of such legal
limitations) have been paid in full, (iii) any interest in excess
of the maximum permitted rate received by the Holder shall, at the
Holder’s option, be applied to a prepayment of the principal
amount of this Note or refunded to Maker, and (iv) neither
Maker nor any other Person shall have any right of action against
the Holder for any damages or penalties arising out of the payment
or collection of any such excess interest. In determining whether
the interest contracted for, charged, or received with respect to
this Note exceeds the maximum permitted rate, the Holder 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 this Note.
Payments of
principal of and interest on this Note are to be made in lawful
money of the United States of America at the address shown in the
register maintained by the Holder for such purpose or at such other
place as the Holder shall have designated.
This
Note re-evidences certain outstanding obligations previously
evidenced by that certain Subordinated Promissory Note dated
October 28, 2016, in the original face amount of $1,825,000.00
issued by the Maker to Holder (the “
Previous
Note
”). The face amount of this Note reflects a
principal payment made on the date hereof in the amount of
$912,500. This Note is not in payment or satisfaction of the
Previous Note, nor is this Note in any way intended to constitute a
novation of the Previous Note.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF
THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW THEREOF.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[Bircan
Sub Note – Godsey]
-3-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed, or have caused
their duly authorized officer or representative to execute, this
Note as of the date first above written.
MAKER
:
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC
By:
/s/ Kevin M. Dotts
Name:
Kevin M. Dotts
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Address:
420
Lexington Ave., Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE]
[Bircan
Sub Note – Godsey]
HOLDER:
/s/ R. Kirby
Godsey
___________________
R.
Kirby Godsey
Address:
320
Interstate North Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30339
[Bircan
Sub Note – Godsey]
Annex
A
to
Subordinated Promissory Note
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
1.
Definitions
.
1.1
General Terms
. As
used in these Subordination Provisions, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
“
Bankruptcy
Code
” means Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled “Bankruptcy”.
“
Collateral
”
means, collectively, (a) the “Collateral” as such term
is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, (b) the
“Collateral” as such term is defined in the Second Lien
Credit Agreement and (c) any other property (including equity
interests) on which liens are purported to be granted pursuant to
any Senior Indebtedness Agreement as security for any Senior
Indebtedness.
“
Distribution
”
means any payment, distribution or dividend (whether in respect of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise), whether in cash, in kind,
securities or any other property, or security for any such payment,
distribution or dividend.
“
Event
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“
First Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
First Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the First Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
Parent
” means
Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors
and assigns.
“
Second Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Senior
Creditors
” means, collectively, (a) the “Secured
Parties” as such term is defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement, (b) the “Secured Parties” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, (c) any other holders
of Senior Indebtedness and (d) the Senior Representatives of any of
the foregoing.
“
Senior
Default
” means a Default or an Event of Default (or
any comparable term) under (and as defined in) any Senior
Indebtedness Agreement.
“
Senior
Indebtedness
” means, collectively, (a) all
“Obligations” as such term is defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement, (b) all “Obligations” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement and (c) all obligations
of every nature of Parent, Maker and each of Parent’s other
subsidiaries under (i) any “Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement or (ii) any “Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined
in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, whether for principal,
interest (including default interest accruing pursuant to the terms
of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements in respect of such Senior
Indebtedness and interest (including such default interest) that
would continue to accrue pursuant to such Senior Indebtedness
Agreements on any such obligations after the commencement of any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law or the
occurrence of any other Event with respect to Parent, Maker or such
other subsidiary, whether or not such interest is allowed or
allowable against Parent, Maker or such other subsidiary in any
such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees (including
prepayment fees), expenses, indemnification or otherwise;
provided
that
Senior Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness of Parent,
Maker or any of Parent’s other subsidiaries described in this
clause (c) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment
to any other indebtedness of Parent, Maker or such other
subsidiary. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to constitute Senior
Indebtedness, notwithstanding the fact that such Senior
Indebtedness or any claim for such Senior Indebtedness is
subordinated, avoided or disallowed under the Bankruptcy Code or
other applicable law.
“
Senior Indebtedness
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, the other “Credit Documents” as such
term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the First Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect, (b) the Second Lien Credit
Agreement and the other “Credit Documents” as such term
is defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect and (c) any other credit agreement,
indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing
the rights of the holders from time to time of any Senior
Indebtedness, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter be
amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Senior
Representatives
” means, collectively, (a) the First
Lien Agent, (b) the Second Lien Agent and (c) any other agent,
trustee or other representative of the holders from time to time of
any Senior Indebtedness.
“
Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means all principal, interest and other
amounts payable or chargeable in connection with the Subordinated
Note and any other Subordinated Lending Agreement.
“
Subordinated
Lender
” means the Holder and its heirs, successors and
assigns. References to the Subordinated Lender as “it”
is intended to mean the Subordinated Lender notwithstanding that
the Subordinated Lender is a natural person.
“
Subordinated Lending
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the Subordinated
Note, including the Subordination Provisions, and (b) all
agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter
executed and/or delivered by Maker or any other Person to, with or
in favor of the Subordinated Lender in connection therewith or
related thereto, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter
be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Subordinated
Note
” means the Amended and Restated Subordinated
Promissory Note, dated as of May 4, 2018, executed by Maker,
payable to the order of the Subordinated Lender, in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $1,475,316.78, as may be amended, amended
and restated, refinanced, extended, supplemented and/or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the
Subordinated Note and the Senior Indebtedness
Agreements.
“
Subordination
Provisions
” means the provisions of this Annex
A.
1.2
Other
Terms
. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Subordinated
Note.
2.
Covenants
. Each of Maker and
the Subordinated Lender, and any transferee of any Subordinated
Indebtedness, hereby covenants that until the Senior Indebtedness
shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and satisfied in cash or
cash equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which
by their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior Indebtedness Agreements
shall have been irrevocably terminated, all in accordance with the
terms of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, it will comply with
such of the Subordination Provisions hereof as are applicable to
it:
2.1
Transfers
.
These Subordination Provisions constitute a continuing offer to all
Persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of,
or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representatives thereof, and such provisions are made for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representative thereof, and such holders, and the Senior
Representative thereof, are hereby made obligees and express third
party beneficiaries hereunder the same as if their names were
written herein as such, and they and/or each of them may proceed to
enforce such provisions. The Subordinated Lender covenants that any
transferee from it of any Subordinated Indebtedness shall, prior to
acquiring such interest, execute and deliver a joinder to, or
acknowledgment of, the Subordination Terms in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Agent and the Second Lien
Agent.
2.2
Subordination
Provisions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Subordinated Lending Agreements to the contrary, any Distribution
with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness is and shall be
expressly junior and subordinated in right of payment to all
amounts due and owing upon all Senior Indebtedness outstanding from
time to time. Specifically, but not by way of
limitation:
(a)
Payments
.
If a Senior Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and,
other than in the case of a Senior Default arising in respect of
any Event, any Senior Representative or other Senior Creditor shall
have provided prior written notice to Maker that no Distribution be
made, then (i) no Distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash securities or other property, and whether directly, by
purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise,
shall be made by or on behalf of Maker with respect to the
Subordinated Note to the Subordinated Lender and (ii) no amounts
payable under the Subordinated Note shall be forgiven or otherwise
reduced in any way.
(b)
Limitation on
Remedies
. The Subordinated Lender shall not be entitled to
exercise any remedies as a creditor or commence any other action or
proceeding to recover any amounts due or to become due with respect
to the Subordinated Indebtedness prior to the indefeasible payment
in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) of all Senior
Indebtedness and the irrevocable termination of the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements.
(c)
Prior
Payment of Senior Indebtedness in Bankruptcy, etc
. In the
event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings relative to Maker
or its property, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization
or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, or, in the
event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or
other winding up of Maker or distribution or marshalling of its
assets or any composition with creditors of Maker, whether or not
involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or if Maker shall cease its
operations, call a meeting of its creditors or no longer do
business as a going concern (each individually or collectively, an
“
Event
”), then
all Senior Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably terminated before any
Distribution shall be made on account of any Subordinated
Indebtedness. Any such Distribution which would, but for the
provisions hereof, be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Subordinated Indebtedness, shall be paid or delivered directly to
the Senior Creditors or their respective Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each,
until amounts owing upon Senior Indebtedness shall have been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably
terminated.
(d)
Power
of Attorney
. To enable the Senior Creditors to assert and
enforce their rights hereunder in any proceeding referred to in
Section 2.2(c) or upon the happening of any Event, each Senior
Representative or any Person whom it may designate is hereby
irrevocably appointed attorney-in-fact for the Subordinated Lender
with full power to act in the place and stead of the Subordinated
Lender, including the right to make, present, and file and to vote
such proofs of claim against Maker on account of all or any part of
the Subordinated Indebtedness as such Senior Representative may
deem advisable and to receive and collect any and all payments made
thereon and to apply the same on account of the Senior
Indebtedness. The Subordinated Lender will execute and deliver to
any Senior Representative such instruments as may be required by
such Senior Representative to enforce any and all Subordinated
Indebtedness, to effectuate the aforesaid power of attorney and to
effect collection of any and all payments which may be made at any
time on account thereof, and the Subordinated Lender hereby
irrevocably appoints each Senior Representative as the lawful
attorney and agent of the Subordinated Lender to execute such
instruments on behalf of the Subordinated Lender and hereby further
authorizes the Senior Representatives to file such instruments in
any appropriate public office.
(e)
Payments
Held in Trust
. Should any Distribution or the proceeds
thereof, in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness, be collected
or received by the Subordinated Lender or any Affiliate (as such
term is defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933) of the Subordinated Lender at a time when the Subordinated
Lender is not permitted to receive any such Distribution or
proceeds thereof, including if same is collected or received when
there is or would be after giving effect to such payment a Senior
Default, then the Subordinated Lender will forthwith deliver, or
cause to be delivered, the same to the Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, in
precisely the form held by the Subordinated Lender (except for any
necessary endorsement) and until so delivered, the same shall be
held in trust by the Subordinated Lender, or any such Affiliate, as
the property of the Senior Representatives and shall not be
commingled with other property of the Subordinated Lender or any
such Affiliate.
(f)
Subrogation
.
Subject to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash or cash
equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which by
their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) of the Senior Indebtedness and the
irrevocable termination of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, to
the extent that any Senior Creditor or any Senior Representative
thereof has received any Distribution on the applicable Senior
Indebtedness which, but for the Subordination Provisions hereof,
would have been applied to the Subordinated Indebtedness, the
Subordinated Lender shall be subrogated to then or thereafter
rights of such Senior Creditor or such Senior Representative
thereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive any
Distribution made on the applicable Senior Indebtedness until the
principal of, interest on and other charges due under the
Subordinated Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and,
for the purposes of such subrogation, no Distribution to any Senior
Creditor or any Senior Representative thereof to which the
Subordinated Lender would be entitled except for the Subordination
Provisions hereof shall, as between Maker, its creditors (other
than the Senior Creditors and the Senior Representatives) and the
Subordinated Lender, be deemed to be a Distribution by Maker to or
on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the
provisions hereof are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender on the one
hand, and the Senior Creditors on the other hand.
(g)
Scope
of Subordination
. The Subordination Provisions hereof are
solely to define the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender and
the Senior Creditors. Nothing in this Annex A shall impair, as
between Maker and the Subordinated Lender the unconditional and
absolute obligation of Maker to punctually pay the principal,
interest and any other amounts and obligations owing under the
Subordinated Note and the Subordinated Lending Agreements in
accordance with the terms thereof, subject to the rights of the
Senior Creditors hereunder.
2.3
Unsecured
Creditor of Maker
. The Subordinated Lender hereby agrees and
acknowledges that the Subordinated Indebtedness is an unsecured
obligation of Maker.
3.
Miscellaneous
.
3.1
Survival
of Rights
. The rights of the Senior Creditors to enforce the
Subordination Provisions shall not be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or omitted act of Maker, the Subordinated Lender or any Senior
Creditor, including, without limitation, forbearance, waiver,
consent, compromise, amendment, extension, renewal, or taking or
release of security in respect of any Senior Indebtedness or
noncompliance by Maker with such provisions, regardless of the
actual or imputed knowledge of any Senior Creditor.
3.2
Bankruptcy
Financing Issues
. The Subordinated Note shall continue in
full force and effect after the filing of any petition
(“
Petition
”) by or against
Maker under the Bankruptcy Code and all converted or succeeding
cases in respect thereof. All references herein to Maker shall be
deemed to apply to Maker as debtor-in-possession and to a trustee
for Maker. If Maker shall become subject to a proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code, and if any Senior Creditors shall desire to permit
the use of cash collateral or to provide post-Petition financing
from such Senior Creditors to Maker under the Bankruptcy Code, the
Subordinated Lender agrees as follows: (a) adequate notice to
Subordinated Lender shall be deemed to have been provided for such
consent or post-Petition financing if the Subordinated Lender
receives notice thereof three (3) Business Days (or such shorter
notice as is given to the Senior Creditors or the Senior
Representatives thereof) prior to the earlier of (i) any hearing on
a request to approve such post-petition financing or (ii) the date
of entry of an order approving same and (b) no objection will be
raised by the Subordinated Lender to any such use of cash
collateral or such post-Petition financing from such Senior
Creditors.
3.3
Insurance
Proceeds
. The Senior Representatives of any Senior
Indebtedness that is secured by any Collateral, as holders of a
senior security interest on the Collateral insured shall have the
sole and exclusive right, as against the Subordinated Lender, to
adjust settlement of insurance claims in the event of any covered
loss, theft or destruction of such Collateral. All proceeds of such
insurance shall inure to the applicable Senior Representatives, to
the extent of the applicable Senior Creditors’ claim, and the
Subordinated Lender shall cooperate (if necessary) in a reasonable
manner in effecting the payment of insurance proceeds to the
applicable Senior Creditors. In the event the applicable Senior
Representatives, in their sole discretion or pursuant to agreement
with Maker, permits Maker to utilize the proceeds of insurance to
replace Collateral, the consent of such Senior Representatives
thereto shall be deemed to include the consent of the Subordinated
Lender.
3.4
Receipt
of Agreements
. The Subordinated Lender hereby acknowledges
that it has delivered to each Senior Representative a correct and
complete copy of the Subordinated Lending Agreements as in effect
on the date hereof. The Subordinated Lender, solely for the payment
of the Subordinated Note, hereby acknowledges receipt of a correct
and complete copy of each of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements as
in effect on the date hereof.
3.5
No
Amendment of Subordinated Lending Agreements
. So long as any
Senior Indebtedness Agreement remains in effect, neither Maker nor
the Subordinated Lender shall enter into any amendment, waiver or
modification of the Subordinated Lending Agreements, without the
prior written consent of the Senior Representatives.
3.6
Amendments
to Senior Indebtedness Agreements
. Nothing contained herein
shall in any manner limit or restrict the ability of the Senior
Creditors to increase or change the terms of the Senior
Indebtedness under any Senior Indebtedness Agreements, or to
otherwise waive, amend or modify the terms and conditions of the
Senior Indebtedness Agreements, in such manner as the applicable
Senior Creditors and Maker shall mutually determine. The
Subordinated Lender hereby consents to any and all such waivers,
amendments, modifications and compromises, and any other renewals,
extensions, indulgences, releases of collateral or other
accommodations granted by the Senior Creditors to Maker from time
to time, and agrees that none of such actions shall in any manner
affect or impair the subordination established hereby in respect of
the Subordinated Indebtedness.
3.7
Notice
of Default and Certain Events
. The Subordinated Lender shall
notify the Senior Representatives of the occurrence of any of the
following as applicable:
(a) the
obtaining of actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of
Default under any of the Subordinated Notes;
(b) the
acceleration of any Subordinated Indebtedness by the Subordinated
Lender; or
(c) the
granting of any waiver of any Event of Default by the Subordinated
Lender.
3.8
Binding
Effect; Governing Law
. The Subordination Provisions shall be
a continuing agreement and shall be binding upon Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns and inure to the benefit of the Senior Creditors, Maker and
the Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns, shall be irrevocable and shall remain in full force and
effect until the Senior Indebtedness shall have been satisfied or
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements shall have been irrevocably
terminated, but shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated,
as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of
any amount paid by or on behalf of Maker with regard to the Senior
Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of Maker, or upon or as a result of the appointment
of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee, custodian,
or similar officer, for Maker or any substantial part of its
property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been
made. No action which any Senior Creditor or Maker may take or
refrain from taking with respect to the Senior Indebtedness,
including any amendments thereto, shall affect the Subordination
Provisions or the obligations of Maker or the Subordinated Lender
hereunder. The headings in the Subordination Provisions are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not alter or otherwise
affect the meaning hereof.
THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MAKER, THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND
5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW
THEREOF.
3.9
Waiver
of Substantive Consolidation
. By its acceptance of the
Subordinated Note, the Subordinated Lender agrees that, in any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any proceeding under any
similar law, it will not, directly or indirectly, request, join in
or support any request, or provide any assistance or encouragement
or solicit any other Person to make any request, for substantive
consolidation of Maker with any one or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities or for a determination that piercing the corporate
veil, alter ego or any similar theory is applicable to Maker and
one or more of its subsidiaries or parent entities and waive any
and all rights they may have to do so. In the event that Maker is
substantively consolidated with any or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities, the Subordinated Lender agrees that it will not
benefit from such substantive consolidation and will be treated as
if the substantive consolidation did not occur (and any such
benefit that would have accrued to the Subordinated Lender shall be
turned over to the creditors of the subsidiary or subsidiaries that
are so substantively consolidated). The Subordinated Lender
acknowledges that the Senior Creditors are expressly relying on the
separateness of Maker from its subsidiaries and parent entities,
and agrees that the Senior Creditors may rely on the agreements and
waivers in this paragraph.
4.
PROCEEDINGS
.
SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
AGAINST MAKER, THE SUBORDINATED LENDER OR ANY SENIOR CREDITOR
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN
ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING OR ACCEPTING THE SUBORDINATED
NOTE, EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER, FOR ITSELF AND IN
CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH
COURTS (SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF
FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS
IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED
OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE
PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE PAGES TO THE
SUBORDINATED NOTE; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE
(C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE
APPLICABLE PERSON IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND
OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY
RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE SENIOR CREDITORS RETAIN THE RIGHT
TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MAKER OR THE SUBORDINATED LENDER IN THE COURTS
OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY
RIGHTS UNDER THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS, THE SUBORDINATED LENDING
AGREEMENTS OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENTS OR ANY EXERCISE OF
REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS
TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH COURT.
5.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR
CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS
BETWEEN THEM OR THE SENIOR CREDITORS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER
HEREOF. 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 HEREOF, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS,
TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER
INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR
CREDITORS HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THE
SUBORDINATED LENDING AGREEMENTS AND/OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
AGREEMENTS, AND THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS WILL
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS.
EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER 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 5 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF MAKER AND THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND CONSENTED TO IN WRITING BY EACH SENIOR
REPRESENTATIVE), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
6.
Maker
Acknowledgement
. Maker agrees that (a) nothing contained in
the Subordination Provisions shall be deemed to amend, modify,
supersede or otherwise alter the terms of the respective agreements
between Maker and any Senior Creditor or between Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and (b) the Subordination Provisions are solely
for the benefit of the Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Lender
and shall not give Maker, its successors or assigns, or any other
Person any rights vis-à-vis any Senior Creditor or the
Subordinated Lender.
THIS INSTRUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO) OWED BY MAKER (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND THE OTHER
CREDIT PARTIES (AS DEFINED IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO
BELOW) PURSUANT TO (A) THAT CERTAIN FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2018 (THE “
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
”)
AMONG FUSION CONNECT, INC. (“
PARENT”)
, MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER
SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT, AND THE LENDERS FROM
TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED,
SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, (B) THAT
CERTAIN SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY
4, 2018 (THE “
SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT
” AND, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE “
CREDIT AGREEMENTS
”) AMONG PARENT,
MAKER AND CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT, WILMINGTON TRUST,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT,
AND THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE SECOND LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED,
AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME
TO TIME, AND (C) THE OTHER SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX
A ATTACHED HERETO); AND EACH HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN ANNEX A ATTACHED
HERETO.
Date: May 4, 2018
|
Amount $524,521.92
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC
(as successor in interest by merger to Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware limited liability company
(“
Maker
”),
hereby promises to pay to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. 2013 Five-Year
Annuity Trust (together with its successors and permitted assigns,
the “
Holder
”)
at his offices, or at such other place as Holder may from time to
time direct, in lawful money of the United States, the principal
sum of FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-0NE
and 92/100 DOLLARS ($524,521.92), or such lesser amount as shall
then be outstanding hereunder, on March 31, 2019, with interest
(computed on the basis of a 360-day year payable for the number of
days actually elapsed) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of
12% per annum until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable.
Subject in all respects to the subordination
provisions set forth in Annex A attached hereto, a
ll interest hereon shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date (as defined
below).
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable on
the last day of each of March, June, September and December of each
year (each an “
Interest Payment
Date
”) commencing June 30, 2018.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, the outstanding principal amount hereof will be
due and payable as follows: (i) two consecutive installments of
$174,840.64 shall be due and payable on September 30, 2018 and
December 31, 2018, respectively; and (ii) a final installment of
the entire remaining outstanding principal balance shall be due and
payable in full on March 31, 2019, together with all accrued but
unpaid interest thereon.
Events of
Default
. Each of the following
shall constitute an “
Event of
Default
”:
(i)
Maker fails to pay any amount due hereunder within ten (10) days of
demand by Holder therefor;
(ii)
Maker
fails to comply with or to perform in accordance with, or otherwise
breaches, any other provision contained in this Note that is not
cured within thirty (30) days after such failure first occurs;
or
(iii)
the execution of an assignment for the
benefit of creditors by Maker or the filing or commencement of any
proceedings for relief under any applicable bankruptcy laws or
insolvency laws or any laws relating to the relief of debtors,
readjustment of any indebtedness, reorganization, composition,
extension of debt, or the appointment of a trustee for, by or
against Maker.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, upon and after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, Holder shall have the right, without presentment, notice,
or demand of any kind, to accelerate this Note and to declare all
of the obligations of Maker under this Note due and payable
immediately, and to exercise all of Holder’s rights and
remedies as provided in this Note or under applicable law;
provided
that, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (iii) above, all
obligations of Maker under this Note shall automatically become due
and payable immediately. Maker hereby waives presentment, demand
for payment, notice of nonpayment, protests, notice of protests,
notice of dishonor and all other notices in connection with this
Note.
Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in this Note, the aggregate interest rate
per annum charged with respect to this Note (including, without
limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be interest pursuant to
applicable law), shall not exceed the maximum rate per annum
permitted by applicable law. In the event that the aggregate
interest rate per annum payable with respect to this Note
(including, without limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be
interest under applicable laws) exceeds the maximum legal rate, (i)
Maker shall only pay interest at the maximum permitted rate, (ii)
Maker shall continue to make such interest payments at the maximum
permitted rate until all such interest payments and other charges
and fees payable hereunder (in the absence of such legal
limitations) have been paid in full, (iii) any interest in excess
of the maximum permitted rate received by the Holder shall, at the
Holder’s option, be applied to a prepayment of the principal
amount of this Note or refunded to Maker, and (iv) neither
Maker nor any other Person shall have any right of action against
the Holder for any damages or penalties arising out of the payment
or collection of any such excess interest. In determining whether
the interest contracted for, charged, or received with respect to
this Note exceeds the maximum permitted rate, the Holder 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 this Note.
Payments of
principal of and interest on this Note are to be made in lawful
money of the United States of America at the address shown in the
register maintained by the Holder for such purpose or at such other
place as the Holder shall have designated.
This
Note re-evidences certain outstanding obligations previously
evidenced by that certain Subordinated Promissory Note dated
October 28, 2016, in the original face amount of $750,000.00 issued
by the Maker to Holder (the “
Previous
Note
”). The face amount of this Note reflects a
principal payment made on the date hereof in the amount of
$375,000. This Note is not in payment or satisfaction of the
Previous Note, nor is this Note in any way intended to constitute a
novation of the Previous Note.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF
THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW THEREOF.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed, or have caused
their duly authorized officer or representative to execute, this
Note as of the date first above written.
MAKER
:
FUSION
BCHI ACQUISITION LLC
By:
/s/ Kevin M. Dotts
Name:
Kevin M. Dotts
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Address:
420
Lexington Ave., Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE]
[Bircan
Sub Note – Green Trust]
HOLDER:
HOLCOMBE
T. GREEN, JR. 2013 FIVE-YEAR ANNUITY TRUST
By:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
Name:
Holcombe T. Green, Jr.
Title:
Trustee
Address:
320
Interstate North Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30339
[Bircan
Sub Note – Green Trust]
Annex
A
to
Subordinated Promissory Note
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
1.
Definitions
.
1.1
General
Terms
. As used in these Subordination Provisions, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
“
Bankruptcy
Code
” means Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled “Bankruptcy”.
“
Collateral
”
means, collectively, (a) the “Collateral” as such term
is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, (b) the
“Collateral” as such term is defined in the Second Lien
Credit Agreement and (c) any other property (including equity
interests) on which liens are purported to be granted pursuant to
any Senior Indebtedness Agreement as security for any Senior
Indebtedness.
“
Distribution
”
means any payment, distribution or dividend (whether in respect of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise), whether in cash, in kind,
securities or any other property, or security for any such payment,
distribution or dividend.
“
Event
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“
First Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
First Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the First Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Parent
” means
Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors
and assigns.
“
Second Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Parent, Maker, certain
other subsidiaries of Parent from time to time party thereto, the
lenders from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Agent,
as the foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Senior
Creditors
” means, collectively, (a) the “Secured
Parties” as such term is defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement, (b) the “Secured Parties” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, (c) any other holders
of Senior Indebtedness and (d) the Senior Representatives of any of
the foregoing.
“
Senior
Default
” means a Default or an Event of Default (or
any comparable term) under (and as defined in) any Senior
Indebtedness Agreement.
“
Senior
Indebtedness
” means, collectively, (a) all
“Obligations” as such term is defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement, (b) all “Obligations” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement and (c) all obligations
of every nature of Parent, Maker and each of Parent’s other
subsidiaries under (i) any “Permitted Second Lien
Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing
Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental Equivalent
Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined in the
First Lien Credit Agreement or (ii) any “Permitted Section
6.1(e) Indebtedness”, “Permitted Credit Agreement
Refinancing Indebtedness” or “Permitted Incremental
Equivalent Indebtedness” in each case as such term is defined
in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, whether for principal,
interest (including default interest accruing pursuant to the terms
of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements in respect of such Senior
Indebtedness and interest (including such default interest) that
would continue to accrue pursuant to such Senior Indebtedness
Agreements on any such obligations after the commencement of any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law or the
occurrence of any other Event with respect to Parent, Maker or such
other subsidiary, whether or not such interest is allowed or
allowable against Parent, Maker or such other subsidiary in any
such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees (including
prepayment fees), expenses, indemnification or otherwise;
provided
that
Senior Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness of Parent,
Maker or any of Parent’s other subsidiaries described in this
clause (c) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment
to any other indebtedness of Parent, Maker or such other
subsidiary. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to constitute Senior
Indebtedness, notwithstanding the fact that such Senior
Indebtedness or any claim for such Senior Indebtedness is
subordinated, avoided or disallowed under the Bankruptcy Code or
other applicable law.
“
Senior Indebtedness
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, the other “Credit Documents” as such
term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the First Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect, (b) the Second Lien Credit
Agreement and the other “Credit Documents” as such term
is defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect and (c) any other credit agreement,
indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing
the rights of the holders from time to time of any Senior
Indebtedness, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter be
amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Senior
Representatives
” means, collectively, (a) the First
Lien Agent, (b) the Second Lien Agent and (c) any other agent,
trustee or other representative of the holders from time to time of
any Senior Indebtedness.
“
Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means all principal, interest and other
amounts payable or chargeable in connection with the Subordinated
Note and any other Subordinated Lending Agreement.
“
Subordinated
Lender
” means the Holder and its heirs, successors and
assigns. References to the Subordinated Lender as “it”
is intended to mean the Subordinated Lender notwithstanding that
the Subordinated Lender is a natural person.
“
Subordinated Lending
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the Subordinated
Note, including the Subordination Provisions, and (b) all
agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter
executed and/or delivered by Maker or any other Person to, with or
in favor of the Subordinated Lender in connection therewith or
related thereto, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter
be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Subordinated
Note
” means the Amended and Restated Subordinated
Promissory Note, dated as of May 4, 2018, executed by Maker,
payable to the order of the Subordinated Lender, in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $1,475,316.78, as may be amended, amended
and restated, refinanced, extended, supplemented and/or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the
Subordinated Note and the Senior Indebtedness
Agreements.
“
Subordination
Provisions
” means the provisions of this Annex
A.
1.2
Other
Terms
. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Subordinated
Note.
2.
Covenants
.
Each of Maker and the Subordinated Lender, and any transferee of
any Subordinated Indebtedness, hereby covenants that until the
Senior Indebtedness shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements shall have been irrevocably terminated, all
in accordance with the terms of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements,
it will comply with such of the Subordination Provisions hereof as
are applicable to it:
2.1
Transfers
.
These Subordination Provisions constitute a continuing offer to all
Persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of,
or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representatives thereof, and such provisions are made for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior
Representative thereof, and such holders, and the Senior
Representative thereof, are hereby made obligees and express third
party beneficiaries hereunder the same as if their names were
written herein as such, and they and/or each of them may proceed to
enforce such provisions. The Subordinated Lender covenants that any
transferee from it of any Subordinated Indebtedness shall, prior to
acquiring such interest, execute and deliver a joinder to, or
acknowledgment of, the Subordination Terms in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the First Lien Agent and the Second Lien
Agent.
2.2
Subordination
Provisions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Subordinated Lending Agreements to the contrary, any Distribution
with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness is and shall be
expressly junior and subordinated in right of payment to all
amounts due and owing upon all Senior Indebtedness outstanding from
time to time. Specifically, but not by way of
limitation:
(a)
Payments
.
If a Senior Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and,
other than in the case of a Senior Default arising in respect of
any Event, any Senior Representative or other Senior Creditor shall
have provided prior written notice to Maker that no Distribution be
made, then (i) no Distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash securities or other property, and whether directly, by
purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise,
shall be made by or on behalf of Maker with respect to the
Subordinated Note to the Subordinated Lender and (ii) no amounts
payable under the Subordinated Note shall be forgiven or otherwise
reduced in any way.
(b)
Limitation
on Remedies
. The Subordinated Lender shall not be entitled
to exercise any remedies as a creditor or commence any other action
or proceeding to recover any amounts due or to become due with
respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness prior to the indefeasible
payment in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) of all Senior
Indebtedness and the irrevocable termination of the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements.
(c)
Prior
Payment of Senior Indebtedness in Bankruptcy, etc
. In the
event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings relative to Maker
or its property, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization
or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, or, in the
event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or
other winding up of Maker or distribution or marshalling of its
assets or any composition with creditors of Maker, whether or not
involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or if Maker shall cease its
operations, call a meeting of its creditors or no longer do
business as a going concern (each individually or collectively, an
“
Event
”), then
all Senior Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably terminated before any
Distribution shall be made on account of any Subordinated
Indebtedness. Any such Distribution which would, but for the
provisions hereof, be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Subordinated Indebtedness, shall be paid or delivered directly to
the Senior Creditors or their respective Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each,
until amounts owing upon Senior Indebtedness shall have been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably
terminated.
(d)
Power
of Attorney
. To enable the Senior Creditors to assert and
enforce their rights hereunder in any proceeding referred to in
Section 2.2(c) or upon the happening of any Event, each Senior
Representative or any Person whom it may designate is hereby
irrevocably appointed attorney-in-fact for the Subordinated Lender
with full power to act in the place and stead of the Subordinated
Lender, including the right to make, present, and file and to vote
such proofs of claim against Maker on account of all or any part of
the Subordinated Indebtedness as such Senior Representative may
deem advisable and to receive and collect any and all payments made
thereon and to apply the same on account of the Senior
Indebtedness. The Subordinated Lender will execute and deliver to
any Senior Representative such instruments as may be required by
such Senior Representative to enforce any and all Subordinated
Indebtedness, to effectuate the aforesaid power of attorney and to
effect collection of any and all payments which may be made at any
time on account thereof, and the Subordinated Lender hereby
irrevocably appoints each Senior Representative as the lawful
attorney and agent of the Subordinated Lender to execute such
instruments on behalf of the Subordinated Lender and hereby further
authorizes the Senior Representatives to file such instruments in
any appropriate public office.
(e)
Payments
Held in Trust
. Should any Distribution or the proceeds
thereof, in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness, be collected
or received by the Subordinated Lender or any Affiliate (as such
term is defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933) of the Subordinated Lender at a time when the Subordinated
Lender is not permitted to receive any such Distribution or
proceeds thereof, including if same is collected or received when
there is or would be after giving effect to such payment a Senior
Default, then the Subordinated Lender will forthwith deliver, or
cause to be delivered, the same to the Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, in
precisely the form held by the Subordinated Lender (except for any
necessary endorsement) and until so delivered, the same shall be
held in trust by the Subordinated Lender, or any such Affiliate, as
the property of the Senior Representatives and shall not be
commingled with other property of the Subordinated Lender or any
such Affiliate.
(f)
Subrogation
.
Subject to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash or cash
equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which by
their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) of the Senior Indebtedness and the
irrevocable termination of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, to
the extent that any Senior Creditor or any Senior Representative
thereof has received any Distribution on the applicable Senior
Indebtedness which, but for the Subordination Provisions hereof,
would have been applied to the Subordinated Indebtedness, the
Subordinated Lender shall be subrogated to then or thereafter
rights of such Senior Creditor or such Senior Representative
thereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive any
Distribution made on the applicable Senior Indebtedness until the
principal of, interest on and other charges due under the
Subordinated Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and,
for the purposes of such subrogation, no Distribution to any Senior
Creditor or any Senior Representative thereof to which the
Subordinated Lender would be entitled except for the Subordination
Provisions hereof shall, as between Maker, its creditors (other
than the Senior Creditors and the Senior Representatives) and the
Subordinated Lender, be deemed to be a Distribution by Maker to or
on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the
provisions hereof are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender on the one
hand, and the Senior Creditors on the other hand.
(g)
Scope
of Subordination
. The Subordination Provisions hereof are
solely to define the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender and
the Senior Creditors. Nothing in this Annex A shall impair, as
between Maker and the Subordinated Lender the unconditional and
absolute obligation of Maker to punctually pay the principal,
interest and any other amounts and obligations owing under the
Subordinated Note and the Subordinated Lending Agreements in
accordance with the terms thereof, subject to the rights of the
Senior Creditors hereunder.
2.3
Unsecured
Creditor of Maker
. The Subordinated Lender hereby agrees and
acknowledges that the Subordinated Indebtedness is an unsecured
obligation of Maker.
3.
Miscellaneous
.
3.1
Survival
of Rights
. The rights of the Senior Creditors to enforce the
Subordination Provisions shall not be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or omitted act of Maker, the Subordinated Lender or any Senior
Creditor, including, without limitation, forbearance, waiver,
consent, compromise, amendment, extension, renewal, or taking or
release of security in respect of any Senior Indebtedness or
noncompliance by Maker with such provisions, regardless of the
actual or imputed knowledge of any Senior Creditor.
3.2
Bankruptcy
Financing Issues
. The Subordinated Note shall continue in
full force and effect after the filing of any petition
(“
Petition
”) by or against
Maker under the Bankruptcy Code and all converted or succeeding
cases in respect thereof. All references herein to Maker shall be
deemed to apply to Maker as debtor-in-possession and to a trustee
for Maker. If Maker shall become subject to a proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code, and if any Senior Creditors shall desire to permit
the use of cash collateral or to provide post-Petition financing
from such Senior Creditors to Maker under the Bankruptcy Code, the
Subordinated Lender agrees as follows: (a) adequate notice to
Subordinated Lender shall be deemed to have been provided for such
consent or post-Petition financing if the Subordinated Lender
receives notice thereof three (3) Business Days (or such shorter
notice as is given to the Senior Creditors or the Senior
Representatives thereof) prior to the earlier of (i) any hearing on
a request to approve such post-petition financing or (ii) the date
of entry of an order approving same and (b) no objection will be
raised by the Subordinated Lender to any such use of cash
collateral or such post-Petition financing from such Senior
Creditors.
3.3
Insurance
Proceeds
. The Senior Representatives of any Senior
Indebtedness that is secured by any Collateral, as holders of a
senior security interest on the Collateral insured shall have the
sole and exclusive right, as against the Subordinated Lender, to
adjust settlement of insurance claims in the event of any covered
loss, theft or destruction of such Collateral. All proceeds of such
insurance shall inure to the applicable Senior Representatives, to
the extent of the applicable Senior Creditors’ claim, and the
Subordinated Lender shall cooperate (if necessary) in a reasonable
manner in effecting the payment of insurance proceeds to the
applicable Senior Creditors. In the event the applicable Senior
Representatives, in their sole discretion or pursuant to agreement
with Maker, permits Maker to utilize the proceeds of insurance to
replace Collateral, the consent of such Senior Representatives
thereto shall be deemed to include the consent of the Subordinated
Lender.
3.4
Receipt
of Agreements
. The Subordinated Lender hereby acknowledges
that it has delivered to each Senior Representative a correct and
complete copy of the Subordinated Lending Agreements as in effect
on the date hereof. The Subordinated Lender, solely for the payment
of the Subordinated Note, hereby acknowledges receipt of a correct
and complete copy of each of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements as
in effect on the date hereof.
3.5
No
Amendment of Subordinated Lending Agreements
. So long as any
Senior Indebtedness Agreement remains in effect, neither Maker nor
the Subordinated Lender shall enter into any amendment, waiver or
modification of the Subordinated Lending Agreements, without the
prior written consent of the Senior Representatives.
3.6
Amendments
to Senior Indebtedness Agreements
. Nothing contained herein
shall in any manner limit or restrict the ability of the Senior
Creditors to increase or change the terms of the Senior
Indebtedness under any Senior Indebtedness Agreements, or to
otherwise waive, amend or modify the terms and conditions of the
Senior Indebtedness Agreements, in such manner as the applicable
Senior Creditors and Maker shall mutually determine. The
Subordinated Lender hereby consents to any and all such waivers,
amendments, modifications and compromises, and any other renewals,
extensions, indulgences, releases of collateral or other
accommodations granted by the Senior Creditors to Maker from time
to time, and agrees that none of such actions shall in any manner
affect or impair the subordination established hereby in respect of
the Subordinated Indebtedness.
3.7
Notice
of Default and Certain Events
. The Subordinated Lender shall
notify the Senior Representatives of the occurrence of any of the
following as applicable:
(a) the
obtaining of actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of
Default under any of the Subordinated Notes;
(b) the
acceleration of any Subordinated Indebtedness by the Subordinated
Lender; or
(c) the
granting of any waiver of any Event of Default by the Subordinated
Lender.
3.8
Binding
Effect; Governing Law
. The Subordination Provisions shall be
a continuing agreement and shall be binding upon Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns and inure to the benefit of the Senior Creditors, Maker and
the Subordinated Lender and their respective heirs, successors and
assigns, shall be irrevocable and shall remain in full force and
effect until the Senior Indebtedness shall have been satisfied or
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements shall have been irrevocably
terminated, but shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated,
as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of
any amount paid by or on behalf of Maker with regard to the Senior
Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of Maker, or upon or as a result of the appointment
of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee, custodian,
or similar officer, for Maker or any substantial part of its
property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been
made. No action which any Senior Creditor or Maker may take or
refrain from taking with respect to the Senior Indebtedness,
including any amendments thereto, shall affect the Subordination
Provisions or the obligations of Maker or the Subordinated Lender
hereunder. The headings in the Subordination Provisions are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not alter or otherwise
affect the meaning hereof.
THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MAKER, THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND
5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW
THEREOF.
3.9
Waiver
of Substantive Consolidation
. By its acceptance of the
Subordinated Note, the Subordinated Lender agrees that, in any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any proceeding under any
similar law, it will not, directly or indirectly, request, join in
or support any request, or provide any assistance or encouragement
or solicit any other Person to make any request, for substantive
consolidation of Maker with any one or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities or for a determination that piercing the corporate
veil, alter ego or any similar theory is applicable to Maker and
one or more of its subsidiaries or parent entities and waive any
and all rights they may have to do so. In the event that Maker is
substantively consolidated with any or more of its subsidiaries or
parent entities, the Subordinated Lender agrees that it will not
benefit from such substantive consolidation and will be treated as
if the substantive consolidation did not occur (and any such
benefit that would have accrued to the Subordinated Lender shall be
turned over to the creditors of the subsidiary or subsidiaries that
are so substantively consolidated). The Subordinated Lender
acknowledges that the Senior Creditors are expressly relying on the
separateness of Maker from its subsidiaries and parent entities,
and agrees that the Senior Creditors may rely on the agreements and
waivers in this paragraph.
4.
PROCEEDINGS
.
SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
AGAINST MAKER, THE SUBORDINATED LENDER OR ANY SENIOR CREDITOR
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN
ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING OR ACCEPTING THE SUBORDINATED
NOTE, EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER, FOR ITSELF AND IN
CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH
COURTS (SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF
FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS
IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED
OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE
PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE PAGES TO THE
SUBORDINATED NOTE; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE
(C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE
APPLICABLE PERSON IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND
OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY
RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES THAT THE SENIOR CREDITORS RETAIN THE RIGHT
TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MAKER OR THE SUBORDINATED LENDER IN THE COURTS
OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY
RIGHTS UNDER THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS, THE SUBORDINATED LENDING
AGREEMENTS OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENTS OR ANY EXERCISE OF
REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS
TO VENUE IN, ANY SUCH COURT.
5.
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR
CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS
BETWEEN THEM OR THE SENIOR CREDITORS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER
HEREOF. 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 HEREOF, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS,
TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER
INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR
CREDITORS HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THE
SUBORDINATED LENDING AGREEMENTS AND/OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
AGREEMENTS, AND THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS WILL
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS.
EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER 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 5 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF MAKER AND THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER AND CONSENTED TO IN WRITING BY EACH SENIOR
REPRESENTATIVE), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
6.
Maker
Acknowledgement
. Maker agrees that (a) nothing contained in
the Subordination Provisions shall be deemed to amend, modify,
supersede or otherwise alter the terms of the respective agreements
between Maker and any Senior Creditor or between Maker and the
Subordinated Lender and (b) the Subordination Provisions are solely
for the benefit of the Senior Creditors and the Subordinated Lender
and shall not give Maker, its successors or assigns, or any other
Person any rights vis-à-vis any Senior Creditor or the
Subordinated Lender.
THIS INSTRUMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX A
ATTACHED HERETO) OWED BY MAKER (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND THE OTHER
CREDIT PARTIES (AS DEFINED IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO
BELOW) PURSUANT TO (A) THAT CERTAIN FIRST LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF May 4, 2018 (THE “
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
”)
AMONG MAKER, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF MAKER, WILMINGTON TRUST,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT,
AND THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE FIRST LIEN
CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED,
AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME
TO TIME, (B) THAT CERTAIN SECOND LIEN CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF May 4, 2018 (THE “
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
”
AND, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE
“
CREDIT
AGREEMENTS
”) AMONG MAKER, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF
MAKER, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT, AND THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY
THERETO, AS THE SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AND HEREAFTER
MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR
OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND (C) THE OTHER SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX A ATTACHED HERETO); AND EACH
HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY
AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN
ANNEX A ATTACHED HERETO.
THIS NOTE IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
(“OID”) AS DEFINED BY SECTION 1273(A)(1) OF THE
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. A HOLDER OF THIS NOTE
MAY CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF MAKER FOR INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF OID AND YIELD TO MATURITY OF
THIS NOTE.
Date: May 4, 2018
|
Amount $10,000,000.00
|
SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Fusion Connect, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“
Maker
”),
hereby promises to pay to Holcombe T. Green, Jr. (together with his
heirs, successors and permitted assigns, the
“
Holder
”)
at its offices, or at such other place as Holder may from time to
time direct, in lawful money of the United States, the principal
sum of TEN MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($10,000,000.00), on the date
that is 91 days following the latest applicable Maturity Date under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement, with interest (computed on the
basis of a 360-day year payable for the number of days actually
elapsed) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 13% per annum
until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable.
Subject in all respects to the subordination
provisions set forth in Annex A attached hereto, a
ll interest hereon shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date (as defined
below).
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable on
the last day of each of March, June, September and December of each
year (each an “
Interest Payment
Date
”) commencing June 30, 2018.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, in the event that on or prior to the date that
is 36 months after the date, hereof all or any portion of the
outstanding principal amount hereof is prepaid, then the Holder
shall be paid a fee equal to (A) if such prepayment occurs on or
prior to the date that is 18 months after the date hereof, the
Yield Maintenance Amount (as defined in the Second Lien Credit
Agreement) with respect to the principal amount so prepaid, (B) if
such prepayment occurs after the date that is 18 months after the
date hereof and on or prior to the date that is 24 months after the
date hereof, 4.00% of the principal amount so prepaid, and (C) if
such prepayment occurs after the date that is 24 months after the
date hereof but on or prior to the date that is 36 months after the
date hereof, 2.00% of the principal amount so prepaid;
provided
that (i) no such fee
shall be due and payable if such prepayment or amendment or
modification (or such assignment) occurs after the date that is 36
months after the Closing Date and (ii) such fee shall be due a
payable only if a fee shall also be due and payable under Section
2.12(b) of the Second Lien Credit Agreement as a result of such
prepayment.
Events of
Default
. Each of the following
shall constitute an “
Event of
Default
”:
(i)
Maker fails to pay any amount due hereunder within ten (10) days of
demand by Holder therefor;
(ii)
Maker
fails to comply with or to perform in accordance with, or otherwise
breaches, any other provision contained in this Note that is not
cured within thirty (30) days after such failure first occurs;
or
(iii)
the
execution of an assignment for the benefit of creditors by Maker or
the filing or commencement of any proceedings for relief under any
applicable bankruptcy laws or insolvency laws or any laws relating
to the relief of debtors, readjustment of any indebtedness,
reorganization, composition, extension of debt, or the appointment
of a trustee for, by or against Maker.
Subject
in all respects to the subordination provisions set forth in Annex
A attached hereto, upon and after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, Holder shall have the right, without presentment, notice,
or demand of any kind, to accelerate this Note and to declare all
of the obligations of Maker under this Note due and payable
immediately, and to exercise all of Holder’s rights and
remedies as provided in this Note or under applicable law;
provided
that, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (iii) above, all
obligations of Maker under this Note shall automatically become due
and payable immediately. Maker hereby waives presentment, demand
for payment, notice of nonpayment, protests, notice of protests,
notice of dishonor and all other notices in connection with this
Note.
Notwithstanding any
other provision contained in this Note, the aggregate interest rate
per annum charged with respect to this Note (including, without
limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be interest pursuant to
applicable law), shall not exceed the maximum rate per annum
permitted by applicable law. In the event that the aggregate
interest rate per annum payable with respect to this Note
(including, without limitation, all charges and fees deemed to be
interest under applicable laws) exceeds the maximum legal rate, (i)
Maker shall only pay interest at the maximum permitted rate, (ii)
Maker shall continue to make such interest payments at the maximum
permitted rate until all such interest payments and other charges
and fees payable hereunder (in the absence of such legal
limitations) have been paid in full, (iii) any interest in excess
of the maximum permitted rate received by the Holder shall, at the
Holder’s option, be applied to a prepayment of the principal
amount of this Note or refunded to Maker, and (iv) neither
Maker nor any other Person shall have any right of action against
the Holder for any damages or penalties arising out of the payment
or collection of any such excess interest. In determining whether
the interest contracted for, charged, or received with respect to
this Note exceeds the maximum permitted rate, the Holder 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 this Note.
Payments of
principal of and interest on this Note are to be made in lawful
money of the United States of America at the address shown in the
register maintained by the Holder for such purpose or at such other
place as the Holder shall have designated.
This
Note shall not be assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of to
any Person (as defined below) other than to a Person majority-owned
and Controlled by (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)
Holcombe T. Green, Jr. “
Person
” means
any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, joint stock company, joint venture, association,
company, trust, bank, trust company, land trust and business trust
or other organization, whether or not a legal entity.
Maker
and Holder each acknowledge and agree that this Note has been
issued by Maker to Holder for an amount equal to 96.0% of the
original face amount hereof.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF
THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW THEREOF.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed, or have caused
their duly authorized officer or representative to execute, this
Note as of the date first above written.
MAKER
:
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ Kevin M.
Dotts
Name:
Kevin M. Dotts
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Address:
420
Lexington Ave., Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE]
HOLDER:
/s/ Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
Holcombe
T. Green, Jr.
Address:
320
Interstate North Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30339
Annex
A
to
Subordinated Promissory Note
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
1.
Definitions
.
1.1
General Terms
. As used in these
Subordination Provisions, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
“
Bankruptcy
Code
” means Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled “Bankruptcy”.
“
Collateral
”
means, collectively, (a) the “Collateral” as such term
is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement, (b) the
“Collateral” as such term is defined in the Second Lien
Credit Agreement and (c) any other property (including equity
interests) on which liens are purported to be granted pursuant to
any Senior Indebtedness Agreement as security for any Senior
Indebtedness.
“
Distribution
”
means any payment, distribution or dividend (whether in respect of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise), whether in cash, in kind,
securities or any other property, or security for any such payment,
distribution or dividend.
“
Event
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“
First Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
First Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the First Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Maker, certain
subsidiaries of Maker from time to time party thereto, the lenders
from time to time party thereto and the First Lien Agent, as the
foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Second Lien
Agent
” means Wilmington Trust, National Association,
in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under
the Second Lien Credit Agreement, and its successors and assigns in
such capacity.
“
Second Lien Credit
Agreement
” means the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018, among Maker, certain
subsidiaries of Maker from time to time party thereto, the lenders
from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Agent, as the
foregoing now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
“
Senior
Creditors
” means, collectively, (a) the “Secured
Parties” as such term is defined in the First Lien Credit
Agreement, (b) the “Secured Parties” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement, (c) any other holders
of Senior Indebtedness and (d) the Senior Representatives of any of
the foregoing.
“
Senior
Default
” means a Default or an Event of Default (or
any comparable term) under (and as defined in) any Senior
Indebtedness Agreement.
“
Senior
Indebtedness
” means, collectively, (a) all
“Obligations” as such term is defined in the First Lien
Credit Agreement, (b) all “Obligations” as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement and (c) all obligations
of every nature of Maker and each of its subsidiaries under (i) any
“Permitted Second Lien Indebtedness”, “Permitted
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” or
“Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness” in each
case as such term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or
(ii) any “Permitted Section 6.1(e) Indebtedness”,
“Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”
or “Permitted Incremental Equivalent Indebtedness” in
each case as such term is defined in the Second Lien Credit
Agreement, whether for principal, interest (including default
interest accruing pursuant to the terms of the Senior Indebtedness
Agreements in respect of such Senior Indebtedness and interest
(including such default interest) that would continue to accrue
pursuant to such Senior Indebtedness Agreements on any such
obligations after the commencement of any proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law or the occurrence of any
other Event with respect to Maker or such subsidiary, whether or
not such interest is allowed or allowable against Maker or such
subsidiary in any such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees
(including prepayment fees), expenses, indemnification or
otherwise;
provided
that Senior Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness of
Maker or any of its subsidiaries described in this clause (c) that
is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other
indebtedness of Maker or such subsidiary. Senior Indebtedness shall
continue to constitute Senior Indebtedness, notwithstanding the
fact that such Senior Indebtedness or any claim for such Senior
Indebtedness is subordinated, avoided or disallowed under the
Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law.
“
Senior Indebtedness
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the First Lien
Credit Agreement, the other “Credit Documents” as such
term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the First Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect, (b) the Second Lien Credit
Agreement and the other “Credit Documents” as such term
is defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement executed and/or
delivered in connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement as
from time to time in effect and (c) any other credit agreement,
indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing
the rights of the holders from time to time of any Senior
Indebtedness, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter be
amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Senior
Representatives
” means, collectively, (a) the First
Lien Agent, (b) the Second Lien Agent and (c) any other agent,
trustee or other representative of the holders from time to time of
any Senior Indebtedness.
“
Subordinated
Indebtedness
” means all principal, interest and other
amounts payable or chargeable in connection with the Subordinated
Note and any other Subordinated Lending Agreement.
“
Subordinated
Lender
” means the Holder and its successors and
assigns.
“
Subordinated Lending
Agreements
” means, collectively, (a) the Subordinated
Note, including the Subordination Provisions, and (b) all
agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter
executed and/or delivered by Maker or any other Person to, with or
in favor of the Subordinated Lender in connection therewith or
related thereto, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter
be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or
replaced.
“
Subordinated
Note
” means the Subordinated Promissory Note, dated as
of May 4, 2018, executed by Maker, payable to the order of the
Subordinated Lender, in an aggregate principal amount of up to
$10,000,000, as may be amended, amended and restated, refinanced,
extended, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time
in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note and the
Senior Indebtedness Agreements.
“
Subordination
Provisions
” means the provisions of this Annex
A.
1.2
Other Terms
. Capitalized terms
used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Subordinated Note.
2.
Covenants
. Each of Maker and
the Subordinated Lender, and any transferee of any Subordinated
Indebtedness, hereby covenants that until the Senior Indebtedness
shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and satisfied in cash or
cash equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which
by their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior Indebtedness Agreements
shall have been irrevocably terminated, all in accordance with the
terms of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, it will comply with
such of the Subordination Provisions hereof as are applicable to
it:
2.1
Transfers
. These Subordination
Provisions constitute a continuing offer to all Persons who, in
reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or continue to
hold, Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior Representatives thereof,
and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders of
Senior Indebtedness, and the Senior Representative thereof, and
such holders, and the Senior Representative thereof, are hereby
made obligees and express third party beneficiaries hereunder the
same as if their names were written herein as such, and they and/or
each of them may proceed to enforce such provisions.
2.2
Subordination Provisions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Subordinated Lending
Agreements to the contrary, any Distribution with respect to the
Subordinated Indebtedness is and shall be expressly junior and
subordinated in right of payment to all amounts due and owing upon
all Senior Indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
Specifically, but not by way of limitation:
(a)
Payments
. If a Senior Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, and, other than in the case
of a Senior Default arising in respect of any Event, any Senior
Representative or other Senior Creditor shall have provided prior
written notice to Maker that no Distribution be made, then (i) no
Distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash securities
or other property, and whether directly, by purchase, redemption,
exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, shall be made by or
on behalf of Maker with respect to the Subordinated Note to the
Subordinated Lender and (ii) no amounts payable under the
Subordinated Note shall be forgiven or otherwise reduced in any
way.
(b)
Limitation on Remedies
. The
Subordinated Lender shall not be entitled to exercise any remedies
as a creditor or commence any other action or proceeding to recover
any amounts due or to become due with respect to the Subordinated
Indebtedness prior to the indefeasible payment in full in cash or
cash equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which
by their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) of all Senior Indebtedness and the
irrevocable termination of the Senior Indebtedness
Agreements.
(c)
Prior Payment of Senior Indebtedness
in Bankruptcy, etc
. In the event of any insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings relative to Maker or its property, or any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceedings in connection therewith, or, in the event of any
proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding
up of Maker or distribution or marshalling of its assets or any
composition with creditors of Maker, whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy, or if Maker shall cease its operations,
call a meeting of its creditors or no longer do business as a going
concern (each individually or collectively, an “
Event
”), then
all Senior Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and
satisfied in cash or cash equivalents (other than contingent
indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any termination
of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior
Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably terminated before any
Distribution shall be made on account of any Subordinated
Indebtedness. Any such Distribution which would, but for the
provisions hereof, be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Subordinated Indebtedness, shall be paid or delivered directly to
the Senior Creditors or their respective Senior Representatives,
ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each,
until amounts owing upon Senior Indebtedness shall have been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash equivalents (other than
contingent indemnity obligations which by their terms survive any
termination of the applicable Senior Indebtedness Agreement) and
the Senior Indebtedness Agreements irrevocably
terminated.
(d)
Power of Attorney
. To enable
the Senior Creditors to assert and enforce their rights hereunder
in any proceeding referred to in Section 2.2(c) or upon the
happening of any Event, each Senior Representative or any Person
whom it may designate is hereby irrevocably appointed
attorney-in-fact for the Subordinated Lender with full power to act
in the place and stead of the Subordinated Lender, including the
right to make, present, and file and to vote such proofs of claim
against Maker on account of all or any part of the Subordinated
Indebtedness as such Senior Representative may deem advisable and
to receive and collect any and all payments made thereon and to
apply the same on account of the Senior Indebtedness. The
Subordinated Lender will execute and deliver to any Senior
Representative such instruments as may be required by such Senior
Representative to enforce any and all Subordinated Indebtedness, to
effectuate the aforesaid power of attorney and to effect collection
of any and all payments which may be made at any time on account
thereof, and the Subordinated Lender hereby irrevocably appoints
each Senior Representative as the lawful attorney and agent of the
Subordinated Lender to execute such instruments on behalf of the
Subordinated Lender and hereby further authorizes the Senior
Representatives to file such instruments in any appropriate public
office.
(e)
Payments Held in Trust
. Should
any Distribution or the proceeds thereof, in respect of the
Subordinated Indebtedness, be collected or received by the
Subordinated Lender or any Affiliate (as such term is defined in
Rule 405 of Regulation C adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933) of the
Subordinated Lender at a time when the Subordinated Lender is not
permitted to receive any such Distribution or proceeds thereof,
including if same is collected or received when there is or would
be after giving effect to such payment a Senior Default, then the
Subordinated Lender will forthwith deliver, or cause to be
delivered, the same to the Senior Representatives, ratably
according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of
the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, in precisely
the form held by the Subordinated Lender (except for any necessary
endorsement) and until so delivered, the same shall be held in
trust by the Subordinated Lender, or any such Affiliate, as the
property of the Senior Representatives and shall not be commingled
with other property of the Subordinated Lender or any such
Affiliate.
(f)
Subrogation
.
Subject to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash or cash
equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which by
their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) of the Senior Indebtedness and the
irrevocable termination of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, to
the extent that any Senior Creditor or any Senior Representative
thereof has received any Distribution on the applicable Senior
Indebtedness which, but for the Subordination Provisions hereof,
would have been applied to the Subordinated Indebtedness, the
Subordinated Lender shall be subrogated to then or thereafter
rights of such Senior Creditor or such Senior Representative
thereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive any
Distribution made on the applicable Senior Indebtedness until the
principal of, interest on and other charges due under the
Subordinated Indebtedness shall be indefeasibly paid in full and,
for the purposes of such subrogation, no Distribution to any Senior
Creditor or any Senior Representative thereof to which the
Subordinated Lender would be entitled except for the Subordination
Provisions hereof shall, as between Maker, its creditors (other
than the Senior Creditors and the Senior Representatives) and the
Subordinated Lender, be deemed to be a Distribution by Maker to or
on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the
provisions hereof are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender on the one
hand, and the Senior Creditors on the other hand.
(g)
Scope
of Subordination
. The Subordination Provisions hereof are
solely to define the relative rights of the Subordinated Lender and
the Senior Creditors. Nothing in this Annex A shall impair, as
between Maker and the Subordinated Lender the unconditional and
absolute obligation of Maker to punctually pay the principal,
interest and any other amounts and obligations owing under the
Subordinated Note and the Subordinated Lending Agreements in
accordance with the terms thereof, subject to the rights of the
Senior Creditors hereunder.
2.3
Unsecured Creditor of Maker
.
The Subordinated Lender hereby agrees and acknowledges that the
Subordinated Indebtedness is an unsecured obligation of
Maker.
3.
Miscellaneous
.
3.1
Survival of Rights
. The rights
of the Senior Creditors to enforce the Subordination Provisions
shall not be prejudiced or impaired by any act or omitted act of
Maker, the Subordinated Lender or any Senior Creditor, including,
without limitation, forbearance, waiver, consent, compromise,
amendment, extension, renewal, or taking or release of security in
respect of any Senior Indebtedness or noncompliance by Maker with
such provisions, regardless of the actual or imputed knowledge of
any Senior Creditor.
3.2
Bankruptcy Financing Issues
.
The Subordinated Note shall continue in full force and effect after
the filing of any petition (“
Petition
”) by or against
Maker under the Bankruptcy Code and all converted or succeeding
cases in respect thereof. All references herein to Maker shall be
deemed to apply to Maker as debtor-in-possession and to a trustee
for Maker. If Maker shall become subject to a proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code, and if any Senior Creditors shall desire to permit
the use of cash collateral or to provide post-Petition financing
from such Senior Creditors to Maker under the Bankruptcy Code, the
Subordinated Lender agrees as follows: (a) adequate notice to
Subordinated Lender shall be deemed to have been provided for such
consent or post-Petition financing if the Subordinated Lender
receives notice thereof three (3) Business Days (or such shorter
notice as is given to the Senior Creditors or the Senior
Representatives thereof) prior to the earlier of (i) any hearing on
a request to approve such post-petition financing or (ii) the date
of entry of an order approving same and (b) no objection will be
raised by the Subordinated Lender to any such use of cash
collateral or such post-Petition financing from such Senior
Creditors.
3.3
Insurance Proceeds
. The Senior
Representatives of any Senior Indebtedness that is secured by any
Collateral, as holders of a senior security interest on the
Collateral insured shall have the sole and exclusive right, as
against the Subordinated Lender, to adjust settlement of insurance
claims in the event of any covered loss, theft or destruction of
such Collateral. All proceeds of such insurance shall inure to the
applicable Senior Representatives, to the extent of the applicable
Senior Creditors’ claim, and the Subordinated Lender shall
cooperate (if necessary) in a reasonable manner in effecting the
payment of insurance proceeds to the applicable Senior Creditors.
In the event the applicable Senior Representatives, in their sole
discretion or pursuant to agreement with Maker, permits Maker to
utilize the proceeds of insurance to replace Collateral, the
consent of such Senior Representatives thereto shall be deemed to
include the consent of the Subordinated Lender.
3.4
Receipt of Agreements
. The
Subordinated Lender hereby acknowledges that it has delivered to
each Senior Representative a correct and complete copy of the
Subordinated Lending Agreements as in effect on the date hereof.
The Subordinated Lender, solely for the payment of the Subordinated
Note, hereby acknowledges receipt of a correct and complete copy of
each of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements as in effect on the date
hereof.
3.5
No Amendment of Subordinated Lending
Agreements
. So long as any Senior Indebtedness Agreement
remains in effect, neither Maker nor the Subordinated Lender shall
enter into any amendment, waiver or modification of the
Subordinated Lending Agreements, without the prior written consent
of the Senior Representatives.
3.6
Amendments to Senior Indebtedness
Agreements
. Nothing contained herein shall in any manner
limit or restrict the ability of the Senior Creditors to increase
or change the terms of the Senior Indebtedness under any Senior
Indebtedness Agreements, or to otherwise waive, amend or modify the
terms and conditions of the Senior Indebtedness Agreements, in such
manner as the applicable Senior Creditors and Maker shall mutually
determine. The Subordinated Lender hereby consents to any and all
such waivers, amendments, modifications and compromises, and any
other renewals, extensions, indulgences, releases of collateral or
other accommodations granted by the Senior Creditors to Maker from
time to time, and agrees that none of such actions shall in any
manner affect or impair the subordination established hereby in
respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness.
3.7
Notice of Default and Certain
Events
. The Subordinated Lender shall notify the Senior
Representatives of the occurrence of any of the following as
applicable:
(a)
the obtaining of
actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default under
any of the Subordinated Notes;
(b)
the acceleration of
any Subordinated Indebtedness by the Subordinated Lender;
or
(c)
the granting of any
waiver of any Event of Default by the Subordinated
Lender.
3.8
Binding Effect; Governing Law
.
The Subordination Provisions shall be a continuing agreement and
shall be binding upon Maker and the Subordinated Lender and their
respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of the
Senior Creditors, Maker and the Subordinated Lender and their
respective successors and assigns, shall be irrevocable and shall
remain in full force and effect until the Senior Indebtedness shall
have been satisfied or indefeasibly paid in full in cash or cash
equivalents (other than contingent indemnity obligations which by
their terms survive any termination of the applicable Senior
Indebtedness Agreement) and the Senior Indebtedness Agreements
shall have been irrevocably terminated, but shall continue to be
effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time
payment, or any part thereof, of any amount paid by or on behalf of
Maker with regard to the Senior Indebtedness is rescinded or must
otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy,
dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Maker, or upon or as
a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or
conservator of, or trustee, custodian, or similar officer, for
Maker or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as
though such payments had not been made. No action which any Senior
Creditor or Maker may take or refrain from taking with respect to
the Senior Indebtedness, including any amendments thereto, shall
affect the Subordination Provisions or the obligations of Maker or
the Subordinated Lender hereunder. The headings in the
Subordination Provisions are for convenience of reference only, and
shall not alter or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SHALL
BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF MAKER, THE SUBORDINATED LENDER AND THE SENIOR
CREDITORS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
THEREOF, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CHOICE-OF-LAW
PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW THEREOF.
3.9
Waiver of Substantive
Consolidation
. By its acceptance of the Subordinated Note,
the Subordinated Lender agrees that, in any proceeding under the
Bankruptcy Code or any proceeding under any similar law, it will
not, directly or indirectly, request, join in or support any
request, or provide any assistance or encouragement or solicit any
other Person to make any request, for substantive consolidation of
Maker with any one or more of its subsidiaries or for a
determination that piercing the corporate veil, alter ego or any
similar theory is applicable to Maker and one or more of its
subsidiaries and waive any and all rights they may have to do so.
In the event that Maker is substantively consolidated with any or
more of its subsidiaries or parent entities, the Subordinated
Lender agrees that it will not benefit from such substantive
consolidation and will be treated as if the substantive
consolidation did not occur (and any such benefit that would have
accrued to the Subordinated Lender shall be turned over to the
creditors of the subsidiary or subsidiaries that are so
substantively consolidated). The Subordinated Lender acknowledges
that the Senior Creditors are expressly relying on the separateness
of Maker from its subsidiaries and parent entities, and agrees that
the Senior Creditors may rely on the agreements and waivers in this
paragraph.
4.
PROCEEDINGS
. SUBJECT TO CLAUSE
(E) BELOW, ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST MAKER, THE
SUBORDINATED LENDER OR ANY SENIOR CREDITOR ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING HERETO SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN ANY FEDERAL COURT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY
STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BY
EXECUTING AND DELIVERING OR ACCEPTING THE SUBORDINATED NOTE, EACH
OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION
WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS
(SUBJECT TO CLAUSE (E) BELOW); (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON
CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH
PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED
MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY AT ITS
ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE PAGES TO THE SUBORDINATED NOTE;
(D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS
SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE
PERSON IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE
CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E)
AGREES THAT THE SENIOR CREDITORS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS
IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS
AGAINST MAKER OR THE SUBORDINATED LENDER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER
THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS, THE SUBORDINATED LENDING AGREEMENTS
OR THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENTS OR ANY EXERCISE OF REMEDIES
IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND
HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF, AND CONSENTS TO VENUE IN,
ANY SUCH COURT.
5.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
. EACH OF
MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RIGHTS
TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR
ARISING HEREUNDER OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM OR THE SENIOR
CREDITORS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF. 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 HEREOF, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF
DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF
MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS
A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT
EACH OF THEM AND THE SENIOR CREDITORS HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS
WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THE SUBORDINATED LENDING AGREEMENTS AND/OR
THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENTS, AND THAT EACH OF THEM AND THE
SENIOR CREDITORS WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS
RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH OF MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER
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 5 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF
MAKER AND THE SUBORDINATED LENDER AND CONSENTED TO IN WRITING BY
EACH SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS
HERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE
COURT.
6.
Maker Acknowledgement
. Maker
agrees that (a) nothing contained in the Subordination Provisions
shall be deemed to amend, modify, supersede or otherwise alter the
terms of the respective agreements between Maker and any Senior
Creditor or between Maker and the Subordinated Lender and (b) the
Subordination Provisions are solely for the benefit of the Senior
Creditors and the Subordinated Lender and shall not give Maker, its
successors or assigns, or any other Person any rights
vis-à-vis any Senior Creditor or the Subordinated
Lender.
SUBORDINATED NOTE
U.S.
$25,000,000.00
|
May
4, 2018
|
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
, the undersigned,
VECTOR FUSION HOLDINGS (CAYMAN), LTD
.,
an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the
laws of the Cayman Islands (the "
Maker
"), hereby promises to pay, subject
to the provisions set forth on Annex A hereto (the "
Subordination Provisions
"), to the order
of
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, a
corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (together with any
subsequent permitted holder hereof, the "
Payee
"), the principal sum of TWENTY
FIVE MILLION AND NO/100 UNITED STATES DOLLARS (U.S. $25,000,000.00)
not later than May 3, 2024 or, if less, the unpaid principal amount
hereof on such date.
Terms
used herein have the meanings assigned to them on Annex A hereto.
In addition, terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
given to them in the Senior Credit Agreement (and, if any term is
used after the Senior Obligations have been Paid-in-Full, such term
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Credit
Agreement as in effect when such Payment-in-Full
occurred).
By its
signature below and by its payment of the purchase price for this
Subordinated Note, the Payee hereby acknowledges and agrees that
the Subordination Provisions are an integral part of this
Subordinated Note, and irrevocably agrees to be bound by the terms
of this Subordinated Note, including the Subordination
Provisions.
1.
Interest;
Prepayments; Payment On Demand.
(a)
Subject in each
case to the Subordination Provisions, the Maker promises to pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof on each Payment Date
from the date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full in
an amount, in U.S. Dollars, equal to the Subordinated Note Interest
Payment Amount for such Payment Date.
(b)
Subject in each
case to the Subordination Provisions, the Maker shall repay
outstanding principal of this Subordinated Note on each Payment
Date to the extent amounts are available for such payment under and
in accordance with the Priority of Payments (except that payments
on this Subordinated Note that may be made under clause (11) of the
Phase II Priority of Payments may be made solely at the option of
the Maker).
(c)
Following the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, the outstanding
principal amount of this Subordinated Note, and accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, shall be payable UPON DEMAND of the
Payee.
The
Maker shall use the proceeds of the issuance of this Subordinated
Note and of the Loans made under the Credit Agreement solely as
provided in Section 2.3 of the Senior Credit
Agreement.
3.
Representations and
Warranties
.
(a)
Maker Representations,
Etc.
The Maker hereby represents and warrants to the Payee
and the Senior Credit Agreement Holders as follows:
(1)
Existence
. The Maker is an exempted
company duly incorporated with limited liability under the laws of
the Cayman Islands, has all requisite corporate power, and has all
material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals, necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as
now being or as proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do
business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
properties, assets or financial condition of the
Maker.
(2)
No Breach
. None of the execution and
delivery of this Subordinated Note, the making of the extension of
credit evidenced hereby, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof
will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent
under, its Organizational Documents, or any applicable law or
regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court
or Governmental Authority, or any agreement or instrument to which
the Maker is a party or by which the Maker is bound or to which the
Maker is subject, or constitute a default under, or result in the
creation of any lien under, any such agreement or
instrument.
(3)
Action; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability
. The Maker has all necessary corporate power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under
this Subordinated Note; the execution, delivery and performance by
the Maker of this Subordinated Note have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on its part; and this Subordinated
Note has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Maker
and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation,
enforceable against the Maker in accordance with its terms, except
as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or limited creditors' rights
generally or by equitable principles relating to
enforceability.
(4)
Approvals
. No Governmental
Authorizations and no notices, filings or registrations with, any
Governmental Authority are necessary for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Maker of this Subordinated Note or for the
validity or enforceability hereof against the Maker.
(5)
Solvency
. The Maker is, both before and
immediately after giving effect to the issuance of this
Subordinated Note and the borrowing of the Loans under the Senior
Credit Agreement, Solvent.
(6)
Consideration
. The Maker acknowledges
and agrees that the issuance of this Subordinated Note to the Payee
on the terms set forth herein and in the Senior Credit Agreement is
an express condition to the making of the Loans by the Senior
Lenders under the Senior Credit Agreement and, accordingly, to the
acquisition of the Collateral Obligation by the Maker; that the
Senior Lenders would not otherwise extend credit to the Maker in
the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Senior Credit
Agreement; and, accordingly, that the Maker would not otherwise
extend credit under the Underlying Credit Agreement.
(b)
Payee Representations,
Etc.
The Payee hereby represents and warrants to the Maker
and the Senior Credit Agreement Holders as follows:
(1)
Existence
. The Payee is a corporation
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, has all requisite corporate power, and has all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals,
necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as now being
or as proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in
all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by
it makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to
be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets or
financial condition of the Payee.
(2)
No Breach
. None of the execution and
delivery of this Subordinated Note, the making of the extension of
credit evidenced hereby, the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated and compliance with the terms and provisions
hereof will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any
consent under, its Organizational Documents, or any applicable law
or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any
court or Governmental Authority, or any agreement or instrument to
which the Payee is a party or by which the Payee is bound or to
which the Payee is subject, or constitute a default under, or
result in the creation of any lien under, any such agreement or
instrument.
(3)
Action; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability
. The Payee has all necessary corporate power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under
this Subordinated Note; the execution, delivery and performance by
the Payee of this Subordinated Note have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on its part; and this Subordinated
Note has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Payee
and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation,
enforceable against the Payee in accordance with its terms, except
as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or limited creditors' rights
generally or by equitable principles relating to
enforceability.
(4)
Approvals
. No Governmental
Authorizations, and no notices, filings or registrations with any
Governmental Authority are necessary for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Payee of this Subordinated Note or for the
validity or enforceability hereof against the Payee.
(5)
Solvency
. The Payee is, both before and
immediately after giving effect to its acquisition of this
Subordinated Note, Solvent.
(6)
Consideration
. The Payee acknowledges
and agrees that it has received substantial benefit in the series
of related transactions entered into in connection with the
Underlying Credit Agreement; that the purchase of this Subordinated
Note by the Payee on the terms set forth herein and in the Senior
Credit Agreement is an express condition to the making of the Loans
by the Senior Lenders under the Senior Credit Agreement and,
accordingly, to the acquisition of the Collateral Obligation by the
Maker; that the Senior Lenders would not otherwise extend credit to
the Maker in the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Senior
Credit Agreement; that the Maker would not otherwise extend credit
under the Underlying Credit Agreement; and that, accordingly, the
transactions under the Underlying Credit Agreement would not occur
without the Payee's purchase of this Subordinated Note on the terms
and conditions set forth herein, in the Underlying Credit Agreement
and in the Credit Agreement.
(7)
Use of Proceeds
. The Payee hereby
expressly consents to the use of proceeds of this Subordinated Note
and of the Loans made under the Senior Credit Agreement as set
forth in Section 2 above for all purposes, and acknowledges and
agrees that all such proceeds may be used, pledged, invested, used,
commingled or otherwise disposed of by the Maker, or otherwise used
in the Maker's business, in accordance with the terms set forth in
the Senior Credit Agreement, the Pledge and Security Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents referred to therein.
(8)
ERISA
. No portion of this Subordinated
Note has been funded by the Payee with "plan assets" for purposes
of Section 3(42) of ERISA.
The
Maker covenants and agrees with the Payee that, until payment in
full of all amounts payable by the Maker hereunder:
(a)
Conduct of Business
.
The Maker will (1) comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations,
writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees, awards and orders with
respect to it, its business and its properties, in each case except
where such non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, (2) comply in all material
respects with all Material Contracts and (3) keep and maintain, or
cause its Board of Directors to keep or maintain at all times, or
cause to be kept and maintained at all times in the registered
office of the Maker specified in its respective Constitutive
Documents, all documents, books, records, accounts and other
information as are required under applicable law.
(b)
Existence and Corporate
Formalities
. The provisions of Section 5.3 of the Senior
Credit Agreement, as in effect as of the date hereof, are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this
Subordinated Note (
provided
that references to "Borrower" and "Administrative Agent" shall for
purposes of this Section 4(b) be deemed to refer to Maker and
Payee, respectively).
(c)
Notification of
Payment-In-Full
. The Maker shall notify the Payee in writing
of the Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations on the date such
Payment-in-Full occurs.
(a)
Each of the
following events shall constitute an "
Event of Default
" under this
Subordinated Note:
(1)
failure of Maker to
pay any principal, interest or other amount due to Payee hereunder
when and where due;
(2)
any written
representation, warranty or covenant made at any time by Maker to
Payee in this Subordinated Note or any other Subordinated Debt
Document shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any
material respect when made; or
(3)
an "Event of
Default" under and as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement shall
have occurred and be continuing,
provided
, for the avoidance of doubt,
that to the extent the Administrative Agent under the Senior Credit
Agreement waives any Default or Event of Default thereunder, Payee
will be deemed to have also granted a waiver for the resulting
Event of Default under this Section 5(a)(3) and no Event of Default
shall be outstanding.
(b)
Subject in each
case to the Subordination Provisions:
(1)
upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default (other than a Senior Default described in
clauses (e) or (f) of the definition of "Event of Default" in the
Senior Credit Agreement), any and all of the obligations hereunder,
at the option of Payee, may be immediately declared due and
payable, and thereupon shall immediately become in default and due
and payable, and Payee may exercise any and all rights and remedies
available to it at law, in equity or otherwise; and
(2)
upon the occurrence
of a Senior Default described in clauses (e) or (f) of the
definition of "Event of Default" in the Senior Credit Agreement,
any and all of the obligations hereunder shall immediately become
in default and due and payable, and Payee may exercise any and all
rights and remedies available to it at law, in equity or
otherwise.
All
notices and other communications in respect of this Subordinated
Note (including, without limitation, any modifications of, or
requests, waivers or consents under, this Subordinated Note) shall
be given or made in writing (including, without limitation, by
telecopy) to the intended recipient at the "Address for Notices"
specified below its name on the signature pages hereof; or, as to
either the Maker or the Payee, at such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a notice to the other party. Except as
otherwise provided in this Subordinated Note, all such
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when
transmitted by electronic mail or personally delivered or, in the
case of a mailed notice, upon receipt, in each case given or
addressed as aforesaid.
(a)
The Maker's
obligations hereunder to make payments in U.S. Dollars (each, for
purposes herein, the "
Obligation
Currency
") shall not be discharged or satisfied by any
tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or
converted into any currency other than the Obligation Currency,
except to the extent that such tender or recovery results in the
effective receipt by the Payee entitled thereto of the full amount
of the Obligation Currency expressed to be payable to it under this
Subordinated Note. If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing
judgment against the Maker in any court or in any jurisdiction, it
becomes necessary to convert into or from any currency other than
the Obligation Currency (such other currency being hereinafter
referred to as the "
Judgment
Currency
") an amount due in the Obligation Currency, the
conversion shall be made, at the applicable exchange rate thereof
as of the day on which the judgment is given (such day being
hereinafter referred to as the "
Judgment Currency Conversion
Date
").
(b)
If there is a
change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Judgment
Currency Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the
amount due, the Maker covenants and agrees to pay, or cause to be
paid, and indemnifies the Payee for such additional amounts, if any
(but in any event not a lesser amount), as may be necessary to
ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when
converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of
payment, will produce the amount of the Obligation Currency that
could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency
stipulated in the judgment or judicial award at the rate or
exchange prevailing on the Judgment Currency Conversion Date. The
foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent
obligation of the Maker and shall survive any termination of this
Subordinated Note, and shall continue in full force and effect
notwithstanding any such judgment or order as
aforesaid.
(c)
For purposes of
determining any rate of exchange for this Section 7, such amounts
shall include any premium and costs payable in connection with the
purchase of the Obligation Currency.
8.
Amendments; Successors
.
(a)
This Subordinated
Note may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed
by each of the Maker and the Payee and (if prior to the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations) consented to in writing
by the Senior Administrative Agent (which the Senior Administrative
Agent may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion). This
Subordinated Note shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Maker and the Payee and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
(b)
The Maker shall not
assign any of its rights or obligations under this Subordinated
Note without the prior written consent of the Payee and (if prior
to the Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations) the written
consent of the Senior Administrative Agent (which the Senior
Administrative Agent may withhold in its sole and absolute
discretion).
(c)
The Payee not shall
sell, assign, pledge, dispose of or otherwise transfer all or any
portion of this Subordinated Note, the Subordinated Obligations or
any Subordinated Note Document:
(1)
without the prior
written consent of the Maker; and
(2) if
prior to the Payment-in-Full of the Senior
Obligations:
(x)
without the prior
written consent of the Senior Administrative Agent (which the
Senior Administrative Agent may withhold in its sole and absolute
discretion); and
(y)
unless, prior to
the consummation of any such action, the transferee thereof shall
execute and deliver to the Senior Administrative Agent a joinder
agreement in the form required by the Senior Administrative Agent
(a "
Joinder Agreement
") and
shall thereafter for all purposes be a party hereto and have the
same rights, benefits and obligations as a Subordinated Creditor
hereunder;
provided
that Payee may pledge this
Subordinated Note, and all rights of the Payee hereunder and all
proceeds hereof, to (i) the Collateral Agent (as such term is
defined in the Underlying Credit Agreement) to secure the
Obligations (as such term is defined in the Underlying Credit
Agreement) and to (ii) the collateral agent under that certain
Second Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of May 4, 2018
(the "Second Lien Credit Agreement"), among Fusion, as borrower,
the guarantor subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto
and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent
and collateral agent, to secure the Obligations (as such term is
defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement).
9.
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction;
Venue
.
This
Subordinated Note and any right, remedy, obligation, claim,
controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract, tort
or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this
Subordinated Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the law of the State of New York without regard to conflicts
of law principles that would lead to the application of laws other
than the law of the State of New York. Each of the Maker and Payee
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
and of any New York State court sitting in New York County for the
purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to
this Subordinated Note and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Each of the Maker and the Payee hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it
may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such
proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such
proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.
10.
Usury Savings Clause
.
Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged
with respect to any of the obligations under this Subordinated
Note, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed
in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the
Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined without
regard to the preceding sentence) under this Subordinated Note at
any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, this Subordinated Note
shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful 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 Subordinated Note had at all times been in
effect. In addition, if when this Subordinated Note has been
Paid-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 Subordinated Note had at all times been
in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Maker shall pay
to the Payee an amount equal to the difference between the amount
of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been
paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Payee and
the Maker to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.
Accordingly, if the Payee contracts for, charges, or receives any
consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest
Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically
and, if previously paid, shall at the Payee's option be applied to
the outstanding principal amount of this Subordinated Noe or be
refunded to the Maker.
11.
Waiver of Jury Trial
.
EACH OF
THE MAKER AND THE PAYEE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS
SUBORDINATED NOTE, 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
SUBORDINATED NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.
The
Maker shall promptly pay all reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees and
costs of settlement, incurred by the Payee in enforcing any
obligations of or in collecting any payments due from the Maker
hereunder or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of
the credit arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a "work
out" or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy cases or
proceedings. This Section 12 shall survive payment of this
Subordinated Note and termination of the Subordinated Debt
Documents.
13.
No Waiver; Remedies
Cumulative
.
No
failure or delay on the part of the Payee in the exercise of any
power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Subordinated
Debt Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be
construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right
or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any
other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies
given to the Payee hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition
to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by
virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other
Subordinated Debt Documents. Any forbearance or failure to
exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy
hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be
construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further
exercise of any such right, power or remedy.
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.
15.
Effectiveness;
Counterparts
.
This
Subordinated Note shall become effective upon the execution of a
counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by the
Maker, the Payee and the Senior Administrative Agent of written
notification of such execution and authorization of delivery
thereof. This Subordinated Note may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall
constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery by the Payee
or the Senior Administrative Agent of an executed counterpart of a
signature page of this Subordinated Note by facsimile or in
electronic format (i.e., "pdf" or "tif") shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Subordinated
Note.
[remainder
of page intentionally blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the Maker has caused
this Subordinated Note to be executed and delivered by its duly
authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
VECTOR
FUSION HOLDINGS (CAYMAN), LTD.
By:
/s/ James
Murray
___________________
Address for
Notices
:
1
Market Street
Steuart
Tower, 23rd Floor
San
Francisco, CA 94105
E-mail:
accounting@vectorcapital.com
Attention: Wilson
Haro
ACCEPTED AND AGREED
:
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
By:
/s/ James P. Prenetta, Jr._________
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Address for Notices
:
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Attention:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Email:
jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
ACKNOWLEDGED
:
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC
,
as
Senior Administrative Agent
By:
/s/ Thomas
Tormey
___________________
Name:
Thomas Tormey
Title:
Managing Director
Address for Notices
:
Goldman
Sachs Lending Partners LLC
c/o
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
30
Hudson Street, 4th Floor
Jersey
City, NJ 07302
Facsimile:
212-428-4534
E-mail:
gs-pfi-mo-confidential@gs.com
Attention:
Operations
ANNEX
A
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
(a)
Until the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, all payment obligations
of the Maker under this Subordinated Note shall in all cases be
subject to the Priority of Payments specified in the Senior Credit
Agreement.
(b)
The obligations of
the Maker under this Subordinated Note are obligations only of the
Maker, payable solely from the assets of the Maker and from
realization of the assets and application of the proceeds thereof
(which, until the Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, shall
be made in accordance with the Priority of Payments). No recourse
shall be had for the payment of any amount owing in respect of this
Subordinated Note against any officer, member, director, employee,
securityholder or incorporator of the Maker or its successors or
assigns for any amounts payable under this Subordinated Note. No
action may be brought against any officer, member, director,
employee, securityholder or incorporator of the Maker. It is
understood that the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(b) shall
not, subject to the remainder of the Subordination Provisions,
constitute a waiver, release or discharge of any indebtedness or
obligation evidenced by this Subordinated Note.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in any Subordinated Note
Document, the Maker and the Payee covenant and agree that the
Subordinated Obligations are subordinated and subject in right of
payment to the Senior Obligations such that holders of the Senior
Obligations shall be entitled to be Paid-in-Full before any
Subordinated Creditor is entitled to receive any Distribution on
account of the Subordinated Obligations and, in that connection,
unless and until the principal of, premium, and interest on, and
all other amounts in respect of, all Senior Obligations shall have
been Paid-in-Full:
(1)
no Distribution on
account of the principal of, premium or interest on, or any other
amount in respect of, the Subordinated Obligations shall be made by
or on behalf of the Maker; and
(2)
no Subordinated
Creditor shall accept any Distribution or take any Enforcement
Action with respect to the Subordinated Obligations,
provided
that the Maker shall pay, and
each Subordinated Creditor shall be entitled to receive and retain
from time to time, principal of and interest on this Subordinated
Note on each Payment Date to the extent amounts are available for
such payment under and in accordance with the Priority of Payments
(except that payments on this Subordinated Note that may be made
under clause (11) of the Phase II Priority of Payments may be made
solely at the option of the Maker).
(a)
In the event of any
Insolvency Proceeding, the Senior Obligations shall first be
Paid-in-Full before any Distribution (whether by purchase,
acquisition or otherwise), whether in cash, securities or other
Property, shall be made to any Subordinated Creditor on account of
such Subordinated Obligations;
(b)
during any
Insolvency Proceeding, any Distribution prior to the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations which would otherwise
(but for these Subordination Provisions) be payable or deliverable
in respect of Subordinated Obligations shall be paid or delivered
directly to the Senior Credit Agreement Holders until all Senior
Obligations shall have been Paid-in-Full;
(c)
each Subordinated
Creditor hereby agrees to file or cause to be filed on its behalf
an appropriate proof of claim in respect of such Subordinated
Creditor and take such action, to the extent commercially
reasonable, to cause such proof of claim to be approved in such
Insolvency Proceeding;
(d)
each Subordinated
Creditor, at any time prior to the Payment-in-Full of the Senior
Obligations:
(1)
irrevocably
authorizes, empowers and directs any debtor, debtor in possession,
receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian, conservator or other
Person having authority, to pay or otherwise deliver all such
Distributions to the Senior Administrative Agent for the
application to the Senior Obligations until all Senior Obligations
have been Paid-in-Full, and
(2)
irrevocably
authorizes and empowers the Senior Administrative Agent, in the
name of each such Subordinated Creditor, to demand, sue for,
collect and receive any and all such Distributions until all Senior
Obligations shall have been Paid-in-Full;
(e)
each Subordinated
Creditor hereby agrees not to initiate, prosecute or participate in
any claim, action or other proceeding challenging the
enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Senior
Obligations or any liens and security interests securing, or
purporting to secure, the Senior Obligations;
(f)
no Subordinated
Creditor will object to, or otherwise contest (or support any other
Person contesting), any motion for relief from the automatic stay
or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement in
respect of Senior Obligations made by any holder of the Senior
Obligations; and
(g)
no Subordinated
Creditor will object to, or otherwise contest (or support any other
Person contesting), (1) any request by the Maker to provide the
holders of the Senior Obligations with adequate protection or (2)
any objection by the holders of the Senior Obligations to any
motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the holders of the
Senior Obligations claiming a lack of adequate
protection.
3.
Sale, Transfer or other Disposition of
Subordinated Obligations
.
Notwithstanding
the failure of any transferee of this Subordinated Note, the
Subordinated Obligations or any Subordinated Note Document to
execute or deliver a Joinder Agreement in accordance with the
requirements of this Subordinated Note, the subordination effected
hereby shall survive any sale, assignment, pledge, disposition or
other transfer of all or any portion of this Subordinated Note or
the Subordinated Obligations, these Subordination Provisions shall
be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Subordinated
Creditor, and any liabilities incurred by any holder of the Senior
Obligations arising out of any transferee's failure to execute or
deliver a Joinder Agreement in accordance herewith shall be for the
account of, and be owing by, the transferor to such holder of
Senior Obligations.
Upon
the Payment-in-Full of all Senior Obligations, the Subordinated
Creditors shall be subrogated to all rights of any holder of Senior
Obligations to receive any further Distributions applicable to the
Senior Obligations, until the Subordinated Obligations shall have
been Paid-in-Full, and such Distributions received by the
Subordinated Creditors by reason of such subrogation, of cash,
securities or other Property which otherwise would be paid or
distributed to the holders of Senior Obligations, shall, as between
the Maker and its creditors other than the holders of Senior
Obligations, on the one hand, and the Subordinated Creditors, on
the other hand, be deemed to be a payment by the Maker on account
of Senior Obligations and not on account of Subordinated
Obligations. All rights of subrogation (whether arising under these
Subordination Provisions, by contract, in law, in equity or
otherwise) of the holders of the Subordinated Obligations are
subordinated and subject in right of payment to the Senior
Obligations in the same manner as the Subordinated Obligations is
subordinated to the Senior Obligations under these Subordination
Provisions.
5.
Turnover by the Subordinated
Creditor
.
If any
Distribution in respect of any Subordinated Debt Document shall be
received by a Subordinated Creditor in contravention of these
Subordination Provisions, then such Subordinated Creditors will
promptly deliver such Distribution, to the extent necessary to
indefeasibly Pay-in-Full all such Senior Obligations, to the Senior
Credit Agreement Holders.
No
Subordinated Creditor shall, prior to the date which is one year
and one day (or, if longer, any applicable preference period plus
one day) after the Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations,
commence, or join with any creditor (other than any Person to whom
Senior Obligations are owed) in commencing, or directly or
indirectly cause the Maker to commence, or assist the Maker in
commencing, any Insolvency Proceeding.
These
Subordination Provisions shall not be affected by (a) any amendment
or modification of, or addition or supplement to, the Senior Credit
Agreement or any other document or agreement evidencing or securing
any Senior Obligations, (b) any exercise or non-exercise of any
right, power or remedy under or in respect of the Senior Credit
Agreement or any other document or agreement evidencing or securing
any Senior Obligations, or (c) any waiver, consent, release,
extension, renewal, modification, delay, or other action, inaction
or omission in respect of the Senior Credit Agreement or any other
document or agreement evidencing or securing any Senior
Obligations.
The
Subordinated Creditors acknowledge that Senior Credit Agreement or
any other document or agreement evidencing or securing any Senior
Obligations may be amended, restated, refinanced, supplemented or
otherwise modified without the consent of or notice to any
Subordinated Creditor,
provided
that:
(1)
the Payee shall not
be bound by any amendment, supplement or other modification to
Section 7 of the Senior Credit Agreement (or any definition of any
term used therein) that materially and adversely affects the Payee
unless the Payee has provided its prior written consent thereto;
and
(2)
amendments,
supplements or other modifications to the Specified Provisions (or
the addition of any other provision to the Senior Credit Agreement
after the Closing Date) (other than any amendment, supplement or
other modification that would be necessary or desirable in the sole
discretion of the Senior Creditor for the Maker to comply with and
otherwise perform the Maker's obligations under the Senior Credit
Agreement or any or any other document or agreement evidencing or
securing any Senior Obligations) that would have a material adverse
effect on the ability of the Maker to the make payments on this
Subordinated Note in accordance with its terms, or otherwise would
have a material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the
Payee hereunder, shall require the prior written consent of the
Payee (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided any
amendments, supplements or other modifications to the Specified
Provisions shall not require the consent of the Payee to the extent
the purpose of any such amendments, supplements or modifications
would be necessary or desirable for the compliance with or
performance of Maker’s obligations under the Underlying
Credit Agreement or any other Underlying Instrument.
8.
Continuation; Third Party
Beneficiary
.
These
Subordination Provisions constitute a continuing agreement and (a)
shall remain in full force and effect until the Senior Credit
Agreement has been terminated and all Senior Obligations have been
Paid-in-Full, (b) shall be binding upon each Subordinated Creditor
and Maker and their respective successors, transferees and
assignees, and (c) are intended for the benefit of, and will be
enforceable as express third party beneficiaries by, the holders of
the Senior Obligations and by the Senior Administrative Agent on
their behalf.
9.
No Impairments; Automatic
Restoration
.
These
Subordination Provisions are solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the Senior Credit Agreement Holders on the one
hand and the Subordinated Creditors on the other hand, and nothing
herein shall impair, as between the Maker and the Subordinated
Creditors, the obligation of the Maker, which is unconditional and
absolute, to pay to the Subordinated Creditors the principal of and
interest owing hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof. These
Subordination Provisions shall be automatically reinstated if and
to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of
the Maker in respect of the Senior Obligations is rescinded or must
be otherwise restored by any holder of the Senior Obligations,
whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or
reorganization or otherwise.
Prior
to the Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, no Subordinated
Debt Document shall be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified without the prior written consent of the Senior
Administrative Agent.
11.
Subordination Agreement
.
These
Subordination Provisions shall be applicable both before and after
the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding and all converted or
succeeding cases in respect thereof. Accordingly, these
Subordination Provisions are intended to be and shall be
enforceable as a subordination agreement within the meaning of
Section 510 of the Bankruptcy Code.
As used
in these Subordination Provisions (and as otherwise used in this
Subordinated Note), the following terms have the respective
meanings set forth below:
"
Bankruptcy
Code
" means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled
"Bankruptcy".
"
Debtor
Relief Laws
" means, collectively:
(b)
with respect to any
Person organized or domiciled in the Cayman Islands, Part V of the
Companies Law (2016 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, the Bankruptcy
Law (1997 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, the Foreign Bankruptcy
Proceedings (International Cooperation) Rules 2008 of the Cayman
Islands and the Companies Winding Up Rules 2008 of the Cayman
Islands; and
(c)
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, any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other
applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
"
Distribution
"
means, with respect to any indebtedness or Obligation, (a) any
direct or indirect payment or distribution (whether in respect of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise) by any Person of cash,
securities or other property, by set-off or otherwise, on account
of such indebtedness or obligation, (b) any redemption, purchase or
other acquisition of such indebtedness or obligation by any Person
or (c) the granting of any lien or security interest to or for the
benefit of the holders of such indebtedness or obligation in or
upon any property of any Person.
"
Enforcement
Action
" means (a) to take from or for the account of the
Maker, by set-off or in any other manner, the whole or any part of
any moneys which may now or hereafter be owing by the Maker, (b) to
sue for payment of, or to initiate or participate with others in
any suit, action or proceeding against the Maker to (1) enforce
payment of or to collect the whole or any part of the Subordinated
Obligations or (2) commence judicial enforcement of any of the
rights and remedies under the Subordinated Debt Documents or
applicable law with respect to the Subordinated Obligations, (c) to
accelerate the Subordinated Obligations, (d) to exercise any put
option or to cause the Maker to honor any redemption or mandatory
prepayment obligation under any Subordinated Debt Document or (e)
take any action under the provisions of any state or federal law,
including, without limitation, the Uniform Commercial Code, or
under any contract or agreement, to enforce, foreclose upon, take
possession of or sell any property or assets of the
Maker.
"
Insolvency
Proceeding
" means:
(a)
any insolvency,
bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, moratorium, reorganization,
readjustment, arrangement, composition or other similar proceeding
relating to the Maker or any Property of the Maker;
(b)
any proceeding for
the liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up of the Maker,
voluntary or involuntary, regardless of whether involving
insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings;
(c)
any general
assignment by the Maker for the benefit of creditors;
or
(d)
any other
marshaling of the assets of the Maker,
in each
case whether under any Debtor Relief Law, other similar laws or
otherwise.
"
Obligations
"
means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on
or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy,
reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in
the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such
interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or
foreign law and including an default interest), premium, penalties,
fees, indemnifications and reimbursements, and guarantees of
payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications and reimbursements, and all other amounts, payable
under the documentation governing such Obligations.
"
Payment
Date
" means:
(a)
until the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, a "Payment Date" under
and as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement; and
(b)
thereafter, each
three month anniversary of the immediately preceding Payment Date
(or, if any such anniversary day is not a Business Day, the
immediately succeeding Business Day).
"
Payment-in-Full
"
means, with respect to any outstanding Obligations, shall mean the
(a) termination or expiration of all commitments of the holders of
such Obligations to extend credit or make loans or other credit
accommodations to the Maker under the documents governing such
Obligations, (b) the payment in full, in cash in immediately
available funds, of all of such Obligations and (c) the termination
or expiration of all of the documents governing such Obligations.
"
Paid-in-Full
" and
"
Pay-in-Full
" shall have
corresponding meanings.
"
Property
"
means, with respect to any Person, any interests of such Person in
any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or
tangible or intangible.
"
Senior
Administrative Agent
" means the "Administrative Agent" as
such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
"
Senior
Credit Agreement
" means the Credit Agreement dated as of May
4, 2018 by and among the Maker, as Borrower; Goldman Sachs Lending
Partners LLC ("
GS
"), as
Lender; GS, as Administrative Agent, and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Collateral Agent and Collateral Custodian,
including any amendment, extension, renewal, increase, modification
or restatement thereof or supplement thereto, or any agreement
refinancing any of the indebtedness thereunder, in each case as the
same shall from time to time be successively amended, extended,
renewed, increased, modified, restated, supplemented or
refinanced.
"
Senior
Credit Agreement Holders
" means the Senior Lenders, the
Senior Administrative Agent and the other "Agents" as defined in
the Senior Credit Agreement.
"
Senior
Default
" means a "Default" or "Event of Default" under and
as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
"
Senior
Lenders
" means the "Lenders" under and as defined in the
Senior Credit Agreement.
"
Senior
Obligations
" means the "Obligations" as such term is defined
in the Senior Credit Agreement.
"
Specified
Provisions
" means the following provisions of the Senior
Credit Agreement: Sections 2.9, 5.3, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 and
9 (and any definition of any term used in such
Sections).
"
Subordinated
Creditor
" means the Payee and any other permitted holder of
the Subordinated Obligations.
"
Subordinated
Debt Documents
" means this Subordinated Note and all other
agreements, documents and instruments evidencing the Subordinated
Obligations, as the same may be amended, restated, refinanced,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as permitted
hereunder.
"
Subordinated
Note Interest Payment Amount
" means, with respect to any
Payment Date:
(a)
until the
Payment-in-Full of the Senior Obligations, the "Subordinated Note
Interest Payment Amount" for such Payment Date under and as defined
in the Senior Credit Agreement; and
(b)
thereafter, the
aggregate amount of interest earnings on amounts on deposit in the
"Primary Reserve Account" under and as defined in the Credit
Agreement during the period from the immediately preceding Payment
Date to but excluding such Payment Date.
"
Subordinated
Obligations
" means and includes all Obligations of the Maker
now or hereafter existing, whether fixed or contingent, in respect
of principal, interest (including interest accruing after the
filing of a petition under any Debtor Relief Law, to the extent
allowed), fees, indemnification or any other amount in respect of
the Subordinated Debt Documents.
VECTOR CAPITAL
One
Market Street
Steuart
Tower, 23rd Floor
San
Francisco, California 94105
|
May 4,
2018
CONFIDENTIAL
Fusion
Connect, Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718
New
York, New York 10170
Attention:
James P. Prenetta, Jr., EVP and General Counsel
James
P. Prenetta, Jr.:
Reference is made
to that certain First Lien Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as
of May 4, 2018, among Fusion Connect, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “
Borrower
”), certain
subsidiaries of the Borrower, as Guarantor Subsidiaries, Vector
Capital V, L.P., Vector Entrepreneur Fund V, L.P.,VC4 Debt
Investments (U.S.), L.L.C., Vector Fusion Holdings (Cayman), Ltd.
and Vector Trading (Cayman), L.P. (each, a “
Vector Capital Lender
”
and, collectively, “
Vector Capital
”), as
Lenders, the other Lenders party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank
USA, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (such agreement,
as may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented and extended
from time to time, the “
Credit
Agreement
”).
This
letter (the “
Side
Letter
”) expressly sets out the agreement between the
Borrower and Vector Capital with respect to Vector Capital’s
observation rights on the Board of Directors (as defined below), as
further described in Section 1 herein. Capitalized terms used
herein without definition are used as defined in the Credit
Agreement.
1.
Board
Observation Rights
. Until the earlier of (a) such date
on which neither Vector Capital nor any of its affiliates under
common control holds any Loans under the Credit Agreement, and (b)
the Subordinated Note Mandatory Prepayment Date (as defined in the
Credit Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2018, by and among Vector
Fusion Holdings (Cayman), Ltd., Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC,
Goldman Sachs, and the other lenders parties thereto), Vector
Capital (or its affiliate, including limited partners of Vector,
holding a Loan) shall have the right to appoint one observer (the
“
Observer
”) to the board
of directors of the Borrower (the “
Board of Directors
”), who
shall be entitled to attend (or at the option of such Observer,
monitor by telephone) one (1) regularly scheduled meeting per
fiscal quarter (the “
Quarterly Meetings
”) of
the Board of Directors (other than any portions of any Quarterly
Meeting that (x) involve the exchange of privileged
attorney-client information or work product, or (y) are
subject to a conflict of interest with a Vector Capital Lender or
other Lenders, in the reasonable discretion of Borrower) but shall
not be entitled to vote, and who shall receive all reports, meeting
materials (including copies of all board presentations), notices,
written consents, minutes and other materials with respect to such
Quarterly Meetings (in each case other than any portions of such
reports or materials that contain information (i) that is
subject to a conflict of interest with a Vector Capital Lender or
other Lenders or (ii) that is subject to the attorney-client
privilege, in the reasonable discretion of Borrower) as and when
provided to the members of the Board of Directors. The Borrower
shall reimburse the Observer for the reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred by any such Observer in
connection with such attendance at any in-person Quarterly
Meetings, to the extent consistent with the Borrower’s
policies of reimbursing directors generally for such expenses. The
Board of Directors shall use reasonable commercial efforts to hold
at least one regularly scheduled meeting each fiscal quarter, but
to the extent that the Board of Directors does not convene
(telephonically, in-person or otherwise) during a fiscal quarter,
the Observer shall not have any observation rights during such
quarter. The Observer shall not have any observer, information,
notice or other rights with respect to the meetings of any
committees or sub-committees of the Board of Directors, any special
meetings of the Board of Directors, or any meetings of the Board of
Directors other than the Quarterly Meetings; provided, that if the
matters that would normally be discussed by the Board of Directors
at the Quarterly Meeting (i.e., the periodic financial health and
performance of Borrower) are instead discussed by the Board of
Directors at a special meeting, or by a committee or sub-committee
of the Board of Directors, then the Observer shall have observer
and information rights for such special meeting or committee or
sub-committee meeting, as applicable. The rights set forth in this
paragraph 1 are the “
Observer
Rights
.”
2.
Insider
Trading Laws
. At all times while the Observer Rights are in
effect, Vector Capital and its affiliates shall abide by all
applicable insider trading securities law and any related
regulations.
3.
Confidential
Information
. At all times while the Observer Rights are in
effect, and for two (2) years thereafter, Vector Capital shall not
use or disclose any Confidential Information of Borrower obtained
by the Observer in such capacity on the Board of Directors, except
to any directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, or
accountants of Vector Capital (collectively, “
Representatives
”) in
connection with its capacity as a Lender. Vector Capital shall
inform any Representative who receives Confidential Information of
its obligations hereunder. For purposes of this Side Letter,
“
Confidential
Information
” includes any legal, commercial,
financial, business, technical, marketing or other information
related to the Borrower. “Confidential Information”
will also be deemed to include all notes, analyses, compilations,
studies, interpretations or other documents prepared by recipient
thereof which contain, reflect or are based upon, in whole or in
part, Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
“Confidential Information” does not include information
which (a) is generally available, or becomes generally available,
to the public other than as a result of disclosure by Vector
Capital or a Representatives (including information contained in
the Borrower’s public filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission), or (b) becomes available to Vector Capital on
a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or
its representatives; provided that the source of such information
is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with respect to such
information or other obligation to keep such information
confidential.
4.
General
.
This Side Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts
which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Side Letter by facsimile or electronic transmission shall
be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Side Letter. Section headings used herein are for convenience of
reference only, are not part of this Side Letter and are not to
affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration when
interpreting, this Side Letter. This Side Letter embodies the
entire agreement and understanding between Vector Capital, the
other Lenders and you with respect to the specific matters set
forth herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
relating to the subject matter hereof. No party has been authorized
by any Vector Capital Lender or any other Lender to make any oral
or written statements inconsistent with this Side Letter. This Side
Letter is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create
any rights in favor of, any person other than the parties hereto.
This Side Letter may not be amended or any provision hereof waived
or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by Vector
Capital and you. This Side Letter may not be assigned by you
without the prior written consent of Vector Capital and the other
Lenders, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be
null and void.
It is
understood and agreed that this Side Letter shall not constitute or
give rise to any obligation on the part of any Lender (in each
case, in any capacity) to provide or arrange any financing; such an
obligation will arise only under the Credit Agreement, to the
extent the Lenders are bound thereunder if accepted in accordance
with its terms.
[Signature
page follows]
VECTOR
CAPITAL V, L.P.
VECTOR
ENTREPRENEUR FUND V, L.P.
VC4
DEBT INVESTMENTS (U.S.), L.L.C.
VECTOR
TRADING (CAYMAN), L.P.
VECTOR
FUSION HOLDINGS (CAYMAN), LTD.
By:
/s/ James
Murray
______________________
Name: James
Murray
Title:
Director
[
Signature
Page to Side Letter
]
Accepted
and Agreed to in all respects:
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
, as Borrower
|
By:
|
/s/
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
|
|
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
|
|
Title: EVP and
General Counsel
|
[
Signature
Page to Side Letter
]
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
(this “
Agreement
”) is made as of May 4,
2018, by and among
FUSION
CONNECT, INC.
, f/k/a Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal
office at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1718, New York, New York
10170 (the “
Company
”), and
___________________ (the “
Purchaser
”).
Recitals
A. The
Company has authorized the sale and issuance of _________ shares
(the “
Shares
”
or “
Securities
”) of the common stock
of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the “
Common Stock
”), to the Purchaser
in a private placement (the “
Offering
”).
B. Pursuant
to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“
Securities
Act
”), and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder, the
Company desires to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires
to purchase from the Company the Shares on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Terms and Conditions
Now,
therefore, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties,
intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as
follows:
1.
Purchase
of the Securities.
1.1
Agreement
to Sell and Purchase.
At the Closing (as hereinafter
defined), the Company will issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the
Purchaser will purchase from the Company, the Shares for an
aggregate purchase price of $___________ (the “
Purchase Price
”) or $5.25 for
each Share.
1.2
Closing;
Closing Date.
The completion of the sale and purchase of the
Shares (the “
Closing
”) shall be held
simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, or at such
other time as the Company and the Purchaser may agree (the
“
Closing
Date
”).
1.3
Delivery
of the Shares.
At the Closing, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Company will deliver to the Purchaser a
stock certificate or certificates, in such denominations and
registered in such name(s) as the Purchaser may designate by notice
to the Company, representing the Securities, or at the
Purchaser’s request, a statement or other written evidence
that the Securities issuable to the Purchaser have been issued and
are held in book entry form at the Company’s transfer agent,
in either case dated as of the Closing Date (each such certificate
and each such book entry position are hereinafter referred to as a
“
Certificate
”),
against payment of the Purchase Price in cash in the form of a wire
transfer, unless other means of payment shall have been agreed upon
by the Purchaser and the Company.
2.
Representations and Warranties of the
Company.
The Company hereby represents and warrants to the
Purchaser, after giving effect (unless otherwise specified below)
to the consummation of the merger between Fusion BCHI Acquisition
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, with
Birch Communications Holdings,
Inc. and the transactions related thereto being consummated
substantially simultaneously with this Offering (the
“
Merger
”)
:
2.1
Authorization.
All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers,
directors and shareholders necessary for the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement, has been taken. The
Company has the requisite corporate power to enter into this
Agreement and carry out and perform its obligations under this
Agreement. At the Closing, the Company will have the requisite
corporate power to issue and sell the Securities. This Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and, upon due execution and delivery by the Purchaser, this
Agreement will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal
or state securities laws and except as enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by
equitable principles.
2.2
No
Conflict with Other Instruments.
The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the
Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder and the consummation
of the actions contemplated by this Agreement will not (A) result
in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default
under, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice:
(i) any provision of the Company’s charter documents as in
effect on the date hereof or at the Closing; (ii) any provision of
any judgment, arbitration ruling, decree or order to which the
Company or its subsidiaries are a party or by which they are bound;
(iii) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness,
or any lease, contract, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, loan
agreement, joint venture or other agreement, instrument or
commitment to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by
which they or their respective properties are bound; or (iv) any
statute, rule, law or governmental regulation or order applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of
(ii), (iii) and (iv) above, as would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined); or (B)
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance,
claim, security interest or restriction whatsoever upon any of the
properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary or any
acceleration of indebtedness pursuant to any obligation, agreement
or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other
evidence of indebtedness or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust
or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
subsidiary are a party or by which they are bound or to which any
of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is
subject. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration, qualification or filing with, any regulatory body,
administrative agency, or other governmental body is required for
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
valid issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to
this Agreement, other than such as have been made or obtained and
that remain in full force and effect, and except for the filing of
a Form D or any filings required to be made under state securities
laws.
2.3
Certificate
of Incorporation; Bylaws.
The Company has made available to
the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the
date hereof.
2.4
Organization,
Good Standing and Qualification.
The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
conducted. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has full power
and authority to own, operate and occupy its properties and to
conduct its business as presently conducted and is duly qualified
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on its or its subsidiaries’
business, financial condition, properties, operations, prospects or
assets or its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement (a “
Material
Adverse Effect
”).
2.5
SEC
Filings; Financial Statements.
As used herein, the
“
Company SEC
Documents
” means all reports, schedules, forms,
statements and other documents filed or furnished, as applicable,
by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “
Exchange
Act
”), including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
thereof, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated
by reference therein. The Company has filed all SEC Documents as
required on a timely basis and as of their respective filing dates
during the 12 months preceding the date hereof; the Company SEC
Documents since December 31, 2015 complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“
SEC
”)
promulgated thereunder; and none of these Company SEC Documents,
when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading. The
consolidated financial statements contained in the Company SEC
Documents since December 31, 2017: (i) complied in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered, except in the case of unaudited statements as permitted by
Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that unaudited financial
statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to year-end
audit adjustments; and (iii) fairly present the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations
cash flows and the changes in shareholders’ equity of the
Company and its subsidiaries for the periods covered
thereby.
2.6
Capitalization.
The authorized capital stock of the Company, consists of (i)
150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which (A) 76,583,701 shares
were issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and
(B) 8,526,403 shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise
or conversion, as the case may be, of outstanding options, warrants
or other convertible securities as of the date of this Agreement,
in each case, taking into account the reverse split of the Common
Stock that was effected on the date hereof and acknowledging
rounding adjustments for fractional split amounts; and (ii)
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 15,000 will be
issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly authorized
and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been
issued and sold in compliance with the registration requirements of
the federal and state securities laws or the applicable statutes of
limitation have expired, and were not issued in violation of any
preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase
securities. Except as set forth herein, in
Schedule 2.6
or in the Company
SEC Documents or as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the “
Merger
Agreement
”) relating to the Merger that is being
consummated contemporaneously with this Offering, there are no (i)
outstanding rights (including, without limitation, preemptive
rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible
into or exchangeable for, any unissued shares of capital stock or
other equity interest in the Company, or any contract, commitment,
agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind to which the
Company or any subsidiary is a party and relating to the issuance
or sale of any capital stock or convertible or exchangeable
security of the Company or any subsidiary, other than 1,996,754
options granted to directors and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries pursuant to its 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2009 Stock
Option Plan or the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and 1,193,070
warrants that are issued and outstanding; or (ii) obligations of
the Company to purchase redeem or otherwise acquire any of its
outstanding capital stock or any interest therein or to pay any
dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof. Except
as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents and as contemplated by
(i) the Merger Agreement, (ii) the Company’s announced
agreement to acquire, through a merger, a specified target company
(the “
Acquisition
Agreement
”), and (iii) the Company’s Series D
preferred stock, there are no anti-dilution or price adjustment
provisions, co-sale rights, registration rights, rights of first
refusal or other similar rights contained in the terms governing
any outstanding security of the Company that will be triggered by
the issuance of the Securities and no person has any right to cause
the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of
any securities of the Company (other than the rights which have
been granted (i) in connection with this Agreement, the Merger
Agreement and the Acquisition Agreement).
2.7
Subsidiaries.
Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement and except as set
forth in the Company SEC Documents, the Company does not presently
own or control, directly or indirectly, and has no stock or other
interest as owner or principal in, any other corporation or
partnership, joint venture, association or other business venture
or entity (each a “
subsidiary
”). Each subsidiary is
duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and, if applicable
to the jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Each
subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction, except where the failure to be so
qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. All of the outstanding capital stock or other securities of
each subsidiary of the Company is owned, either directly or
indirectly by the Company). Except for the liens granted under the
terms of the First Lien Credit Facility (as defined below) and the
Second Lien Credit Facility (as defined below), the capital stock
or other securities of each US subsidiary of the Company is free
and clear of any liens, claims or encumbrances.
2.8
Valid
Issuance of Securities.
The Securities are duly authorized
and, when issued, sold and delivered and paid for in accordance
with the terms hereof will be duly and validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from all taxes, liens,
claims, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof;
provided, however, that the Securities will be subject to
restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws
or as otherwise set forth herein. The issuance, sale and delivery
of the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof will not be
subject to preemptive rights of shareholders of the
Company.
2.9
Offering.
Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in
Section 3.3 of this Agreement on the date hereof, the offer, issue
and sale of the Securities are and will be exempt from the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act and have been or will be registered or qualified (or are or
will be exempt from registration and qualification) under the
registration, permit or qualification requirements of all
applicable state securities laws. Neither the Company, nor any of
its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has
directly or indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or
solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that
would require registration under the Securities Act of the issuance
of the Securities to the Purchaser. Other than the Company SEC
Documents, the Company has not distributed any offering materials
in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. The
Company has not taken any action to sell, offer for sale or solicit
offers to buy any securities of the Company which would bring the
offer, issuance or sale of the Securities within the provisions of
Section 5 of the Securities Act, unless such offer, issuance or
sale was or shall be within the exemptions of Section 4 of the
Securities Act.
2.10
Litigation.
Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents or as set forth in
Schedule 2.10
,
there is no litigation matter currently threatened against the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that (a) if adversely determined
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
(b) would be required to be disclosed in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K under the requirements of Item 103 of
Regulation S-K. The foregoing includes, without limitation, any
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, pending or threatened,
that questions the validity of this Agreement or the right of the
Company to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations
hereunder. Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.10
, neither the
Company nor any subsidiary is subject to any injunction, judgment,
decree or order of any court, regulatory body, arbitral panel,
administrative agency, national securities exchange or other
government body. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no
proceeding or investigation by the Principal Market (as defined
below) pending that could lead to a suspension of listing or
trading of the Common Stock.
2.11
Governmental
Consents.
No consent, approval, order or authorization of,
or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing
with, any federal, state, local or provincial governmental
authority on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for notices required or
permitted to be filed with the Principal Market or certain state
and federal securities commissions, which notices will be filed on
a timely basis.
2.12
No
Brokers.
No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled
to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based on arrangements made by the Company, it being expressly
acknowledged that any fees payable in connection with the
consummation of the Merger substantially simultaneously with this
Offering are not fees to any broker, finder, underwriter or
placement agent for services in connection with this
Offering.
2.13
Compliance.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or similar
organizational documents). The Company and its subsidiaries, and
their representatives, have been conducting their business in
compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which they conduct business, including, without
limitation, all applicable local, state and federal environmental
laws and regulations, except where failure to be so in compliance
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has all necessary franchises, licenses, permits,
certificates and other authorizations from any foreign, federal,
state or local government or governmental agency, department or
body that are currently necessary for the operation of the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, except
where the failure to currently possess such franchises, licenses,
certificates and other authorizations would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.14
No
Material Changes.
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents and except for the completion of the Merger and the entry
by the Company into a $595 million first lien credit facilities
(the “
First Lien Credit
Facility
”) and the $85 million second lien credit
facility (the “
Second Lien
Credit
Facility
”) and the various
transactions contemplated by each of these credit facilities, since
December 31, 2017, there has been no material adverse change in the
assets, liabilities, business, properties, operations, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Since December 31, 2017, the
Company has not declared or paid any dividend or distribution on
its common stock.
2.15
Intellectual
Property.
(a)
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has ownership or license or
legal right to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all patent,
copyright, trade secret, know-how trademark, trade name customer
lists, designs, manufacturing or other processes, computer
software, systems, data compilation, research results or other
proprietary rights used in the business of the Company or such
subsidiary (collectively “
Intellectual Property
”), except
as such failure to own, license, use or acquire would not result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has taken all reasonable steps
required in accordance with sound business practice and business
judgment to establish and preserve its ownership of all material
Intellectual Property with respect to their products and
technology.
(c)
To
the knowledge of the Company, the present business, activities and
products of the Company and its subsidiaries do not infringe any
intellectual property of any other person, except or where such
infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
set forth in
Schedule
2.15(c)
, no proceeding charging the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with infringement of any adversely held Intellectual
Property is currently pending. To the knowledge of the Company, no
other person is infringing any rights of the Company or its
subsidiaries to the Intellectual Property.
(d)
Except
as set forth in
Schedule
2.15(c)
, no proceedings are pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, which challenge the rights of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries to the use of the Intellectual Property.
To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of its
subsidiaries has the right to use, free and clear of material
claims or rights of other persons, all of its customer lists,
designs, computer software, systems, data compilations, and other
information that are required for its products or its business as
presently conducted. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is making unauthorized use of
any confidential information or trade secrets of any person. The
activities of any of the employees on behalf of the Company or of
any of its subsidiaries do not violate any agreements or
arrangements between such employees and third parties related to
confidential information or trade secrets of third parties or that
restrict any such employee’s engagement in business activity
of any nature.
(e)
All
material licenses or other agreements under which (i) the Company
or any subsidiary employs rights in Intellectual Property, or (ii)
the Company or any subsidiary has granted rights to others in
Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any
subsidiary are in full force and effect, and there is no default
(and there exists no condition which, with the passage of time or
otherwise, would constitute a default by the Company or such
subsidiary) by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with
respect thereto.
2.16
Exchange
Compliance.
The Company’s common stock is registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, was immediately
prior to the date hereof listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market and as
of the date hereof is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (the
“
Principal
Market
”), and the Company has taken no action designed
to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration
of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common
Stock (including the Shares) from the Principal Market. The Company
is in compliance with all of the presently applicable requirements
for continued listing of the Common Stock on the Principal Market.
The issuance of the Securities does not require shareholder
approval including, without limitation, pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Principal Market.
2.17
Form
S-3 Eligibility
. The Company is eligible to register the
Shares for resale by the Purchaser using Form S-3 promulgated under
the Securities Act.
2.18
Accountants.
EisnerAmper LLP, who expressed their opinion with respect to the
consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, to
be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (as
hereinafter defined) and the prospectus which forms a part thereof
(the “
Prospectus
”), have advised the
Company that they are, and to the knowledge of the Company they
are, independent accountants as required by the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.19
Taxes.
The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all federal,
state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has
paid all taxes shown as due thereon (except where the failure to
file would not have a Material Adverse Effect). The Company has set
aside on its books adequate provisions for payments of taxes as of
its reporting period.
2.20
Insurance.
The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains and will
continue to maintain insurance of the types and in the amounts that
the Company reasonably believes is adequate for its business,
including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal
property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries
against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other
risks customarily insured against by similarly situated companies,
all of which insurance is in full force and effect.
2.21
Transfer
Taxes.
On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other
taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in
connection with the sale and transfer of the Securities hereunder
will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the
Company and the Company will have complied with all laws imposing
such taxes.
2.22
Investment
Company.
The Company (including its subsidiaries) is not an
“investment company” or an “affiliated
person” of, or “promoter” or “principal
underwriter” for an investment company, within the meaning of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and will not be deemed an
“investment company” as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
2.23
Related
Party Transactions
. To the knowledge of the Company, no
transaction has occurred between or among the Company or any of its
affiliates (including, without limitation, any of its
subsidiaries), officers or directors or any affiliate or affiliates
of any such affiliate, officer or director that with the passage of
time will be required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act other than those transactions that have
already been so disclosed in the SEC Documents and those
transactions that are in connection with, or contemplated by, the
Merger, the First Lien Credit Facility, the Second Lien Credit
Facility and the Company’s sale of Series D preferred stock
in connection with the Merger.
2.24
Books
and Records.
The books, records and accounts of the Company
and its subsidiaries accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable
detail, the transactions in, and dispositions of, the assets of,
and the operations of, the Company and its
subsidiaries.
2.25
Disclosure
Controls and Internal Controls.
(a)
The
Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the
Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material
information relating to the Company is made known to the
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal
financial officer by others within the Company particularly during
the periods in which the periodic reports required under the
Exchange Act are being prepared; and (ii) provide for the periodic
evaluation of the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and
procedures as of the end of the period covered by the
Company’s most recent annual or quarterly report filed with
the SEC.
(b)
The
Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets
or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with
the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The
Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act) that are
effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by
the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported,
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the
Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s
management, including its principal executive officer or officers
and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company
is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness
in the design or operation of its internal controls; or (ii) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Company’s or any
of its subsidiary’s internal controls.
(c)
Except
as described in the Company SEC Documents, there are no material
off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Item 303 of
Regulation S-K), or any other relationships with unconsolidated
entities (in which the Company or its control persons have an
equity interest) that may have a material current or future effect
on the Company’s or any of its/subsidiary’s financial
condition, revenues or expenses, changes in financial condition,
results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital
resources.
2.26
No
General Solicitation
. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has
engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising
(within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the
Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the
Securities.
2.27
Foreign
Corrupt Practices
. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company
(i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political
activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate
funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any
unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or
other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government
official or employee.
2.28
Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
. The Company is in compliance in all material respects
with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all
applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder
that are effective as of the date hereof.
2.29
Employee
Relations
. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is a party to any collective bargaining agreement. The Company
reasonably believes that its and its subsidiaries’ relations
with its employees are good. Other than as disclosed in the
Company’s Form 14F-1 filed with the SEC, no executive officer
of the Company (as defined in Rule 501(f) of the Securities Act)
has notified the Company that such officer intends to leave the
Company or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with
the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer
of the Company is, or is expected to be, in violation of any
material term of any employment contract, confidentiality,
disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition
agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive
covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive
officer does not subject the Company to any liability with respect
to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries is in compliance with all federal, state, local and
foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and
employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of
employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in
compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
2.30
No
Manipulation; Disclosure of Information
. The Company has not
taken and will not take any action designed to or that might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in an unlawful
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Securities. The Company confirms that, to its
knowledge, with the exception of the proposed sale of Securities as
contemplated herein (as to which the Company makes no
representation under this
Section 2.30
) and information
provided with respect to the Merger, the Acquisition Agreement, the
First Lien Credit Facility, the Second Lien Credit Facility and the
Company’s sale of Series D preferred stock in connection with
the Merger, neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf
has provided the Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any
information that constitutes or might constitute material,
non-public information. The Company understands and confirms that
the Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing representations in
effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All
disclosures provided to the Purchaser regarding the Company, its
business and the transactions noted in this Section 2.30 furnished
by the Company are true and correct and do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
2.31
Forward-Looking
Information
. No forward-looking statement (within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act) made by the Company or any of its officers or
directors contained in the SEC Documents, or made available to the
public generally since December 31, 2017, has been made or
reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other
than in good faith.
2.32
No
Additional Agreements.
Except for the issuance of common
stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Acquisition
Agreement and the issuance of preferred stock listed on Schedule
2.6, the Company has no other agreements or understandings
(including, without limitation, side letters) with any other person
to purchase shares of its Common Stock on terms more favorable to
such person than as set forth herein.
2.33
No
“Bad Actor” Disqualification.
The Company has
exercised reasonable care, in accordance with SEC rules and
guidance, and has conducted a factual inquiry, the nature and scope
of which reflect reasonable care under the relevant facts and
circumstances, to determine whether any Covered Person (as defined
below) is subject to any of the “bad actor”
disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under
the Securities Act (“
Disqualification Events
”). To the
Company’s knowledge, after conducting such sufficiently
diligent factual inquiries, no Covered Person is subject to a
Disqualification Event, except for a Disqualification Event covered
by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Company
has complied, to the extent applicable, with any disclosure
obligations under Rule 506(e) under the Securities Act.
“
Covered
Persons
” are those persons specified in Rule 506(d)(1)
under the Securities Act, including the Company; any predecessor or
affiliate of the Company; any director, executive officer, other
officer participating in the offering, general partner or managing
member of the Company; any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the
Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on
the basis of voting power; any promoter (as defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any
capacity at the time of the sale of the Securities; and any person
that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration
for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the
Securities (a “
Solicitor
”), any general partner
or managing member of any Solicitor, and any director, executive
officer or other officer participating in the offering of any
Solicitor or general partner or managing member of any
Solicitor.
3.
Representations and Warranties of the
Purchaser.
The
Purchaser hereby represents and
warrants to the Company as follows:
3.1
Legal
Power.
The Purchaser has the requisite power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement. All action on the
Purchaser’s part required for the lawful execution and
delivery of this Agreement have been or will be effectively taken
prior to the Closing.
3.2
Due
Execution.
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Purchaser, and, upon due execution and
delivery by the Company, this Agreement will be a valid and binding
agreement of the Purchaser, except as rights to indemnity hereunder
may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally or by equitable
principles.
3.3
Investment
Representations.
In connection with the sale and issuance of
the Securities, the Purchaser makes the following
representations:
(a)
Investment
for Own Account.
The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities
for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view
to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution or public
offering thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act;
provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the
Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any
minimum or specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the
securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a
registration statement or an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
(b)
Transfer
Restrictions; Legends.
The Purchaser understands that (i)
the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act;
(ii) the Securities are being offered and sold pursuant to an
exemption from registration, based in part upon the Company’s
reliance upon the statements and representations made by the
Purchaser in this Agreement, and that the Securities must be held
by the Purchaser indefinitely, and that the Purchaser must,
therefore, bear the economic risk of such investment indefinitely,
unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the
Securities Act or is exempt from such registration; (iii) each
Certificate representing Securities will be endorsed or notated
with substantially the following legend until the date the Shares
are eligible for sale without restriction or limitation under Rule
144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule
(“
Rule
144
”):
THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “
SECURITIES ACT
”), OR UNDER THE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION
OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO EITHER AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THE
ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN
FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT
ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS.
(iv)
the Company will instruct any transfer agent not to register the
transfer of the Securities (or any portion thereof) until the
applicable date set forth in clause (iii) above unless (A) the
conditions specified in the foregoing legends are satisfied, (B) if
the opinion of counsel referred to above is to the further effect
that such legend is not required in order to establish compliance
with any provisions of the Securities Act or this Agreement, (C) if
the Purchaser provides the Company with reasonable assurance, such
as through a representation letter, that the Securities may be sold
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or (D) other
reasonably satisfactory assurances of such nature are given to the
Company. If so required by the Company’s transfer agent, the
Company shall cause its counsel to issue and deliver a legal
opinion to the transfer agent to effect the removal of the
restrictive legend contemplated by this Agreement.
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser may from time to
time pledge, and/or grant a security interest in some or all of the
Securities pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement in connection
with a bona fide margin account and, if required under the terms of
such agreement or account, the Purchaser may transfer pledged or
secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a
pledge or transfer shall not be subject to approval or consent of
the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel to the pledgee,
secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection with the
pledge, but such legal opinion may be required in connection with a
subsequent transfer following default by the Purchaser transferee
of the pledge. No notice shall be required of such pledge. At the
appropriate Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and
deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party
of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or
transfer of the Securities, including the preparation and filing of
any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) of the
Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act
to appropriately amend the list of Selling Shareholders
thereunder.
Certificates
evidencing the Shares shall not contain any restrictive legend
(including the legend set forth in this Section): (i) following a
resale of the Shares under an effective registration statement
(including the Registration Statement) covering the Shares, or (ii)
following a sale of such Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii)
while such Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 and, with
respect to the Shares, the Purchaser is not and has not been for
three months an affiliate of the Company (as such term is defined
in Rule 144(a)(1)) and such Shares have been held for one year or
more pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144 and any other
requirements under Rule 144 have been satisfied at such time, or
(iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements
of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and
pronouncements issued by the Staff of the SEC). Following such time
as restrictive legends are not required to be placed on
Certificates representing Shares, the Company will, no later than
three business days following the delivery by the Purchaser to the
Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a Certificate
representing Shares containing a restrictive legend and such other
documentation and representations as the Company, its legal counsel
or Transfer Agent may reasonably request to confirm compliance with
the preceding sentence as applicable (provided, however, that
neither the Company nor its legal counsel will require a legal
opinion in connection with any sale pursuant to Rule 144), deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Purchaser a Certificate
representing such Shares that is free from all restrictive legends.
The Company may not make any notation on its records or give
instructions to any transfer agent of the Company that enlarge the
restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section. Certificates
for Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted
by the transfer agent of the Company to the Purchaser by crediting
the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the
Depository Trust Company system unless the Purchaser provides
alternate written instructions. The Company will pay all fees and
expenses of its transfer agent and the Depository Trust Company in
connection with the removal of legends pursuant to this Section
3.3(b).
The
Purchaser agrees that the removal of the restrictive legend from
Certificates representing Shares as set forth in this Section
3.3(b) is predicated upon the Company’s reliance that the
Purchaser will sell any Shares pursuant to either the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable
prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption
therefrom.
(c)
Financial
Sophistication; Due Diligence.
The Purchaser has such
knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in
connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
The Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to purchase the
Securities, relied only upon the representations and warranties
contained herein and the information contained in the Company SEC
Documents. Further, the Purchaser has had such opportunity to
obtain additional information and to ask questions of, and receive
answers from, the Company, concerning the terms and conditions of
the investment and the business and affairs of the Company, as the
Purchaser considers necessary in order to form an investment
decision.
(d)
Accredited
Investor Status.
The Purchaser is an “accredited
investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of the rules
and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.
(e)
Residency.
The Purchaser is organized under the laws of the jurisdiction set
forth beneath the Purchaser’s name on the signature page
attached hereto, and its principal place of operations is in the
state set forth beneath the Purchaser’s name on the signature
page attached hereto.
(f)
General
Solicitation
. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities
as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other
communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper,
magazine or similar media or broadcast over the television or radio
or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or
general advertisement.
3.4
No
Investment, Tax or Legal Advice
. The Purchaser understands
that nothing in the Company SEC Documents, this Agreement, or any
other materials presented to the Purchaser in connection with the
purchase and sale of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or
investment advice. The Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and
investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed
necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of
Securities.
3.5
Additional
Acknowledgement.
The Purchaser acknowledges that it has
independently evaluated the merits of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, that it has independently determined to enter
into the transactions contemplated hereby, that it is not relying
on any advice from or evaluation by any other person. The Purchaser
acknowledges that it has not taken any actions that would deem the
Purchaser to be a members of a “group” for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
3.6
Limited
Ownership.
The purchase of the Securities by the Purchaser
at the Closing will not result in the Purchaser (individually or
together with any other person or entity with whom the Purchaser
has identified, or will have identified, itself as part of a
“group” in a public filing made with the SEC involving
the Company’s securities) acquiring, or obtaining the right
to acquire, in excess of 19.999% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or voting power of the Company on a post-transaction
basis that assumes that the Closing shall have occurred. The
Purchaser does not presently intend to, along or together with
others, make a public filing with the SEC to disclose that it has
(or that it together with such other persons or entities have)
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, as a result of the
Closing (when added to any other securities of the Company that it
or they then own or have the right to acquire), in excess of
19.999% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the voting
power of the Company on a post-transaction basis that assumes that
the Closing shall have occurred.
3.7
No
Short Position.
Other than consummating the transactions
contemplated hereunder, the Purchaser has not directly or
indirectly, nor has any person or entity acting on behalf of or
pursuant to any understanding with the Purchaser, executed any
purchases or sales, including short sales as defined in Rule 200 of
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (“
Short Sales
”), of the securities
of the Company during the period commencing from the time that the
Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the
Company or any other person representing the Company setting forth
the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder until
the date hereof (“
Discussion
Time
”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
that the Purchaser is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby
separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of the
Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct
knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio
managers managing other portions of the Purchaser’s assets,
the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to
the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made
the investment decision to purchase the securities covered by this
Agreement. The Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all
disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction
(including the existence and terms of this transaction, the
Acquisition Agreement, the First Lien Credit Facility, the Second
Lien Credit Facility and the Company’s sale of Series D
preferred stock in connection with the Merger,). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein
shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any
actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of,
or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect short
sales or similar transactions in the future.
4.
Conditions
to Closing.
4.1
Conditions
to Obligations of Purchaser at Closing.
The
Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Securities at the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing,
of all of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by
the Purchaser:
(a)
Representations
and Warranties True; Performance of Obligations.
The
representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 2
shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, where the
representation and warranty itself is qualified by materiality, it
shall be true and correct in all respects) on the Closing Date with
the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of
said date (except to the extent that any such representation and
warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be so true and correct as of such
earlier date), and the Company shall have performed and complied
with all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed
or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing, including, but
not limited to, those obligations and conditions set forth in
Sections 4.1(c), 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 4.1(h), and 4.1(i), and if the
Closing date is subsequent to the date hereof, a certificate duly
executed by an officer of the Company, to the effect of the
foregoing, shall be delivered to the Purchaser. The delivery of
such certificate shall evidence the satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in this Section 4.1.
(b)
Proceedings
and Documents.
All corporate and other proceedings in
connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and
all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall
be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to counsel to the
Purchaser, and counsel to the Purchaser shall have received all
such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such
documents as they may reasonably request. The Company shall have
delivered (or caused to have been delivered) to the Purchaser, the
Certificate(s) required by this Agreement.
(c)
Qualifications,
Legal Investment.
All authorizations, approvals, or permits,
if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the
United States or of any state that are required in connection with
the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly
obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing. No stop
order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall
have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC,
or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state
having jurisdiction over this transaction. At the time of the
Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is
subject. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby
which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)
Execution
of Agreement.
The Company shall have executed this Agreement
and have delivered this Agreement to the Purchaser.
(e)
Secretary’s
Certificate
. The Company shall have delivered to the
Purchaser a certificate of the Secretary of the Company certifying
as to (i) the truth and accuracy of the resolutions of the board of
directors relating to the transaction contemplated hereby (a copy
of which shall be included with such certificate) and (ii) the
current versions of the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation and bylaws.
(f)
Payment
of Structuring Fee
. The $________ structuring fee
contemplated by Section 7.6 shall have been paid.
(g)
Trading
and Listing.
Trading and listing of the Company’s
common stock on the Principal Market shall not have been suspended
by the SEC or the Principal Market.
(h)
Market
Listing.
The Company will comply with all of the
requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
and the Principal Market with respect to the issuance of the
Securities and will list the Shares on the Principal Market no
later than the earlier of (a) the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined) or (b) the Required
Effective Date (as hereinafter defined).
(i)
Blue
Sky.
The Company shall have obtained all necessary
“blue sky” law permits and qualifications, or have the
availability of exemptions therefrom, required by any state for the
offer and sale of the Securities.
(j)
Material
Adverse Change.
Since the date of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred any event which results in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(k)
Merger
.
The Merger and the transactions related thereto shall be
consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, including the
financings contemplated by the First Lien Credit Facility and the
Second Lien Credit Facility, contemporaneously with the
Offering.
4.2
Conditions
to Obligations of the Company.
The Company’s
obligation to issue and sell the Securities at the Closing is
subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing, of the
following conditions, any of which may be waived by the
Company:
(a)
Representations
and Warranties True.
The representations and warranties made
by the Purchaser in Section 3 shall be true and correct in all
material respects (or, where the representation and warranty itself
is qualified by materiality, it shall be true and correct in all
respects) on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if
they had been made on and as of said date (except to the extent
that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an
earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall
be so true and correct as of such earlier date).
(b)
Performance
of Obligations.
The Purchaser shall have performed and
complied with all agreements and conditions herein required to be
performed or complied with by them on or before the Closing. The
Purchaser shall have delivered the Purchase Price, by wire
transfer, to the account designated by the Company for such
purpose.
(c)
Qualifications,
Legal Investment.
All authorizations, approvals, or permits,
if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the
United States or of any state that are required in connection with
the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly
obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing. No stop
order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall
have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC,
or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state
having jurisdiction over this transaction. At the time of the
Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is
subject. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby
which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)
Execution
of Agreement.
The Purchaser shall have executed this
Agreement and delivered this Agreement to the Company.
(e)
Merger
.
The Merger and the transactions related thereto shall be
consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, including the
financings contemplated by the First Lien Credit Facility and the
Second Lien Credit Facility, contemporaneously with the
Offering.
4.3
Termination
of Obligations to Effect Closing; Effect.
(a)
Termination
.
The obligations of the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchaser,
on the other hand, to effect the Closing shall terminate as
follows:
(i)
Upon
the mutual written consent of the Company and the
Purchaser;
(ii)
By
the Company if any of the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 shall
have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been
waived by the Company;
(iii)
By
the Purchaser if any of the conditions set forth in Section 4.1
shall have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been
waived by the Purchaser; or
(iv)
By
either the Company or the Purchaser if the Closing has not occurred
on or prior to May 15, 2018, 2018; provided, however, that, in
the case of clause (iii) above and clause (iv) with respect to the
Company, the party seeking to terminate its obligation to effect
the Closing shall not then be in breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained in
this Agreement if such breach has resulted in the circumstances
giving rise to such party’s seeking to terminate its
obligation to effect the Closing.
(b)
Effect
of Termination
. Nothing in this Section 4.3 shall be deemed
to release any party from any liability for any breach by such
party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or to impair
the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other
party of its obligations under this Agreement.
5.1
Reporting
Status.
With a view to making available to the Purchaser the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may
permit the sale of the Shares to the public without registration,
the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to file with
the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Exchange Act. The Company will
otherwise take such further action as the Purchaser may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time, to enable
the Purchaser to sell the Shares without registration under the
Securities Act or any successor rule or regulation adopted by the
SEC.
5.2
Listing.
So long as the Purchaser owns any of the Securities, the Company
will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the qualification
or listing of its Common Stock, including the Shares, on the
Principal Market or an alternative listing on The Nasdaq Stock
Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE MKT and will comply in all
material respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and
other obligations under the rules of such exchanges, as
applicable.
5.3
Adjustments
in Share Numbers and Prices.
In the event of any stock
split, subdivision, dividend or distribution payable in shares of
Common Stock (or other securities or rights convertible into, or
entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly
shares of Common Stock), combination or other similar
recapitalization or event occurring after the date hereof, each
reference in this Agreement to a number of shares or price per
share shall be amended appropriately to account for such
event.
5.4
Non-Public
Information.
The Company covenants and agrees that neither
it nor any other person acting on its behalf will provide the
Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that the
Company believes constitutes material non-public information,
unless prior thereto the Purchaser shall have executed a written
agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such
information. The Company understands and confirms that the
Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing representations in
effecting transactions in securities of the Company. Furthermore,
if the Company has disclosed any material non-public information to
the Purchaser, the Purchaser has no duty to keep such information
confidential following the public announcement of the
Offering.
5.5
Lock-Up
.
The Purchaser will not, without the prior written consent of the
Company, from the date of execution of this Agreement and
continuing to and including the date 180 days after the Closing
Date (the “
Lock-Up
Period
”)
: (1) offer,
pledge, announce the intention to sell, 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,
make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly
or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent
the right to receive Common Stock (including without limitation,
Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the
Purchaser in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC
and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option
or warrant) (the
“Purchaser’s
Securities”
); (2) enter
into any swap, hedge or other transaction or transfer which could
reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a transfer, sale or
disposition of the Purchaser’s Securities, or any of the
economic consequences of ownership thereof, whether any such
transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled
by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with
respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or any security
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock,
provided, that nothing in this Section 5.5 is intended to limit any
claim regarding the breach or enforcement of the provisions of
Section 6; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the
foregoing.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Purchaser may transfer the Purchaser’s
Securities (i) as a
bona
fide
gift or gifts, or (ii) if the
Purchaser
is a corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust or other business entity (1) to
another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust
or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as
defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the
Purchaser
or (2) as
distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible
into or exercisable for Common Stock to limited partners, limited
liability company members or stockholders of the
Purchaser
;
provided,
that (x) such transfer
shall not involve a disposition for value, (y) the transferee
agrees in writing with the Representative to be bound by the terms
of this Section 5.5 and (z) no filing by any party under Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, shall be required or shall be made
voluntarily in connection with such transfer.
In
furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent
and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer
of shares of Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a
violation or breach of this Section 5.5.
6.1
Registration
Procedures and Expenses; Liquidated Damages for Certain
Events.
(a)
The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as
reasonably practicable following Closing, a registration statement
on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3), covering the resale of
the Registrable Securities (the “
S-3 Registration Statement
”) and
use all commercially reasonable efforts to, as soon as reasonably
practicable thereafter but in no event later than 120 days
following the date hereof (or 150 days in the event of a full
review of the S-3 Registration Statement by the SEC), effect such
registration and any related qualification or compliance with
respect to all Registrable Securities held by the Purchaser. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “
Registrable Securities
” shall
mean (i) the Shares and (ii) any Common Stock of the Company issued
as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant,
right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other
distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement
of, any Shares. In the event that Form S-3 (or any successor form)
is or becomes unavailable to register the resale of the Registrable
Securities at any time prior to the date of the initial filing of
the S-3 Registration Statement (the “
Initial Filing Date
”), the
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as
reasonably practicable a registration statement on Form S-1 (or any
successor to Form S-1), covering the resale of the Registrable
Securities (the “
S-1
Registration Statement
” and collectively the S-3
Registration Statement, the “
Registration Statement
”) and use
all commercially reasonable efforts to, as soon as reasonably
practicable thereafter but in no event later than 120 days
following the date hereof (150 days in the event of a full review
of the S-1 Registration Statement by the SEC), to effect such
registration and any related qualification or compliance with
respect to all Registrable Securities held by the Purchaser. If the
Company is not eligible to use Form S-3 at the Initial Filing Date,
and the Company subsequently becomes eligible to use Form S-3
during the Effectiveness Period (as defined below), the Company
shall file, as promptly as reasonably practicable, a new S-3
Registration Statement, or if available, an amendment to the Form
S-1, covering the resale of the Registrable Securities and replace
the S-1 Registration Statement with the new S-3 Registration
Statement or amended Form S-1, as the case may be, upon the
effectiveness of the new S-3 Registration Statement.
(b)
The
Company shall, during the Effectiveness Period (as hereinafter
defined), use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
(i)
prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary or advisable to keep the Registration
Statement current and effective for the Registrable Securities held
by the Purchaser for a period ending on the earlier of (i) the
second anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the date on which all
Registrable Securities may be sold without reporting obligations or
volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer or any other
restriction under Rule 144 or (iii) such time as all Registrable
Securities have been sold pursuant to a registration statement or
Rule 144 (collectively, the “
Effectiveness Period
”). The
Company shall notify the Purchaser promptly upon the Registration
Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto, being declared
effective by the SEC and advise the Purchaser that the form of
Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, at the time
of effectiveness meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act or that it intends to file a Prospectus pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that meets the requirements of
Section 10(a) of the Securities Act;
(ii)
furnish
to the Purchaser promptly with respect to the Registrable
Securities registered under the Registration Statement such number
of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(including supplemental prospectuses and amendments) filed with the
SEC in conformance with the requirements of the Securities Act and
such other documents as the Purchaser may reasonably request, in
order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of all or
any of the Registrable Securities by the Purchaser;
(iii)
make
any necessary blue sky filings; and
(iv)
advise
the Purchaser, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain
knowledge of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC delaying or
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose; and it will
promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible
moment if such stop order should be issued.
(c)
With
a view to making available to the Purchaser the benefits of Rule
144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any
time permit the Purchaser to sell Registrable Securities to the
public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees, for
as long as Purchaser owns any Shares (or any Common Stock of the
Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of
any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend
or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in
replacement of, any Shares), to: (i) make and keep public
information available, as such term is understood and defined in
Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the
Registrable Securities qualify to be resold immediately pursuant to
Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect without any
restriction under Rule 144 or such other rule or (B) such date as
all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold pursuant
to a registration statement or Rule 144 (and may be further resold
without restriction); (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish to the
Purchaser upon request, as long as the Purchaser owns any
Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company as
to whether it has complied with the reporting requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) if not available on the
SEC EDGAR system, a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such
other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail
the Purchaser of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the
selling of any such Registrable Securities without
registration. The Company understands that the Purchaser
disclaims being an underwriter, but acknowledges that a
determination by the SEC that the Purchaser is deemed an
underwriter shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has
hereunder.
(d)
The
Company shall pay the expenses incurred by the Company and the
Purchaser in complying with this Section 6, including, all
registration and filing fees, FINRA fees, exchange listing fees,
printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any special
audits incident to or required by any such registration (but
excluding attorneys’ fees of the Purchaser and any and all
underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the
sale of Registrable Securities by the Purchaser).
6.2
Transfer
of Shares After Registration; Suspension.
(a)
Except
in the event that Section 6.2(b) applies, the Company shall during
the Effectiveness Period: (i) if deemed necessary or advisable by
the Company, prepare and file from time to time with the SEC a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment
to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document so that such Registration Statement will not
contain an 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, and so that, as thereafter
delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold
thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an 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, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; (ii) provide the Purchaser copies, or access to copies,
of any documents filed pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(i); and (iii)
upon request, inform the Purchaser that the Company has complied
with its obligations in Section 6.2(b)(i) (or that, if the Company
has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
which has not yet been declared effective, the Company will notify
the Purchaser to that effect, will use its reasonable best efforts
to secure the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment as
promptly as possible and will promptly notify the Purchaser
pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i) when the amendment has become
effective).
(b)
Subject
to Section 6.1(c), in the event: (i) of any request by the SEC or
any other federal or state governmental authority during the period
of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or
for additional information; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any
other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of
any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or
the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) of any
event or circumstance which necessitates the making of any changes
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, so
that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not
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, and that in the case of the
Prospectus, it will not 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, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; then the
Company shall promptly deliver a certificate in writing to the
Purchaser (the “
Suspension
Notice
”) to the effect of the foregoing and, upon
receipt of such Suspension Notice, the Purchaser will refrain from
selling any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement (a “
Suspension
”) until the Purchaser
is advised in writing by the Company that the current Prospectus
may be used, and have received copies, or access to copies, from
the Company of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in any such
Prospectus. In the event of any Suspension, the Company will use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the use of the Prospectus so
suspended to be resumed as soon as reasonably practicable after
delivery of a Suspension Notice to the Purchaser. In addition to
and without limiting any other remedies (including, without
limitation, at law or at equity) available to the Company and the
Purchaser, the Company and the Purchaser shall be entitled to
specific performance in the event that the other party fails to
comply with the provisions of this Section 6.2(b).
(c)
Notwithstanding
the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6.2, the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) a Suspension shall
not exceed 30 days individually, (ii) Suspensions covering no more
than 45 days, in the aggregate, shall occur during any twelve month
period and (iii) each Suspension shall be separated by a period of
at least 30 days from a prior Suspension (each Suspension that
satisfies the foregoing criteria being referred to herein as a
“
Qualifying
Suspension
”).
(d)
During
the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall cause Certificates
evidencing the Registrable Securities not to contain any
restrictive legend (including the legend set forth in Section
3.3(b)): (i) following a resale of the Shares under an effective
registration statement (including the Registration Statement)
covering such Registrable Securities, or (ii) following a sale of
such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) while
such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144
and, with respect to the Purchaser’s Shares, the Purchaser is
not and has not been for three months an affiliate of the Company
(as such term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1)) and such Shares have
been held for one year or more pursuant to the requirements of Rule
144 and any other requirements under Rule 144 have been satisfied
at such time, or (iv) if such legend is not required under
applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial
interpretations and pronouncements issued by the Staff of the SEC).
Following such time as restrictive legends are not required to be
placed on Certificates representing Shares, the Company will, no
later than three Trading Days following the delivery by the
Purchaser to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a
Certificate representing Registrable Securities containing a
restrictive legend, deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Purchaser a Certificate representing such Registrable Securities
that is free from all restrictive legends. Promptly after the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the
Company will cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the
Company’s transfer agent to effect the removal of the
restrictive legend contemplated by this Agreement upon request by
the Purchaser in connection with a sale of the Purchaser’s
Registrable Securities by the Purchaser pursuant to the
Registration Statement. The Company may not make any notation on
its records or give instructions to any transfer agent of the
Company that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this
Agreement. Certificates for Registrable Securities subject to
legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the transfer agent
of the Company to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the
Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company
system unless the Purchaser provides alternate written
instructions.
6.3
Indemnification.
For the purpose of this Section 6.3:
(a)
the
term “
Selling
Shareholder
” shall mean the Purchaser, its general
partners, managing members, managers, executive officers and
directors and each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act;
(b)
the
term “
Registration
Statement
” shall include any final Prospectus,
exhibit, supplement or amendment included in or relating to, and
any document incorporated by reference in, the Registration
Statement (or deemed to be a part thereof) referred to in Section
6.1; and
(c)
the
term “
untrue
statement
” shall mean any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact, or any omission or alleged
omission to state in the Registration Statement a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(d)
The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Selling
Shareholder from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which such Selling Shareholder may become subject
(under the Securities Act or otherwise) insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in
respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon (i) any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, (ii) any inaccuracy in the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement or the
failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or
(iii) any failure by the Company to fulfill any undertaking
included in the Registration Statement, and the Company will
reimburse such Selling Shareholder for any reasonable legal expense
or other actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses reasonably
incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any
such action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based
upon, an untrue statement made in such Registration Statement in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder
specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement
or the failure of such Selling Shareholder to comply with its
covenants and agreements contained herein or any statement or
omission in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent
Prospectus that was delivered to the Selling Shareholder prior to
the pertinent sale or sales by the Selling
Shareholder.
(e)
The
Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company (and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement
and each director of the Company) from and against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company (or any such
officer, director or controlling person) may become subject (under
the Securities Act or otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect
thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement if, and only
if, such untrue statement was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of
the Purchaser specifically for use in preparation of the
Registration Statement, and the Purchaser will reimburse the
Company (or such officer, director or controlling person, as the
case may be), for any reasonable legal expense or other actual
accountable out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in
investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action,
proceeding or claim. The obligation to indemnify shall be limited
to the net amount of the proceeds received by the Purchaser from
the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
(f)
Promptly
after receipt by any indemnified person of a notice of a claim or
the beginning of any action in respect of which indemnity is to be
sought against an indemnifying person pursuant to this Section 6.3,
such indemnified person shall notify the indemnifying person in
writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action, but
the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
under this Section 6.3 (except to the extent that such omission
materially and adversely affects the indemnifying party’s
ability to defend such action) or from any liability otherwise than
under this Section 6.3. Subject to the provisions hereinafter
stated, in case any such action shall be brought against an
indemnified person, the indemnifying person shall be entitled to
participate therein, and, to the extent that it shall elect by
written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after
receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, shall
be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified person. After notice from the
indemnifying person to such indemnified person of its election to
assume the defense thereof (unless it has failed to assume the
defense thereof and appoint counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party), such indemnifying person shall not be liable to
such indemnified person for any legal expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified person in connection with the defense
thereof; provided, however, that if there exists or shall exist a
conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate, in the
reasonable opinion of counsel to the indemnified person, for the
same counsel to represent both the indemnified person and such
indemnifying person or any affiliate or associate thereof, the
indemnified person shall be entitled to retain its own counsel (who
shall not be the same as the opining counsel) at the expense of
such indemnifying person; provided, however, that no indemnifying
person shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) for
all indemnified parties. In no event shall any indemnifying person
be liable in respect of any amounts paid in settlement of any
action unless the indemnifying person shall have approved the terms
of such settlement; provided that such consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No indemnifying person shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified person, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified person is or could reasonably have been a
party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified person, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified person from all liability
on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(g)
If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.3 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (d) or (e) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect
thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Purchaser on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions or other matters which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, in the
case of an untrue statement, whether the untrue statement relates
to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the
Purchaser on the other and the parties’ relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement. The Company and the Purchaser agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to
this subsection (g) were determined by pro rata allocation or by
any other method of allocation which does not take into account the
equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (g).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above in this subsection (g) shall be deemed
to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (g), the Purchaser shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the net amount received by
the Purchaser from the sale of the Registrable Securities to which
such loss relates exceeds the amount of any damages which the
Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay to the Company by
reason of such untrue statement. 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 fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(h)
The
parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they are
sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel
during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 6.3, and are
fully informed regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge
that the provisions of this Section 6.3 fairly allocate the risks
in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company
and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is
made in the Registration Statement as required by the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act.
(i)
The
obligations of the Company and of the Purchaser under this Section
6.3 shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable
Securities in such Registration Statement for a period of two years
from the effective date of the Registration Statement. No
indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation,
shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent
to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does
not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from
all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
6.4
Termination
of Conditions and Obligations.
The conditions precedent
imposed by Section 3 or this Section 6 upon the transferability of
the Registrable Securities shall cease and terminate as to any
particular number of the Registrable Securities when such
Registrable Securities shall have been effectively registered under
the Securities Act and sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance
with the intended method of disposition set forth in the
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities or at
such time as an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company
shall have been rendered to the effect that such conditions are not
necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act. The Company
shall request an opinion of counsel promptly upon receipt of a
request therefor from the Purchaser.
6.5
Information
Available.
So long as the Registration Statement is
effective covering the resale of Registrable Securities owned by
the Purchaser, the Company will furnish (or, to the extent such
information is available electronically through the Company’s
filings with the SEC, the Company will make available via the
SEC’s EDGAR system or any successor thereto) to the
Purchaser:
(a)
as
soon as practicable after it is available, one copy of its Annual
Report on Form 10-K (the foregoing, in each case, excluding
exhibits);
(b)
upon
the request of the Purchaser, all exhibits excluded by the
parenthetical to subparagraph (a) of this Section 6.5 as filed with
the SEC and all other information that is made available to
shareholders; and
(c)
upon
the reasonable request of the Purchaser, an adequate number of
copies of the Prospectuses to supply to any other party requiring
such Prospectuses; and the Company, upon the reasonable request of
Purchaser, will meet with the Purchaser or a representative thereof
at the Company’s headquarters during the Company’s
normal business hours to discuss all information relevant for
disclosure in the Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities and will otherwise reasonably cooperate with the
Purchaser conducting an investigation for the purpose of reducing
or eliminating the Purchaser’s exposure to liability under
the Securities Act, including the reasonable production of
information at the Company’s headquarters; provided, that the
Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential
information to or meet at its headquarters with the Purchaser until
and unless the Purchaser shall have entered into a confidentiality
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company with the Company with respect thereto.
6.6
Protection
of Exemptions.
The Company will not, for a period of six
months following the Closing Date offer for sale or sell any
securities unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel,
such offer or sale does not jeopardize the availability of
exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements
under applicable securities laws with respect to the Offering.
Except for the issuance of stock options under the Company’s
stock option plans, the issuance of common stock upon exercise of
outstanding options and warrants, the issuance of common stock
purchase warrants, the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger Agreement or the Acquisition Agreement, the Company’s
sale of Series D preferred stock in connection with the Merger, the
Company’s public offering of Common Stock consummated on
February 5, 2018 and the offering contemplated hereby, the Company
has not engaged in any offering of equity securities during the six
(6) months prior to the date of this Agreement. The foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.6 shall not prevent the Company from
filing a “shelf” registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act, but the foregoing provisions
shall apply to any sale of securities thereunder.
6.7
Form D
and State Securities Filings
. The Company will file with the
SEC a Notice of Sale of Securities on Form D with respect to
the Securities, as required under Regulation D under the
Securities Act, no later than 15 days after the Closing Date. The
Company will promptly and timely file all documents and pay all
filing fees required by any states’ securities laws in
connection with the sale of Securities.
6.8
Assignment
of Registration Rights.
The rights to cause the Company to
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6 may be
assigned by the Purchaser to a party that acquires, other than
pursuant to the Registration Statement or Rule 144, any of the
Registrable Securities originally issued or issuable to the
Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement, or to any affiliate of
the Purchaser that acquires any Registrable Securities. Any such
permitted assignee shall have all the rights of the Purchaser under
this Section 6 with respect to the Registrable Securities
transferred during the Effectiveness Period.
6.9
Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire.
The Purchaser agrees to furnish
to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to
this Agreement as
Exhibit A
(a
“
Selling Holder
Questionnaire
”). The Company shall not be required to
include the Registrable Securities of the Purchaser in a
Registration Statement and shall not be required to pay any
liquidated or other damages hereunder to the Purchaser if the
Purchaser fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling
Holder Questionnaire at least three business days prior to the
filing of the Registration Statement.
7.1
Governing
Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to the choice of law provisions thereof, and the federal laws of
the United States.
7.2
Successors
and Assigns.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators
of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser.
7.3
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement and the exhibits hereto, and the
other documents delivered pursuant hereto, constitute the full and
entire understanding and agreement among the parties with regard to
the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any
other party in any manner by any representations, warranties,
covenants, or agreements except as specifically set forth herein or
therein. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended
to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided herein.
7.4
Severability.
In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable, it shall to the extent practicable, be
modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable and to
retain as nearly as practicable the intent of the parties, and the
validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
7.5
Amendment
and Waiver.
Except as otherwise provided herein, any term of
this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of
this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance, either retroactively or prospectively, and either for a
specified period of time or indefinitely), with the written consent
of the Company and the Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected
in accordance with this Section 7.5 shall be binding upon each
future holder of any of the Securities purchased under this
Agreement and the Company.
7.6
Fees
and Expenses.
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the
Company and the Purchaser shall bear their own expenses and legal
fees incurred on their behalf with respect to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereby agrees to
indemnify and to hold harmless of and from any liability the other
party for any commission or compensation in the nature of a
finder’s fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the
costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted
liability) for which such indemnifying party or any of its
employees or representatives are responsible. The Company shall pay
to the Purchaser a structuring fee of $__________ at Closing,
payable in cash to Purchaser or its designee or, at
Purchaser’s option, payable by offsetting such amount from
the Purchase Price. The parties acknowledge that no fees or
expenses, other than the structuring fee, shall be payable by the
Company to the Purchaser.
7.7
Notices.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing, shall be delivered (A) if within the United
States, by first-class registered or certified airmail, or
nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid or
by electronic mail, or (B) if from outside the United States, by
International Federal Express (or comparable service) or by
electronic mail, and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered by
first-class registered or certified mail domestic, upon the
business day received, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized
overnight carrier, one business day after timely delivery to such
carrier, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express (or
comparable service), two business days after so mailed, or (iv) if
delivered by electronic mail at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York
City time) on a Trading Day, on the Trading Day so delivered or, if
delivered by electronic mail after 5:30 p.m. (New York City time)
on a Trading Day or on a day that is not a Trading Day, the next
Trading Day after the date of delivery, and shall be addressed as
follows, or to such other address or addresses as may have been
furnished in writing by a party to another party pursuant to this
paragraph:
●
if to the Company,
to the address of the Company’s principal office set forth on
the first page of this Agreement, Attention: James P. Prenetta,
Jr., EVP and General Counsel, e-mail: jprenetta@fusionconnect.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice to the Company)
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10178, Attention: Carol Weiss Sherman, e-mail:
csherman@kelleydrye.com and
●
if to the
Purchaser, at its address on the signature page to this
Agreement.
7.8
Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this
Agreement, all covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Company and the Purchaser herein shall
survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the
Purchaser of the Securities being purchased and the payment
therefor, and a party’s reliance on such representations and
warranties shall not be affected by any investigation made by such
party or any information developed thereby.
7.9
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed by pdf signature and in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one instrument.
7.10
Headings
.
The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a
part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.
[The Remainder of this Page is Blank; Signature Pages
Follow]
In
witness whereof, the foregoing Common Stock Purchase Agreement is
hereby executed as of the date first above
written.
|
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
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By:
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Name:
|
James
P. Prenetta, Jr.
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Title:
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Executive
Vice President and General Counsel
|
In
witness whereof, the foregoing Common Stock Purchase Agreement is
hereby executed as of the date first above
written.
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Name of
Investor
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Jurisdiction
of Organization:
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Jurisdiction
of Principal Place of Operations:
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Address
for Notice:
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Attention:
|
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Telephone:
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Delivery
Instructions (if different from above):
|
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Attention:
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Telephone:
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EXHIBIT A
SELLING SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
Questionnaire for Selling Shareholder
This
questionnaire is necessary to obtain information to be used by
Fusion Connect, Inc. (the “
Company
”) to complete a
Registration Statement (the “
Registration Statement
”) covering
the resale of certain shares of Company Common Stock currently
outstanding. Please complete and return this questionnaire to
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, the Company’s legal counsel,
to the attention of Carol Weiss
Sherman
either by mail to 101 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10178 or by fax to (212) 808-7897 or by email to
csherman@kelleydrye.com. Please return the questionnaire
by [●], or sooner, if
possible.
Call Carol Weiss Sherman at 212-808-5038 with
questions.
FAILURE
TO RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE MAY RESULT IN THE EXCLUSION OF YOUR
NAME AND SHARES FROM THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
Please
answer all questions.
If
the answer to any question is “None” or “Not
Applicable,” please so state
.
If
there is any question about which you have any doubt, please set
forth the relevant facts in your answer.
1.
Please correct your
name
and/or
address
if not
correct below
2.
Please state the
total number
of
currently outstanding shares of Company Common Stock that you
beneficially own
1
and the form of ownership and the date
that you acquired such stock. Include shares registered in your
name individually or jointly with others and shares held in the
name of a bank, broker, nominee, depository or in “street
name” for your account. (DO NOT list options, warrants or
other derivative securities. See Question #3).
3.
Please list any
outstanding options and warrants to purchase Company Common Stock
or other derivative securities to acquire Company Common Stock that
you beneficially own
*
, including (i) the
number of shares of Company Common Stock to be issued upon the
exercise of such option or warrant, (ii) the date such option or
warrant is exercisable, (iii) the expiration date and (iv) the
exercise price per share of EACH such option and
warrant.
Number of SharesCovered by Option orWarrant
|
|
Date Exercisable
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Please list the
number of shares of Common Stock listed under Question #2 above
that you wish to include in the Registration
Statement.
5.
If you are a
limited liability company or limited partnership, please name the
managing member or general partner and each person controlling such
managing member or general partner.
6.
If you are an
entity, please identify the natural person(s) who exercises sole or
shared voting power* and/or sole or shared investment power* with
regard to the shares listed under Question #2 and Question
#3.
7.
Please advise
whether you are a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate*
thereof. If you are an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer,
please explain the nature of the affiliation and disclose whether
you acquired the shares in the ordinary course of business and
whether at the time of the acquisition you had any plans or
proposals, directly or with any other person, to distribute the
shares listed under Question #2 and Question #3.
8.
List below the
nature of any position, office or other material relationship that
you have, or have had within the past three years, with the Company
or any of its predecessors or affiliates*.
9.
If you expressly
wish to disclaim any beneficial ownership* of any shares listed
under Question #2 for any reason in the Registration Statement,
indicate below the shares and circumstances for disclaiming such
beneficial ownership*.
10.
With respect to the
shares that you wish to include in the Registration Statement,
please list any party that has or may have secured a lien, security
interest or any other claim relating to such shares, and please
give a full description of such claims.
APPENDIX A
To Exhibit A
CERTAIN TERMS USED IN QUESTIONNAIRE
AFFILIATE
An
“
affiliate
” of
a company is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such company.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
A
person “
beneficially
owns
” a security if such person, directly or
indirectly, has or shares voting power or investment power of such
security, whether through a contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise. A person is also the beneficial owner of
a security if he has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at
any time within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant
or right, or the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or
similar arrangement.
INVESTMENT POWER
“
Investment power
” includes the
power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, a
security.
VOTING POWER
“
Voting power
” includes the power
to vote, or to direct the voting of, a security.
Purchasers pursuant to Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May
4, 2018:
Purchaser
|
Number
of Shares
|
Purchase
Price
|
|
|
|
North
Haven Credit Partners II L.P.
|
952,382
|
$5,000,005.50
|
Aetna
Life Insurance Company
|
380,953
|
$2,000,003.25
|
Backcast
Credit Opportunities Fund I, L.P.
|
190,477
|
$1,000,004.25
|
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement
(this “
Agreement
”) is made as of May 4,
2018, by and among
FUSION
CONNECT
, INC.
, f/k/a
Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its principal office at 420 Lexington Avenue,
Suite 1718, New York, New York 10170 (the “
Company
”), and
Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
(the “
Purchaser
”).
Recitals
A. The
Company has authorized the sale and issuance of 15,000 shares (the
“
Shares
” or
“
Securities
”)
of Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Company, $0.01 par
value per share (the “
Preferred
Stock
”), to the Purchaser in a
private placement (the “
Offering
”).
B. The
Company has created or will create the Preferred Stock by filing a
Certificate of Designations and Preferences relating to the
Preferred Stock (the “
Certificate of Designations
”)
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the
“
Secretary of
State
”) in substantially the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit A
,
contemporaneously with this execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
C. Pursuant
to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“
Securities
Act
”), and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder, the
Company desires to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires
to purchase from the Company, the Shares on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Terms and Conditions
Now,
therefore, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties,
intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as
follows:
1.
Purchase
of the Securities.
1.1
Agreement
to Sell and Purchase.
At the Closing (as hereinafter
defined), the Company will issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the
Purchaser will purchase from the Company, the Shares for an
aggregate purchase price of $14,700,000 (the “
Purchase Price
”) or $980.00 for
each Share.
1.2
Closing;
Closing Date.
The completion of the sale and purchase of the
Shares (the “
Closing
”) shall be held
simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, or at such
other time as the Company and the Purchaser may agree (the
“
Closing
Date
”).
1.3
Delivery
of the Shares.
At the Closing, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Company will deliver to the Purchaser a
stock certificate or certificates, in such denominations and
registered in such name(s) as the Purchaser may designate by notice
to the Company, representing the Securities, or at the
Purchaser’s request, a statement or other written evidence
that the Securities issuable to the Purchaser have been issued and
are held in book entry form, in either case dated as of the Closing
Date (each such certificate and each such book entry position are
hereinafter referred to as a “
Certificate
”), against payment of
the Purchase Price in cash in the form of a wire transfer, unless
other means of payment shall have been agreed upon by the Purchaser
and the Company.
2.
Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The Company hereby represents
and warrants to the Purchaser, after giving effect (unless
otherwise specified below) to the consummation of the merger
between Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
with
Birch
Communications Holdings, Inc. (“
Birch
”) and the transactions
related thereto being consummated substantially simultaneously with
this Offering (the “
Merger
”), and, as applicable,
based in part on information relating to Birch and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries as provided by Birch to the Company in
connection with the Merger Agreement (as defined below) and
subsequent thereto, and without making any representations or
warranties as to any subsidiaries acquired as part of the
Merger:
2.1
Authorization.
All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers,
directors and shareholders necessary for the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement, has been taken. The
Company has the requisite corporate power to enter into this
Agreement and carry out and perform its obligations under this
Agreement. At the Closing, the Company will have the requisite
corporate power to issue and sell the Securities. This Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and, upon due execution and delivery by the Purchaser, this
Agreement will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal
or state securities laws and except as enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by
equitable principles.
2.2
No
Conflict with Other Instruments.
The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the
Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder and the consummation
of the actions contemplated by this Agreement will not (A) result
in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default
under, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice:
(i) any provision of the Company’s charter documents as in
effect on the date hereof or at the Closing (in each case, as
amended to include the Certificate of Designations); (ii) any
provision of any judgment, arbitration ruling, decree or order to
which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party or by which they
are bound; (iii) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of
indebtedness, or any lease, contract, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement, instrument
or commitment to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or
by which they or their respective properties are bound; or (iv) any
statute, rule, law or governmental regulation or order applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of
(ii), (iii) and (iv) above, as would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined); or (B)
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance,
claim, security interest or restriction whatsoever upon any of the
properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary or any
acceleration of indebtedness pursuant to any obligation, agreement
or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other
evidence of indebtedness or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust
or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
subsidiary are a party or by which they are bound or to which any
of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is
subject. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration, qualification or filing with, any regulatory body,
administrative agency, or other governmental body is required for
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
valid issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to
this Agreement, other than such as have been made or obtained and
that remain in full force and effect, and except for the filing of
the Certificate of Designations or a Form D or any filings required
to be made under state securities laws.
2.3
Certificate
of Incorporation; Bylaws.
The Company has made available to
the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the
date hereof.
2.4
Organization,
Good Standing and Qualification.
The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
conducted. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has full power
and authority to own, operate and occupy its properties and to
conduct its business as presently conducted and is duly qualified
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on its or its subsidiaries’
business, financial condition, properties, operations, prospects or
assets or its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement (a “
Material
Adverse Effect
”).
2.5
SEC
Filings; Financial Statements.
As used herein, the
“
Company SEC
Documents
” means all reports, schedules, forms,
statements and other documents filed or furnished, as applicable,
by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “
Exchange
Act
”), including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
thereof, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated
by reference therein. The Company has filed all SEC Documents as
required on a timely basis and as of their respective filing dates
during the 12 months preceding the date hereof; the Company SEC
Documents since December 31, 2015 complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“
SEC
”)
promulgated thereunder; and none of these Company SEC Documents,
when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading. The
consolidated financial statements contained in the Company SEC
Documents since December 31, 2017: (i) complied in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered, except in the case of unaudited statements as permitted by
Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that unaudited financial
statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to year-end
audit adjustments; and (iii) fairly present the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations
cash flows and the changes in shareholders’ equity of the
Company and its subsidiaries for the periods covered
thereby.
2.6
Capitalization.
The authorized capital stock of the Company, consists of (i)
150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Company (the “
Common
Stock
”), of which (A) 76,583,701 shares were issued
and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (B) 8,526,403
shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise or conversion,
as the case may be, of outstanding options, warrants or other
convertible securities as of the date of this Agreement, in each
case, taking into account the reverse split of the Common Stock
that was effected on the date hereof and acknowledging rounding
adjustments for fractional split amounts; and (ii) 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock, of which 15,000 will be issued and
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (taking into effect
this Offering). All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable, have been issued and sold in compliance with the
registration requirements of the federal and state securities laws
or the applicable statutes of limitation have expired, and were not
issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities. Except as set forth herein,
in the Certificate of Designations or in the Company SEC Documents
or contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
“
Merger
Agreement
”) relating to the Merger that is being
consummated contemporaneously with this Offering, there are no (i)
outstanding rights (including, without limitation, preemptive
rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible
into or exchangeable for, any unissued shares of capital stock or
other equity interest in the Company, or any contract, commitment,
agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind to which the
Company or any subsidiary is a party and relating to the issuance
or sale of any capital stock or convertible or exchangeable
security of the Company or any subsidiary, other than 1,996,754
options granted to directors and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries pursuant to its 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2009 Stock
Option Plan or the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and 1,193,070
warrants that are issued and outstanding; or (ii) obligations of
the Company to purchase redeem or otherwise acquire any of its
outstanding capital stock or any interest therein or to pay any
dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof. Except
as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents and as contemplated by
(i) the Merger Agreement, (ii) the Company’s announced
agreement to acquire, through a merger, a specified target company
(the “
Acquisition
Agreement
”), and (iii) the Company’s common
stock purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company will sell
$5,000,000 of Common Stock contemporaneously with the closing of
the Merger (the “
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement
”), there are no anti-dilution
or price adjustment provisions, co-sale rights, registration
rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights contained
in the terms governing any outstanding security of the Company that
will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities and no person
has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under
the Securities Act of any securities of the Company (other than the
rights which have been granted in connection with this Agreement,
the Merger Agreement, the Acquisition Agreement and the Common
Stock Purchase Agreement).
2.7
Subsidiaries.
Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement and except as set
forth in the Company SEC Documents, the Company does not presently
own or control, directly or indirectly, and has no stock or other
interest as owner or principal in, any other corporation or
partnership, joint venture, association or other business venture
or entity (each a “
subsidiary
”). Each subsidiary is
duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and, if applicable
to the jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Each
subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction, except where the failure to be so
qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. All of the outstanding capital stock or other securities of
each subsidiary of the Company is owned, either directly or
indirectly by the Company). Except for the liens granted under the
terms of the First Lien Credit Facility (as defined below) and the
Second Lien Credit Facility (as defined below), the capital stock
or other securities of each US subsidiary of the Company is free
and clear of any liens, claims or encumbrances.
2.8
Valid
Issuance of Securities.
The Securities are duly authorized
and, when issued, sold and delivered and paid for in accordance
with the terms hereof will be duly and validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from all taxes, liens,
claims, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof;
provided, however, that the Securities will be subject to
restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws
or as otherwise set forth herein or in the Certificate of
Designations. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities in
accordance with the terms hereof will not be subject to preemptive
rights of shareholders of the Company.
2.9
Offering.
Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in
Section 3.3 of this Agreement on the date hereof, the offer, issue
and sale of the Securities are and will be exempt from the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act and have been or will be registered or qualified (or are or
will be exempt from registration and qualification) under the
registration, permit or qualification requirements of all
applicable state securities laws. Neither the Company, nor any of
its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has
directly or indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or
solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that
would require registration under the Securities Act of the issuance
of the Securities to the Purchaser. Other than the Company SEC
Documents, the Company has not distributed any offering materials
in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. The
Company has not taken any action to sell, offer for sale or solicit
offers to buy any securities of the Company which would bring the
offer, issuance or sale of the Securities within the provisions of
Section 5 of the Securities Act, unless such offer, issuance or
sale was or shall be within the exemptions of Section 4 of the
Securities Act.
2.10
Litigation.
Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents or as set forth in
Schedule 2.10
,
there is no litigation matter currently threatened against the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that (a) if adversely determined
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
(b) would be required to be disclosed in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K under the requirements of Item 103 of
Regulation S-K. The foregoing includes, without limitation, any
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, pending or threatened,
that questions the validity of this Agreement or the right of the
Company to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations
hereunder. Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.10
, neither the
Company nor any subsidiary is subject to any injunction, judgment,
decree or order of any court, regulatory body, arbitral panel,
administrative agency, national securities exchange or other
government body. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no
proceeding or investigation by the Principal Market (as defined
below) pending that could lead to a suspension of listing or
trading of the Common Stock.
2.11
Governmental
Consents.
No consent, approval, order or authorization of,
or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing
with, any federal, state, local or provincial governmental
authority on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for the filing of the
Certificate of Designations and notices required or permitted to be
filed with the Principal Market or certain state and federal
securities commissions, which notices will be filed on a timely
basis.
2.12
No
Brokers.
No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled
to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based on arrangements made by the Company, it being expressly
acknowledged that any fees payable in connection with the
consummation of the Merger substantially simultaneously with this
Offering are not fees to any broker, finder, underwriter or
placement agent for services in connection with this
Offering.
2.13
Compliance.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or similar
organizational documents). The Company and its subsidiaries, and
their representatives, have been conducting their business in
compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which they conduct business, including, without
limitation, all applicable local, state and federal environmental
laws and regulations, except where failure to be so in compliance
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has all necessary franchises, licenses, permits,
certificates and other authorizations from any foreign, federal,
state or local government or governmental agency, department or
body that are currently necessary for the operation of the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, except
where the failure to currently possess such franchises, licenses,
certificates and other authorizations would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.14
No
Material Changes.
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents and except for the completion of the Merger and the entry
by the Company into a $595 million first lien credit facilities
(the “
First Lien Credit
Facility
”) and the $85 million second lien credit
facility (the “
Second Lien
Credit
Facility
”) and the various
transactions contemplated by each of these credit facilities, since
December 31, 2017, there has been no material adverse change in the
assets, liabilities, business, properties, operations, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
2.15
Intellectual
Property.
(a)
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has ownership or license or
legal right to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all patent,
copyright, trade secret, know-how trademark, trade name customer
lists, designs, manufacturing or other processes, computer
software, systems, data compilation, research results or other
proprietary rights used in the business of the Company or such
subsidiary (collectively “
Intellectual Property
”), except
as such failure to own, license, use or acquire would not result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has taken all reasonable steps
required in accordance with sound business practice and business
judgment to establish and preserve its ownership of all material
Intellectual Property with respect to their products and
technology.
(c)
To
the knowledge of the Company, the present business, activities and
products of the Company and its subsidiaries do not infringe any
intellectual property of any other person, except or where such
infringement would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
set forth in
Schedule
2.15(c)
, no proceeding charging the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with infringement of any adversely held Intellectual
Property is currently pending. To the knowledge of the Company, no
other person is infringing any rights of the Company or its
subsidiaries to the Intellectual Property.
(d)
Except
as set forth in
Schedule
2.15(c)
, no proceedings are pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, which challenge the rights of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries to the use of the Intellectual Property.
To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of its
subsidiaries has the right to use, free and clear of material
claims or rights of other persons, all of its customer lists,
designs, computer software, systems, data compilations, and other
information that are required for its products or its business as
presently conducted. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is making unauthorized use of
any confidential information or trade secrets of any person. The
activities of any of the employees on behalf of the Company or of
any of its subsidiaries do not violate any agreements or
arrangements between such employees and third parties related to
confidential information or trade secrets of third parties or that
restrict any such employee’s engagement in business activity
of any nature.
(e)
All
material licenses or other agreements under which (i) the Company
or any subsidiary employs rights in Intellectual Property, or (ii)
the Company or any subsidiary has granted rights to others in
Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any
subsidiary are in full force and effect, and there is no default
(and there exists no condition which, with the passage of time or
otherwise, would constitute a default by the Company or such
subsidiary) by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with
respect thereto.
2.16
Accountants.
EisnerAmper LLP, who expressed their opinion with respect to the
consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,
have advised the Company that they are, and to the knowledge of the
Company they are, independent accountants as required by the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
2.17
Taxes.
The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all federal,
state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has
paid all taxes shown as due thereon (except where the failure to
file would not have a Material Adverse Effect). The Company has set
aside on its books adequate provisions for payments of taxes as of
its reporting period.
2.18
Insurance.
The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains and will
continue to maintain insurance of the types and in the amounts that
the Company reasonably believes is adequate for its business,
including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal
property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries
against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other
risks customarily insured against by similarly situated companies,
all of which insurance is in full force and effect.
2.19
Transfer
Taxes.
On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other
taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in
connection with the sale and transfer of the Securities hereunder
will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the
Company and the Company will have complied with all laws imposing
such taxes.
2.20
Investment
Company.
The Company (including its subsidiaries) is not an
“investment company” or an “affiliated
person” of, or “promoter” or “principal
underwriter” for an investment company, within the meaning of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and will not be deemed an
“investment company” as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
2.21
Related
Party Transactions
. To the knowledge of the Company, no
transaction has occurred between or among the Company or any of its
affiliates (including, without limitation, any of its
subsidiaries), officers or directors or any affiliate or affiliates
of any such affiliate, officer or director that with the passage of
time will be required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act other than those transactions that have
already been so disclosed in the SEC Documents and those
transactions that are in connection with, or contemplated by, the
Merger, the First Lien Credit Facility and the Second Lien Credit
Facility (including the sale of Shares hereunder).
2.22
Books
and Records.
The books, records and accounts of the Company
and its subsidiaries accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable
detail, the transactions in, and dispositions of, the assets of,
and the operations of, the Company and its
subsidiaries.
2.23
Disclosure
Controls and Internal Controls.
(a)
The
Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the
Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material
information relating to the Company is made known to the
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal
financial officer by others within the Company particularly during
the periods in which the periodic reports required under the
Exchange Act are being prepared; and (ii) provide for the periodic
evaluation of the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and
procedures as of the end of the period covered by the
Company’s most recent annual or quarterly report filed with
the SEC.
(b)
The
Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets
or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with
the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The
Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act) that are
effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by
the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported,
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the
Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s
management, including its principal executive officer or officers
and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company
is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness
in the design or operation of its internal controls; or (ii) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Company’s or any
of its subsidiary’s internal controls.
(c)
Except
as described in the Company SEC Documents, there are no material
off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Item 303 of
Regulation S-K), or any other relationships with unconsolidated
entities (in which the Company or its control persons have an
equity interest) that may have a material current or future effect
on the Company’s or any of its/subsidiary’s financial
condition, revenues or expenses, changes in financial condition,
results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital
resources.
2.24
No
General Solicitation
. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has
engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising
(within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the
Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the
Securities.
2.25
Foreign
Corrupt Practices
. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company
(i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political
activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate
funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any
unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or
other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government
official or employee.
2.26
Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
. The Company is in compliance in all material respects
with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all
applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder
that are effective as of the date hereof.
2.27
Employee
Relations
. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is a party to any collective bargaining agreement. The Company
reasonably believes that its and its subsidiaries’ relations
with its employees are good. Other than as disclosed in the
Company’s Form 14F-1 filed with the SEC, no executive officer
of the Company (as defined in Rule 501(f) of the Securities Act)
has notified the Company that such officer intends to leave the
Company or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with
the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer
of the Company is, or is expected to be, in violation of any
material term of any employment contract, confidentiality,
disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition
agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive
covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive
officer does not subject the Company to any liability with respect
to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries is in compliance with all federal, state, local and
foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and
employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of
employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in
compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
2.28
Disclosure
of Information
. The Company confirms that, to its knowledge,
with the exception of the proposed sale of Securities as
contemplated herein (as to which the Company makes no
representation under this
Section 2.28
) and information
provided with respect to the Merger, the Acquisition Agreement, the
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the First Lien Credit Facility and
the Second Lien Credit Facility, neither it nor any other person
acting on its behalf has provided the Purchaser or its agents or
counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute
material, non-public information. The Company understands and
confirms that the Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing
representations in effecting transactions in securities of the
Company. All disclosures provided to the Purchaser regarding the
Company, its business and the transactions noted in this Section
2.28 furnished by the Company are true and correct and do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
2.29
Forward-Looking
Information
. No forward-looking statement (within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act) made by the Company or any of its officers or
directors contained in the SEC Documents, or made available to the
public generally since December 31, 2017, has been made or
reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other
than in good faith.
2.30
No
“Bad Actor” Disqualification.
The Company has
exercised reasonable care, in accordance with SEC rules and
guidance, and has conducted a factual inquiry, the nature and scope
of which reflect reasonable care under the relevant facts and
circumstances, to determine whether any Covered Person (as defined
below) is subject to any of the “bad actor”
disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under
the Securities Act (“
Disqualification Events
”). To the
Company’s knowledge, after conducting such sufficiently
diligent factual inquiries, no Covered Person is subject to a
Disqualification Event, except for a Disqualification Event covered
by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Company
has complied, to the extent applicable, with any disclosure
obligations under Rule 506(e) under the Securities Act.
“
Covered
Persons
” are those persons specified in Rule 506(d)(1)
under the Securities Act, including the Company; any predecessor or
affiliate of the Company; any director, executive officer, other
officer participating in the offering, general partner or managing
member of the Company; any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the
Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on
the basis of voting power; any promoter (as defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any
capacity at the time of the sale of the Securities; and any person
that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration
for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the
Securities (a “
Solicitor
”), any general partner
or managing member of any Solicitor, and any director, executive
officer or other officer participating in the offering of any
Solicitor or general partner or managing member of any
Solicitor.
3.
Representations
and Warranties of the Purchaser.
The
Purchaser hereby represents and
warrants to the Company as follows:
3.1
Legal
Power.
The Purchaser has the requisite power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement. All action on the
Purchaser’s part required for the lawful execution and
delivery of this Agreement have been or will be effectively taken
prior to the Closing.
3.2
Due
Execution.
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Purchaser, and, upon due execution and
delivery by the Company, this Agreement will be a valid and binding
agreement of the Purchaser, except as rights to indemnity hereunder
may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally or by equitable
principles.
3.3
Investment
Representations.
In connection with the sale and issuance of
the Securities, the Purchaser makes the following
representations:
(a)
Investment
for Own Account.
The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities
for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view
to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution or public
offering thereof within the meaning of the Securities
Act;
provided,
however, that by making the representations herein, the Purchaser
does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or
specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the securities
at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration
statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act.
(b)
Transfer
Restrictions; Legends.
The Purchaser understands that (i)
the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act;
(ii) the Securities are being offered and sold pursuant to an
exemption from registration, based in part upon the Company’s
reliance upon the statements and representations made by the
Purchaser in this Agreement, and that the Securities must be held
by the Purchaser indefinitely, and that the Purchaser must,
therefore, bear the economic risk of such investment indefinitely,
unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the
Securities Act or is exempt from such registration; (iii) each
Certificate representing Securities will be endorsed or notated
with substantially the following legend until the date the Shares
are eligible for sale without restriction or limitation under Rule
144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule
(“
Rule
144
”):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE “
SECURITIES
ACT
”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES.
THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND
RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS,
PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. UNLESS SOLD
PURSUANT TO EITHER AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR RULE 144
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY
REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO
THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.
(iv) the Company will instruct any
transfer agent not to register the transfer of the Securities (or
any portion thereof) until the applicable date set forth in clause
(iii) above unless (A) the conditions specified in the foregoing
legends are satisfied, (B) if the opinion of counsel referred to
above is to the further effect that such legend is not required in
order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities
Act or this Agreement, (C) if the Purchaser provides the Company
with reasonable assurance, such as through a representation letter,
that the Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, or (D) other reasonably satisfactory assurances of
such nature are given to the Company. If so required by the
Company’s transfer agent, the Company shall cause its counsel
to issue and deliver a legal opinion to the transfer agent to
effect the removal of the restrictive legend contemplated by this
Agreement.
The Company acknowledges and agrees
that the Purchaser may from time to time pledge, and/or grant a
security interest in some or all of the Securities pursuant to a
bona fide margin agreement in connection with a bona fide margin
account and, if required under the terms of such agreement or
account, the Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities
to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer shall
not be subject to approval or consent of the Company and no legal
opinion of legal counsel to the pledgee, secured party or pledgor
shall be required in connection with the pledge, but such legal
opinion may be required in connection with a subsequent transfer
following default by the Purchaser transferee of the pledge. No
notice shall be required of such pledge. At the appropriate
Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver
such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of
Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or
transfer of the Securities.
Certificates evidencing the Shares
shall not contain any restrictive legend (including the legend set
forth in this Section): (i) following a resale of the Shares under
an effective registration statement covering the Shares, or (ii)
following a sale of such Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii)
while such Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 and, with
respect to the Shares, the Purchaser is not and has not been for
three months an affiliate of the Company (as such term is defined
in Rule 144(a)(1)) and such Shares have been held for one year or
more pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144 and any other
requirements under Rule 144 have been satisfied at such time, or
(iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements
of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and
pronouncements issued by the Staff of the SEC). Following such time
as restrictive legends are not required to be placed on
Certificates representing Shares, the Company will, no later than
three business days following the delivery by the Purchaser to the
Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a Certificate
representing Shares containing a restrictive legend and such other
documentation and representations as the Company, its legal counsel
or any transfer agent may reasonably request to confirm compliance
with the preceding sentence as applicable (provided, however, that
neither the Company nor its legal counsel will require a legal
opinion in connection with any sale pursuant to Rule 144), deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Purchaser a Certificate
representing such Shares that is free from all restrictive legends.
The Company may not make any notation on its records or give
instructions to any transfer agent of the Company that enlarge the
restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section.
The Purchaser agrees that the
removal of the restrictive legend from Certificates representing
Shares as set forth in this Section 3.3(b) is predicated upon the
Company’s reliance that the Purchaser will sell any Shares
pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities
Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or
an exemption therefrom.
(c)
Financial
Sophistication; Due Diligence.
The Purchaser has such
knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in
connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
The Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to purchase the
Securities, relied only upon the representations and warranties
contained herein and the information contained in the Company SEC
Documents. Further, the Purchaser has had such opportunity to
obtain additional information and to ask questions of, and receive
answers from, the Company, concerning the terms and conditions of
the investment and the business and affairs of the Company, as the
Purchaser considers necessary in order to form an investment
decision.
(d)
Accredited
Investor Status.
The Purchaser is an “accredited
investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of the rules
and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.
(e)
Residency.
The Purchaser is organized under the laws of the jurisdiction set
forth beneath the Purchaser’s name on the signature page
attached hereto, and its principal place of operations is in the
state set forth beneath the Purchaser’s name on the signature
page attached hereto.
(f)
General
Solicitation
. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities
as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other
communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper,
magazine or similar media or broadcast over the television or radio
or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or
general advertisement.
3.4
No
Investment, Tax or Legal Advice
. The Purchaser understands
that nothing in the Company SEC Documents, this Agreement, or any
other materials presented to the Purchaser in connection with the
purchase and sale of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or
investment advice. The Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and
investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed
necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of
Securities.
3.5
Additional
Acknowledgement.
The Purchaser acknowledges that it has
independently evaluated the merits of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, that it has independently determined to enter
into the transactions
4.
Conditions
to Closing.
4.1
Conditions
to Obligations of Purchaser at Closing.
The
Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Securities at the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing,
of all of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by
the Purchaser:
(a)
Representations
and Warranties True; Performance of Obligations.
The
representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 2
shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, where the
representation and warranty itself is qualified by materiality, it
shall be true and correct in all respects) on the Closing Date with
the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of
said date (except to the extent that any such representation and
warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be so true and correct as of such
earlier date), and the Company shall have performed and complied
with all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed
or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing, including, but
not limited to, those obligations and conditions set forth in
Sections 4.1(c), 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 4.1(h), and 4.1(i), and if the
Closing date is subsequent to the date hereof, a certificate duly
executed by an officer of the Company, to the effect of the
foregoing, shall be delivered to the Purchaser. The delivery of
such certificate shall evidence the satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in this Section 4.1.
(b)
Proceedings
and Documents.
All corporate and other proceedings in
connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and
all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall
be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to counsel to the
Purchaser, and counsel to the Purchaser shall have received all
such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such
documents as they may reasonably request. The Company shall have
delivered (or caused to have been delivered) to the Purchaser, the
Certificate(s) required by this Agreement.
(c)
Qualifications,
Legal Investment.
All authorizations, approvals, or permits,
if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the
United States or of any state that are required in connection with
the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly
obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing. No stop
order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall
have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC,
or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state
having jurisdiction over this transaction. At the time of the
Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is
subject. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby
which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)
Execution
of Agreement.
The Company shall have executed this Agreement
and have delivered this Agreement to the Purchaser.
(e)
Certificate
of Designations.
The Certificate of Designations shall have
been filed with the Secretary of State.
(f)
Payment
of Closing Fee
. The Company shall have delivered to the
Purchaser a closing fee of $200,000, payable by offsetting such
amount from the Purchase Price.
(g)
Market
Listing.
The Company will comply with all of the
requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
and the Nasdaq Stock Market with respect to the issuance of the
Securities.
(h)
Blue
Sky.
The Company shall have obtained all necessary
“blue sky” law permits and qualifications, or have the
availability of exemptions therefrom, required by any state for the
offer and sale of the Securities.
(i)
Material
Adverse Change.
Since the date of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred any event which results in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(j)
Merger
.
The Merger and the transactions related thereto shall be
consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, including the
financings contemplated by the First Lien Credit Facility and the
Second Lien Credit Facility, contemporaneously with the
Offering.
4.2
Conditions
to Obligations of the Company.
The Company’s
obligation to issue and sell the Securities at the Closing is
subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing, of the
following conditions, any of which may be waived by the
Company:
(a)
Representations
and Warranties True.
The representations and warranties made
by the Purchaser in Section 3 shall be true and correct in all
material respects (or, where the representation and warranty itself
is qualified by materiality, it shall be true and correct in all
respects) on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if
they had been made on and as of said date (except to the extent
that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an
earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall
be so true and correct as of such earlier date).
(b)
Performance
of Obligations.
The Purchaser shall have performed and
complied with all agreements and conditions herein required to be
performed or complied with by them on or before the Closing. The
Purchaser shall have delivered the Purchase Price, by wire
transfer, to the account designated by the Company for such
purpose.
(c)
Qualifications,
Legal Investment.
All authorizations, approvals, or permits,
if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the
United States or of any state that are required in connection with
the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly
obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing. No stop
order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall
have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC,
or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state
having jurisdiction over this transaction. At the time of the
Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is
subject. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby
which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)
Execution
of Agreement.
The Purchaser shall have executed this
Agreement and delivered this Agreement to the Company.
(e)
Merger
.
The Merger and the transactions related thereto shall be
consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, including the
financings contemplated by the First Lien Credit Facility and the
Second Lien Credit Facility, contemporaneously with the
Offering.
4.3
Termination
of Obligations to Effect Closing; Effect.
(a)
Termination
.
The obligations of the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchaser,
on the other hand, to effect the Closing shall terminate as
follows:
(i)
Upon the mutual written consent of the Company
and the Purchaser;
(ii)
By the Company if any of the conditions set
forth in Section 4.2 shall have become incapable of fulfillment,
and shall not have been waived by the Company;
(iii)
By the Purchaser if any of the conditions set
forth in Section 4.1 shall have become incapable of fulfillment,
and shall not have been waived by the Purchaser; or
(iv)
By either the Company or the Purchaser if the
Closing has not occurred on or prior to May 15,
2018; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (iii)
above and clause (iv) with respect to the Company, the party
seeking to terminate its obligation to effect the Closing shall not
then be in breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants, or agreements contained in this Agreement if such breach
has resulted in the circumstances giving rise to such party’s
seeking to terminate its obligation to effect the
Closing.
(b)
Effect
of Termination
. Nothing in this Section 4.3 shall be deemed
to release any party from any liability for any breach by such
party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or to impair
the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other
party of its obligations under this Agreement.
5.
Additional
Covenants.
5.1
Reporting
Status.
With a view to making available to the Purchaser the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may
permit the sale of the Shares to the public without registration,
the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to file with
the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Exchange Act. The Company will
otherwise take such further action as the Purchaser may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time, to enable
the Purchaser to sell the Shares without registration under the
Securities Act or any successor rule or regulation adopted by the
SEC.
5.2
Protection
of Exemptions.
The Company will not, for a period of six
months following the Closing Date offer for sale or sell any
securities unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel,
such offer or sale does not jeopardize the availability of
exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements
under applicable securities laws with respect to the Offering.
Except for the issuance of stock options under the Company’s
stock option plans, the issuance of common stock upon exercise of
outstanding options and warrants, the issuance of common stock
purchase warrants, the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger Agreement or the Acquisition Agreement, the Common Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Company’s public offering of Common
Stock consummated on February 5, 2018 and the offering contemplated
hereby, the Company has not engaged in any offering of equity
securities during the six (6) months prior to the date of this
Agreement. The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2 shall not
prevent the Company from filing a “shelf” registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, but the
foregoing provisions shall apply to any sale of securities
thereunder.
5.3
Form D
and State Securities Filings
. The Company will file with the
SEC a Notice of Sale of Securities on Form D with respect to
the Securities, as required under Regulation D under the
Securities Act, no later than 15 days after the Closing Date. The
Company will promptly and timely file all documents and pay all
filing fees required by any states’ securities laws in
connection with the sale of Securities.
5.4
Resale
Registration
. The Company will file with the SEC the resale
registration statement (the “
Resale Registration Statement
”)
required in connection with the registration rights agreement being
entered into between the Company and Birch pursuant to the Merger
Agreement no later than five (5) business days after the Closing;
provided, that such timing shall be subject to the Company’s
receipt of documents and information required for filing the Resale
Registration Statement that are out of the Company’s
reasonable control on a timely basis prior to such deadline,
including, but not limited to, descriptive and other information
about Birch and its business and operations, risk factors relating
to Birch’s business and operations, input to the “Plan
of Distribution” section of the Resale Registration
Statement, the consent of the auditor of Birch’s financial
statement, and financial statements of Birch required to be filed
with or incorporated by reference into the Resale Registration
Statement (including pro forma financial statements of Birch and
Fusion on a consolidated basis). To the extent any such document or
information is not available, and out of the Company’s
reasonable control, the Company will use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain such documents and information and file the
Resale Registration Statement, as promptly as
possible.
6.
Miscellaneous.
6.1
Governing
Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to the choice of law provisions thereof, and the federal laws of
the United States.
6.2
Successors
and Assigns.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators
of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser.
6.3
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement and the exhibits hereto, and the
other documents delivered pursuant hereto, constitute the full and
entire understanding and agreement among the parties with regard to
the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any
other party in any manner by any representations, warranties,
covenants, or agreements except as specifically set forth herein or
therein. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended
to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided herein.
6.4
Severability.
In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable, it shall to the extent practicable, be
modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable and to
retain as nearly as practicable the intent of the parties, and the
validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
6.5
Amendment
and Waiver.
Except as otherwise provided herein, any term of
this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of
this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance, either retroactively or prospectively, and either for a
specified period of time or indefinitely), with the written consent
of the Company and the Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected
in accordance with this Section 6.5 shall be binding upon each
future holder of any of the Securities purchased under this
Agreement and the Company.
6.6
Fees
and Expenses.
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the
Company and the Purchaser shall bear their own expenses and legal
fees incurred on their behalf with respect to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereby agrees to
indemnify and to hold harmless of and from any liability the other
party for any commission or compensation in the nature of a
finder’s fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the
costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted
liability) for which such indemnifying party or any of its
employees or representatives are responsible.
6.7
Notices.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing, shall be delivered, if within the United
States, by first-class registered or certified airmail, or
nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid,
and shall be addressed as follows, or to such other address or
addresses as may have been furnished in writing by a party to
another party pursuant to this paragraph:
●
if to the Company, to the address of the
Company’s principal office set forth on the first page of
this Agreement, Attention: James P. Prenetta, Jr., EVP and General
Counsel, e-mail: jprenetta@fusionconnect.com with a copy to (which
shall not constitute notice to the Company) Kelley Drye &
Warren LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, Attention:
Carol Weiss Sherman, e-mail: csherman@kelleydrye.com
and
●
if to the Purchaser, at its address on the
signature page to this Agreement.
6.8
Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Agreements
.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this
Agreement, all covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Company and the Purchaser herein shall
survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the
Purchaser of the Securities being purchased and the payment
therefor, and a party’s reliance on such representations and
warranties shall not be affected by any investigation made by such
party or any information developed thereby.
6.9
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed by pdf signature and in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one instrument.
6.10
Headings
.
The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a
part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.
[The Remainder of this Page is Blank; Signature Pages
Follow]
In witness whereof, the foregoing
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is hereby executed as of the
date first above written.
|
FUSION CONNECT,
INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ James P. Prenetta,
Jr.
|
|
Name:
|
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
|
|
Title:
|
Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
|
In witness whereof, the foregoing
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is hereby executed as of the
date first above written.
|
Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
|
|
Name of Investor
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Jurisdiction of
Organization:
|
Georgia
|
|
Jurisdiction of Principal Place of
Operations:
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
|
Address for Notice:
|
|
3060 Peachtree Rd.,
N.W.
|
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Suite 1065
|
|
Atlanta, Georgia
30305
|
|
Attention: Holcombe T. Green,
Jr.
|
Exhibit A
Certificate of
Designations of the Series D Cumulative Preferred
Stock
(attached)
FUSION CONNECT,
INC.
CERTIFICATE
OF
DESIGNATION OF
PREFERENCES,
RIGHTS AND
LIMITATIONS
OF
SERIES D
CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law and Article IV of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “
Certificate of
Incorporation
”) of Fusion Connect, Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
“
Corporation
”),
the Corporation hereby certifies that the following resolution was
duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the
“
Board
”)
effective as of May [●], 2018, pursuant to the authority
conferred upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation, which
authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share:
RESOLVED, that the designation of
100
,000 shares of
a new series
of preferred stock of the Corporation, designated as the Series D
Cumulative Preferred Stock, out of the authorized and unissued
shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Corporation, with the rights and preferences set forth herein, be,
and hereby is, approved:
I.
Designation and
Amount
Of the 10,000,000 shares of
preferred stock authorized pursuant to Article IV of the
Certificate of Incorporation, 100,000 are hereby designated as
Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“
Series D Preferred
Stock
”). Each share of Series D Preferred Stock shall
have a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “
Stated
Value
”). Subject to
Article IV
, such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board and
by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such
reduction or increase has been so authorized;
provided
,
however
, that no decrease will
reduce the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the
number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of
any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible
into Series D Preferred Stock.
Dividends on each share of Series D
Preferred Stock shall accrue on a monthly basis at the rate of 12%
per annum of the sum of the Stated Value plus all accumulated and
unpaid dividends thereon from and including the date of issuance of
such share to and including the date on which the Stated Value of
such share (plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon) is paid
to the holder thereof in connection with a Liquidation Event (as
defined herein) or the redemption of such share by the Corporation.
Such dividends shall accrue whether or not they have been declared
and whether or not there are profits, surplus or other funds of the
Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends. All
accrued and unpaid dividends on each share of Series D Preferred
Stock shall be paid, at the option of the Corporation, in cash or
in kind with shares of Series D Preferred Stock on the last
business day of each calendar month;
provided
that dividends may
only be paid in cash after all obligations of the Corporation and
its subsidiaries under each of the New Credit Facilities (excluding
contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made) have
been paid in full in cash, all commitments to extend credit
thereunder have been terminated and no letter of credit shall be
outstanding thereunder. For purposes of dividends paid in kind, (i)
the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock payable in respect
thereof shall be determined using a per share price of $1,000
(adjusted appropriately for stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations, consolidations, mergers and the like with
respect to the Series D Preferred Stock) and (ii) in lieu of a
fractional share of Series D Preferred Stock as a dividend, the
Corporation shall issue a whole share of Series D Preferred Stock
(rounded up to the nearest whole share).
(a)
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation (whether voluntary or involuntary) (a
“
Liquidation
Event
”), each holder of Series D Preferred Stock shall
be entitled to be paid, before any distribution or payment is made
upon any shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, an amount in
cash equal to the aggregate Stated Value of all shares of Series D
Preferred Stock held by such holder (plus all accrued and unpaid
dividends thereon), and the holders of Series D Preferred Stock
shall thereafter not be entitled to any further payment. If upon
any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
the Corporation’s assets to be distributed among the holders
of the Series D Preferred Stock are insufficient to permit payment
to such holders of the aggregate amount that they are entitled to
be paid under this
Article
III
, then the assets available to be distributed to the
holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be distributed pro rata
among such holders based upon the aggregate Stated Value (plus all
accrued and unpaid dividends) of the Series D Preferred Stock held
by each such holder.
(b)
For purposes of this
Article III
, a
“Liquidation Event” shall be deemed to include, (i) the
acquisition of the Corporation by another entity by means of any
transaction or series of related transactions to which the
Corporation is party (including, without limitation, any stock
transaction, reorganization, merger or consolidation) other than a
transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders
of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately
prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain,
immediately after such transaction or series of related
transactions, as a result of shares in the Corporation held by such
holders prior to such transaction or series of related
transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power
represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation
or such other surviving or resulting entity (or if the Corporation
or such other surviving or resulting entity is a wholly-owned
subsidiary immediately following such acquisition, its parent); and
(ii) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole by means of any transaction or series of related
transactions, except where such sale, lease or other disposition is
to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(a)
The Corporation may at any time and from time to
time, on a pro rata basis, but only after the payment in full in
cash of the Deferred Fees, redeem all or any portion of the shares
of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding. Upon any such
redemption, the Corporation shall pay a price per share equal to
the Stated Value thereof (plus all accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon). Such redemption shall take place on a date fixed by the
Corporation.
(b)
At any time after the date that the first share
of Series D Preferred Stock is issued and at such time as any share
of Series D Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding, but only
after the payment in full in cash of the Deferred Fees, upon the
sale by the Corporation of any of its equity securities for cash,
the Corporation shall use the net cash proceeds of such sale to
redeem all the shares of Series D Preferred Stock then issued and
outstanding or, if such proceeds are less than the amount required
to redeem all such issued and outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock, the maximum amount of shares of Series D Preferred
Stock that can be redeemed using such proceeds, in each case, at a
price per share equal to the Stated Value thereof (plus all accrued
and unpaid dividends thereon).
(c)
The Corporation shall provide written notice of
each redemption of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to each
record holder thereof not more than 30 nor less than five days
prior to the date on which such redemption is to be
made.
(d)
If less than all the shares of Series D
Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares of Series
D Preferred Stock to be redeemed from each holder thereof shall be
the number of shares determined by multiplying the total number of
shares of Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of
Series D Preferred Stock then held by such holder and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Series
D Preferred Stock then outstanding.
Except as otherwise provided by law
or under Article VI hereof, holders of shares of Series D Preferred
Stock will have no voting rights.
(a)
Whenever dividends payable on the Series D
Preferred Stock are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued
and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, on shares of Series
D Preferred Stock outstanding have been paid in full, the
Corporation will not, without the written consent of holders of a
majority of the then issued and outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock:
(i)
declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of Junior Stock (either as to
dividends or upon a Liquidation Event);
(ii)
declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock of the Corporation ranking
pari passu
(either as to
dividends or upon a Liquidation Event) with the shares of Series D
Preferred Stock;
(iii)
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any Junior Stock; or
(iv)
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation ranking
pari passu
with the shares
of Series D Preferred Stock.
(b)
The Corporation will not, without the prior
written consent of holders of a majority of the then issued and
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock:
(i)
amend, alter or repeal the rights, preferences
or privileges of the Series D Preferred Stock (including by way of
amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate
of Designation, including in connection with a
merger);
(ii)
increase or decrease the authorized number of
shares of the Series D Preferred Stock;
(iii)
authorize, create (by reclassification or
otherwise) or issue shares of any class or series of equity
securities of the Corporation that is senior or
pari passu
to the Series D Preferred
Stock;
(iv)
take any action that results in the redemption
of any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Corporation, other than the outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock;
(v)
issue additional shares of Series D Preferred
Stock (except in respect of in kind dividends or distributions
pursuant to this Certificate of Designation);
(vi)
authorize, enter into an agreement with respect
to, or effect any Liquidation Event that does not result in the
redemption in full of the Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to the
terms of this Certificate of Designation;
(vii)
amend or waive any provision of the Certificate
of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation or this Certificate
of Designation in a manner that is adverse in any respect to the
holders of the Series D Preferred Stock; or
(viii)
enter into any commitment to do any of the
foregoing.
Any shares of Series D Preferred
Stock redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any
manner whatsoever will be retired and canceled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares will upon their cancellation
become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and may be
reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other preferred stock
Certificate of Designation creating a series of preferred stock or
any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
The Series D Preferred Stock ranks,
with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of
assets, junior to all other series of the Corporation’s
preferred stock existing on the date that the first share of Series
D Preferred Stock is issued.
For purposes hereof, the following
terms will have the following meanings:
“
Deferred Fees”
means $4.0 million in aggregate of fees that are (i) owed by the
Corporation to Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC in connection
with the New Credit Facilities and/or (ii) owed by BCHI to Moelis
& Company in connection with financial advisory services
provided by it to BCHI in connection with the Merger
Agreement.
“
Junior Stock
”
shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock
of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series D Preferred Stock
in respect of the right to receive dividends and distributions or
in respect of the right to receive assets upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
“
Merger
Agreement
” shall mean the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated August 26, 2017, as amended, by and among the
Corporation, Fusion BCHI Acquisition LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Corporation (“BCHI”), and Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc.
“
New Credit
Facilities
” shall mean the First Lien Credit and
Guaranty Agreement and the Second Lien Credit and Guaranty
Agreement, each dated as of the date hereof, among the Corporation,
as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Corporation party thereto,
as guarantor subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington
Trust, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral
agent.
“
Senior Stock
”
shall mean any class or series of stock of the Corporation issued
after the date on which the first share of Series D Preferred Stock
is issued ranking senior to the Series D Preferred Stock in respect
of the right to receive dividends and distributions and in respect
of the right to receive assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
[Signature Page
Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Executive Vice President and
General Counsel this
___
day of May
2018.
|
FUSION CONNECT, INC.
By:
Name:
James P. Prenetta, Jr.
Title:
Executive Vice President
and General
Counsel
|
|
|
Exhibit 23.1
May 10, 2018
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the use in this Form 8‐K (No.
001‐3
2421) of Fusion
Connect, Inc. (formerly Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.) dated May 4, 2018 of our report dated March 12, 2018, with
respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Birch Communications
Holdings, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income,
changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years
then ended.
/s/
MCNAIR, MCLEMORE, MIDDLEBROOKS & CO., LLC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fusion Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire
MegaPath
Integrated Cloud Services Provider Adds $70 Million
Incremental Annual Revenue, Over 8,000 Business Customers, and
Enhanced Sales and Distribution Capabilities
NEW
YORK, NY -- May 10, 2018 -- Fusion (NASDAQ: FSNN), a leading
provider of cloud services, announced today that it has signed a
definitive agreement to acquire privately-held MegaPath Holding
Corporation (“MegaPath”). Based in Pleasanton,
California, MegaPath provides a robust, fully-integrated suite of
cloud services including Unified Communications as a Service
(UCaaS), cloud computing, security, SD-WAN and cloud connectivity.
The transaction is valued at under 5.0x pro forma Adjusted EBITDA
including anticipated cost synergies realized within 12 months of
closing.
Total
consideration in the transaction is $71.5 million. Up to
$10.0 million of the consideration is payable at
Fusion’s election in unregistered shares of Fusion common
stock priced at $5.78 per share. Fusion intends to fund the cash
portion of the consideration via borrowings under its First Lien
Senior Secured Credit Facility, $62.0 million of which is
currently held in escrow for this acquisition. The transaction is
expected to close within the next 90 days, subject to receipt of
certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing
conditions.
Highlights
●
Contributes
additional financial scale with approximately $70 million in
annual revenue, 95% of which consists of contracted monthly
recurring revenue (MRR), and adjusted EBITDA of approximately
$15 million including anticipated cost synergies
●
Adds more than
8,000 small and medium business and large enterprise customers,
with an average monthly revenue per customer (ARPU) of $750 and
1.0% monthly churn
●
Provides a robust,
customizable and highly scalable back office/OSS platform that is
expected to be utilized across the full company to support
enterprise customer needs and increase efficiency
●
Adds approximately
45 quota-bearing sales representatives across direct and indirect
sales channels as well as a number of distribution partners,
driving upselling and cross-selling opportunities and deepening
Fusion’s strong relationships throughout the Channel Partner
sales channel
●
Brings a highly
capable staff of experienced cloud services professionals with
expertise to facilitate more rapid integration of the businesses
and execution of Fusion’s strategy
Matthew
Rosen, Fusion’s Chairman and CEO, said, “This
transaction is further evidence that Fusion is rapidly building a
cloud services industry leader around our unique and compelling
single-source strategy. MegaPath is an ideal fit with our strategic
objectives as it adds a diverse, high-value business customer base,
a team of cloud services experts, and incremental financial scale,
with a high percentage of MRR, high ARPU and low churn relative to
industry averages. Given the similarities between our businesses,
we expect the MegaPath acquisition to facilitate the customer,
operational and financial integration of Birch, enabling us to
drive Fusion’s strategy more efficiently across the entire
organization.”
“The
Cloud Services market is recognizing the superior value of
integrated solutions from a single-source provider,” said
Craig Young, MegaPath’s CEO. “Fusion’s
differentiated strategy, its high-quality integrated product suite
and its scalable platform are therefore a natural fit with
MegaPath’s business and culture. Our participation in the
equity of Fusion through this transaction underscores our
confidence that the combination of the two companies will create
significant value for shareholders. Furthermore, our customers will
continue to benefit from the same high levels of service quality,
customer care and innovation from Fusion that they’ve come to
expect from MegaPath.”
Bank
Street Group served as the exclusive financial advisor to MegaPath
in connection with this transaction.
About Fusion
Fusion,
a leading provider of integrated cloud solutions to small, medium
and large businesses, is the industry's Single Source for the
Cloud.® Fusion's advanced, proprietary cloud service platform
enables the integration of leading edge solutions in the cloud,
including cloud communications, contact center, cloud connectivity,
and cloud computing. Fusion's innovative, yet proven cloud
solutions lower our customers' cost of ownership, and deliver new
levels of security, flexibility, scalability, and speed of
deployment. For more information, please visit
www.fusionconnect.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements relating to
future events. Statements in this press release that are not purely
historical facts, including statements regarding Fusion’s
beliefs, expectations, intentions or strategies for the future, may
be “forward-looking statements” under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements consist
of any statement other than a recitation of historical fact and may
sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as “may”, “expect”,
“anticipate”, “intend”,
“estimate” or “continue” or the negative
thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. The
reader is cautioned that all forward-looking statements are
speculative, and there are certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events or results to differ from those referred
to in such forward-looking statements. Important risks regarding
the Company’s business include the Company’s ability to
complete the acquisition of MegaPath, its ability to obtain the
required approvals necessary to close that transaction, and its
ability to integrate that business following the closing; the
Company’s ability to comply with covenants included in its
debt agreements; competitors with broader product lines and greater
resources; emergence into new markets; natural disasters, acts of
war, terrorism or other events beyond the Company’s control;
and other factors identified by Fusion from time to time in its
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are
available through http://www.sec.gov. However, the reader is
cautioned that Fusion’s future performance could also be
affected by risks and uncertainties not enumerated
above.
Fusion Contact
Brian Coyne
(212) 201-2404
bcoyne@fusionconnect.com
Investor Relations
Chris Tyson
MZ North America
(949) 491-8235
FSNN@mzgroup.us
Fusion Announces Closing of Birch Acquisition
Transaction Financed through New $680 Million Senior Credit
Facilities
NEW
YORK, NY -- May 7, 2018 -- Fusion (NASDAQ: FSNN), a leading
provider of cloud services, announced today that on May 4, 2018, it
closed its previously-announced acquisition of the Cloud and
Business Services business of Birch Communications Holdings, Inc.
(“Birch”). The acquisition was completed through a
merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fusion with and into Birch.
The total enterprise value of this transaction was approximately
$600 million, consisting of approximately 50 million
shares of Fusion common stock and the refinancing of
$444 million of Birch indebtedness.
Highlights
●
Creates an
industry-leading cloud and business services company with more than
$500 million in pro forma annual revenue
●
Excludes
Birch’s legacy consumer and single-line business customers,
which have lower profitability and average revenue per customer
(ARPU) as well as higher churn rates
●
Empowers Fusion to
expand and accelerate its highly differentiated single-source
strategy across a much larger platform and customer base consisting
of more than 150,000 businesses
●
Adds considerable
sales and distribution resources, for a total of approximately 75
direct, indirect and inside sales professionals and more than 800
active distribution partners
●
Capitalizes on
Fusion’s robust intellectual property, go-to-market strategy,
and brand awareness developed over the last several years as the
Single Source for the Cloud
●
Combines both
companies’ network infrastructure assets into one of the
largest North American, 100% IP-based networks that is low cost and
highly scalable, with approximately 31,000 route miles of
fiber
●
Brings to Fusion a
talented employee base of technology professionals, bound by a
common vision for the future, a culture of innovation and a
commitment to service excellence
The
Birch acquisition was financed through borrowings under
Fusion’s new $680 million Senior Secured Credit
Facilities (the “Facilities”), which closed on May 4,
2018. The Facilities include $640 million in term loans and a
$40 million revolving credit facility, which is currently
undrawn. Including the revolving credit facility, the Facilities
bear interest at a weighted-average rate of LIBOR plus 7.56%.
Excluding the revolving credit facility, the Facilities bear
interest at a weighted-average rate of 7.72%.
Additionally,
Fusion announced today that its shares of common stock were
approved for listing on The Nasdaq Global Market, effective with
the open of the market on May 7, 2018. Fusion’s common stock
continues to trade under its existing trading symbol "FSNN.”
The structure of the transaction triggered a new listing
application requirement according to Nasdaq’s rules, which
includes a minimum bid price of $4.00 per share. In connection
with the new listing, Fusion announced that it has effected a
1-for-1.50 reverse split of its common stock for stockholders of
record as of the open of business on May 4, 2018. The reverse split
goes into effect today.
Fusion
further announced that on May 4, 2018, it completed the planned
divestiture of all of its interests in its Carrier Services
business. As a result, Fusion’s sole focus is on the Cloud
and Business Services market.
Matthew
Rosen, Fusion’s Chairman and CEO, said, “Today marks
the beginning of an exciting new era for Fusion, as we now move
forward to realize the tremendous potential of the combined
company. In bringing the two businesses together, we have created a
market-leading Cloud Services company that is positioned for
further growth, both organically and through additional strategic
acquisitions. We are confident that Fusion can create significant,
long-term value for shareholders by extending our proven strategy
as the single source for the cloud across our greatly expanded
platform and customer base and leveraging our substantially greater
scale and resources.
“Our
new financing likewise represents another major step toward
Fusion’s goal of becoming the industry’s leading
single-source cloud services provider,” Mr. Rosen continued.
“We appreciate the support we received from Goldman Sachs,
Morgan Stanley and MUFG as joint lead arrangers, as well as
previous lenders to Fusion and Birch who participated in this
financing along with a number of new lenders.”
About Fusion
Fusion,
a leading provider of integrated cloud solutions to small, medium
and large businesses, is the industry's single source for the
cloud. Fusion's advanced, proprietary cloud service platform
enables the integration of leading edge solutions in the cloud,
including cloud communications, contact center, cloud connectivity
and cloud computing. Fusion's innovative, yet proven cloud
solutions lower our customers' cost of ownership, and deliver new
levels of security, flexibility, scalability and speed of
deployment. For more information, please visit
www.fusionconnect.com
.
Fusion Contact
Brian Coyne
212-201-2404
bcoyne@fusionconnect.com
Investor Relations
Chris Tyson
MZ North America
(949) 491-8235
FSNN@mzgroup.us
“Single
Source for the Cloud” is a registered trademark of
Fusion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fusion Completes Private Placement of Common Stock Led
by
Morgan Stanley Credit Partners
Equity Investment Demonstrates Strong Support of Fusion’s
Differentiated Strategy
NEW
YORK, NY -- May 8, 2018 -- Fusion (NASDAQ: FSNN), a leading
provider of cloud services, announced today that on May 4, 2018, it
closed a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of
1,523,811 shares of its common stock. The shares were priced at
$5.25 per share for gross proceeds of $8.0 million. Proceeds
from the Private Placement will be used by Fusion for general
corporate purposes.
Investment
funds managed by Morgan Stanley Credit Partners, an investment team
of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, which participated in
Fusion’s recently completed Senior Secured Term Loan
Facilities (the “Facilities”), led the Private
Placement with an investment of $5.0 million of Fusion common
stock. The remaining $3.0 million of Fusion common stock in
the Private Placement was sold to other lenders to Fusion under the
Facilities. The stock is subject to a 180 day lock-up after the
closing date of the transaction.
“I
am very pleased that this group of financial institutions, led by
Morgan Stanley Credit Partners, recognizes Fusion’s highly
differentiated strategy and our clear value proposition,”
said Matthew Rosen, Fusion’s Chairman and CEO. “Their
support of the company’s continued growth through their
equity and debt investments is a strong vote of confidence in our
vision to create the leading cloud services provider in the
market.”
“Our
investment in Fusion reflects our confidence in Fusion’s
value proposition in executing its strategy as the single source
for the cloud,” said Hank D’Alessandro, Head of Morgan
Stanley Credit Partners. “We are delighted to be working with
Matt and the management team.”
The
offering described herein was made pursuant to an exemption from
the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “Securities Act”), solely to accredited
investors. Under the terms of the Private Placement Fusion has
agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement on Form S-3 for purposes of registering the
resale of the common stock within 120 days of May 4,
2018.
About Fusion
Fusion,
a leading provider of integrated cloud solutions to small, medium
and large businesses, is the industry's single source for the
cloud. Fusion's advanced, proprietary cloud service platform
enables the integration of leading edge solutions in the cloud,
including cloud communications, contact center, cloud connectivity
and cloud computing. Fusion's innovative, yet proven cloud
solutions lower our customers' cost of ownership, and deliver new
levels of security, flexibility, scalability and speed of
deployment. For more information, please visit
www.fusionconnect.com
.
About Morgan Stanley Credit Partners
Morgan
Stanley Credit Partners, part of Morgan Stanley Investment
Management, invests in corporate debt securities issued by middle
market companies. Morgan Stanley Credit Partners’ investment
team, based in New York, focuses on deploying capital in North
America and Western Europe. For further information about Morgan
Stanley Credit Partners, please visit
www.morganstanley.com/creditpartners
.
Fusion Contact
Brian
Coyne
(212)
201-2404
bcoyne@fusionconnect.com
Investor Relations
Chris
Tyson
MZ
North America
(949)491-8235
FSNN@mzgroup.us
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 AND
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.
CONTENTS
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and
2016
|
1
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Loss) for the Years Ended December
31,
2017 and 2016
|
2
|
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit for the
Years Ended December 31, 2017 and
2016
|
3
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December
31, 2017 and 2016
|
4
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
5
|
MCNAIR, MCLEMORE, MIDDLEBROOKS &
CO., LLC
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
389 Mulberry Street ● Post Office Box One ● Macon, GA
31202
Telephone (478) 746-6277 ● Facsimile (478)
741-1129
www.mmmcpa.com
March 12, 2018
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Birch Communications Holdings, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated
financial statements of
Birch Communications Holdings,
Inc.,
(the Company), which
comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017
and 2016 and the related consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' deficit and cash
flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the
financial statements.
Management's Responsibility for the Financial
Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation
of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance
of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair
presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
error.
Auditor's Responsibilities
Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits
in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
consolidated financial statements are free from material
misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence
about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial
statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's
judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due
to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor
considers internal control relevant to the Company's preparation
and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in
order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the
circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on
the effectiveness of the Company's internal control. Accordingly,
we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the
appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness
of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial
statements.
We
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In
our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Birch Communications Holdings, Inc. as of December 31,
2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and cash flows for
the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
McNAIR, McLEMORE, MIDDLEBROOKS & CO., LLC
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
Current assets:
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
5,757
|
$
8,208
|
Accounts
receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,569 and
$3,716, respectively
|
34,921
|
38,317
|
Accounts
receivable - stockholders/employees
|
920
|
920
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
7,549
|
7,760
|
Inventory,
net
|
1,179
|
1,181
|
Other
as sets
|
2,505
|
1,984
|
Total
current as sets
|
52,831
|
58,370
|
Long-term assets:
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
85,675
|
110,957
|
Goodwill
|
93,356
|
93,356
|
Intangible
assets, net
|
115,359
|
177,670
|
Other
non-current assets
|
877
|
1,673
|
Total
long-term as sets
|
295,267
|
383,656
|
Total
assets
|
$
348,098
|
$
442,026
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
$
48,784
|
$
34,966
|
Accrued
telecommunications costs
|
11,048
|
9,336
|
Deferred
customer revenue
|
12,601
|
14,501
|
Other
accrued liabilities
|
34,268
|
44,143
|
Current
portion of capital leases
|
3,003
|
4,376
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
30,000
|
26,500
|
Total
current liabilities
|
139,704
|
133,822
|
Long-term liabilities:
|
|
|
Non-current
portion of long-term debt
|
420,936
|
429,911
|
Non-current
portion of long-term capital lease
|
3,823
|
5,466
|
Other
non-current liabilities
|
12,847
|
17,815
|
Total
non-current liabilities
|
437,606
|
453,192
|
Stockholders' deficit:
|
|
|
|
26
|
26
|
Common
stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, 2,564 shares
issued and outstanding
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
6,050
|
6,050
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(236,477
)
|
(150,866
)
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
1,189
|
(198
)
|
Total
stockholders' deficit
|
(229,212
)
|
(144,988
)
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders' deficit
|
$
348,098
|
$
442,026
|
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these
financial statements.
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(LOSS)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
550,324
|
$
603,579
|
Cost
of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown
below)
|
307,959
|
328,408
|
Gross Profit
|
$
242,365
|
$
275,171
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative (exclusive
of
depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)
|
139,595
|
178,614
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
83,793
|
70,098
|
Impairment
losses on property, plant and equipment
|
6,003
|
|
Impairment
losses on intangible assets
|
46,780
|
|
Foreign
currency (gain) loss
|
(393
)
|
(20
)
|
Total
operating expenses
|
275,778
|
248,692
|
Operating
income (loss)
|
(33,413
)
|
26,479
|
Other (expense) income:
|
|
|
Interest
expense, net
|
(50,920
)
|
(43,258
)
|
Other
income
|
1,265
|
(8,517
)
|
Total
other expense
|
(49,655
)
|
(51,775
)
|
Income
(loss) before income taxes
|
(83,068
)
|
(25,296
)
|
Income
tax expense
|
(2,543
)
|
(1,847
)
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$
(85,611
)
|
$
(27,143
)
|
Other
comprehensive income (loss):
|
|
|
Cumulative
translation adjustment
|
1,387
|
(198
)
|
Comprehensive
income (loss)
|
$
(84,224
)
|
$
(27,341
)
|
Net
income (loss) per common share
|
|
|
Basic
|
$
(33.39
)
|
$
(10.39
)
|
Diluted
|
$
(33.39
)
|
$
(10.34
)
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
Basic
|
2,564
|
2,613
|
Diluted
|
2,564
|
2,626
|
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these
financial statements.
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
(Amounts in thousands)
|
Common stock
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
Accumulated deficit
|
Total
|
|
Shares
|
Par value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
Accumulated other comphrehensive
income
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2015
|
2,711
|
$
27
|
$
7,012
|
$
|
$
(92,656
)
|
$
(85,617
)
|
Share-based
compensation
|
|
|
196
|
|
|
196
|
Ï
Repurchase
and cancellation of common stock
|
(147
)
|
(1
)
|
(1,158
)
|
|
(12,541
)
|
(13,700
)
|
Distributions
to owners
|
|
|
|
|
(18,526
)
|
(18,526
)
|
Cumulative
translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
(198
)
|
|
(198
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(27,143
)
|
(27,143
)
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2016
|
2,564
|
$
26
|
$
6,050
|
$
(198
)
|
$
(150,866
)
|
$
(144,988
)
|
Cumulative
translation adjustment
|
|
|
|
1,387
|
(85,611
)
|
1,387
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
(85,611
)
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2017
|
2,564
|
$
26
|
$
6,050
|
$
1,189
|
$
(236,477
)
|
$
(229,212
)
|
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these
financial statements.
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
|
For The Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
Cash Mows from Operating Activities:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$
(85,611
)
|
(27,143
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
83,793
|
70,098
|
Deferred
financing amortization
|
4,479
|
2,845
|
OID
Interest
|
1,822
|
1,717
|
Deferred
taxes
|
338
|
449
|
Loss
on disposal of fixed assets
|
233
|
8,550
|
Loss
on impairment of property, plant and equipment
|
6,003
|
|
Loss
on impairment of intangible assets
|
46,780
|
|
Non-cash
share-based compensation
|
|
196
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
3,774
|
1,708
|
Inventory,
net
|
73
|
(155
)
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(179
)
|
41
|
Other
assets
|
820
|
(181
)
|
Accounts
payable
|
13,565
|
22,905
|
Other
liabilities
|
(16,368
)
|
4,397
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
59,522
|
85,427
|
Cash Mows from Investing Activities:
|
|
|
Acquisitions
|
|
(22,642
)
|
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
(10,077
)
|
(18,643
)
|
Capitalization
of customer installation costs and commissions
|
(35,027
)
|
(30,079
)
|
Proceeds
(loss) from disposal of fixed assets
|
76
|
5,102
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(45,028
)
|
(66,262
)
|
Cash Mows from Financing Activities:
|
|
|
Proceeds
from notes payable and long-term debt
|
15,000
|
52,500
|
Repayment
of debt obligation
|
(22,875
)
|
(43,456
)
|
Payment
of capital lease obligations
|
(4,494
)
|
(5,181
)
|
Deferred
financing costs and discounts
|
(4,675
)
|
(4,289
)
|
Distribution
to owners
|
|
(18,526
)
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
(17,044
)
|
(18,952
)
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(2,550
)
|
213
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
8,208
|
8,715
|
Foreign
currency translation effect on cash
|
99
|
(720
)
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
5,757
|
$
8,208
|
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
$
38,531
|
$
29,415
|
Income
tax paid
|
$
3,293
|
$
144
|
Non-cash
purchases of property and equipment
|
$
1,479
|
$
317
|
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these
financial statements.
BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Nature of Business
Birch Communications Holdings, Inc., (Birch) (the Company) is the
sole owner of Birch Communications, Inc. (formerly known as Access
Integrated Networks, Inc., incorporated in 1996) which is comprised
of the following wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries: Birch
Communications of Virginia, Inc., Birch Communications of Kentucky,
LLC, Birch Telecom of Texas Ltd., LLP, Birch Telecom of Kansas,
Inc., Birch Telecom of Missouri, Inc., Birch Telecom of Oklahoma,
Inc., Birch Telecom of the South, Inc., Birch Telecom of the Great
Lakes, Inc., Birch Telecom of the West, Inc., Birch Communications
of the Northeast, Inc., Ionex Communications North, Inc., Ionex
Communications South, Inc., Ionex Communications, Inc., Tempo
Telecom, LLC, Primus Management, ULC, Primus of Puerto Rico, LLC,
Cbeyond, Inc., Cbeyond Communications, LLC (Cbeyond), Birch
Internet Services, Inc., Birch Equipment, Inc., Birch Management
Corporation, Primus Holdings, Inc., Birch Texas Holdings, Inc.,
Birch Telecom, Inc., and Birch Telecom 1996, Inc. The Company is a
competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) providing services to
primarily small- and medium-sized business customers and to a
lesser extent, residential consumers in 50 states, and Washington
D.C., focusing mainly in the southeastern and southwestern United
States. The Company provides local, long distance, high speed
internet, broadband data, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
trunking, Private Branch Exchange (PBX) hosting, email, web hosting
and other ancillary telephony, broadband information technology
(IT) services and internet services. It does so by provisioning
services over its own digital network called the Birch Digital
Network (BDN) or by reselling the services of the incumbent local
exchange carrier (ILEC), such as AT&T, Inc., Verizon and
CenturyLink. Birch is subject to certain regulations and
requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and
various state public service commissions and, where required, files
tariffs, price lists and other terms and conditions relating to the
use of their services.
In connection with offering local exchange services, the Company
has entered into two types of agreements with most ILECs. The first
is an Interconnection Agreement (ICA), which vary in length of term
by state and region. The ICA allows the Company to purchase resale
services as well as unbundled network elements (UNE) such as loops
and transport, and the ability to collocate equipment at the ILEC'
s central office (all necessary to build and operate the BDN). The
second type of agreement is the Commercial Agreement (CA). The CA
governs the terms, conditions and prices for the purchase of
unbundled network element replacement services where UNEs are not
available. These agreements allow the Company to enter new markets
with minimal capital expenditures and to offer local exchange
services by purchasing all unbundled network element platform
(UNE-P) required for local service on a wholesale basis. The terms
of the ICA, including pricing terms which are negotiated and agreed
to by the Company and each ILEC, have been approved by state
regulatory authorities in all states in which the ILEC operates,
although they remain subject to review and modification by such
authorities. The Company believes the ICAs and CAs provide a
foundation for it to provide local service on a reasonable basis,
but there can be no assurance on a prospective basis in this regard
as important regulatory, legal and technology issues are ever
changing.
Typically, the Company enters multi-year ICAs with the ILECs. Under
these agreements, prices are either fixed for the life of the
agreement or specific mechanisms for periodic adjustments in prices
are outlined.
Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. All
dollars in notes to the consolidated financial statements are
rounded to the nearest thousands, except per share
amounts.
Use of Estimates
Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing the
consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). These
estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities,
and the reported revenues and expenses. Actual results could vary
from the estimates that were assumed in preparing the consolidated
financial statements.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts
have been made to conform to the current year presentation.
Cash and
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an
original maturity of three months or less to be cash
equivalents.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when earned based upon the following specific
criteria: (1) persuasive evidence of arrangement exists, (2)
services have been rendered, (3) seller's price to the buyer is
fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably
assured. The Company's revenue is comprised of two primary
components: (1) fees paid by end customers for local, long-distance
and data and (2) carrier charges, primarily access fees. End
customer revenue includes local, long-distance and data and is
comprised of monthly recurring charges, usage charges and initial
nonrecurring charges. Monthly recurring charges include the fees
paid by customers for services and additional features on those
facilities. Usage charges consist of per-use sensitive fees paid
for calls made. Initial nonrecurring charges consist primarily of
installation charges. Access charges are comprised of charges paid
primarily by interexchange carriers for the origination and
termination of interexchange toll and toll-free calls.
The Company follows provisions of Accounting Standards Codification
(ASC) Topic 605,
Revenue Recognition in
Financial Statements.
This
guidance addresses the recording of revenues and associated costs
relating to installation and service activation
fees.
Deferred Customer Revenue
Deferred customer revenue represents the liability for advance
billings to customers for local phone service. Customers are billed
in advance for fixed monthly charges.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk
include cash on deposit with financial institutions in excess of
federally insured limits. At December 31, 2017, the Company had
bank deposits of $6,238 in excess of the FDIC coverage of $250. In
Canada, the Company had bank deposits of C$3,540 in excess of the
CDIC coverage of C$100.
Accounts Receivable
The
Company's accounts receivable subject the Company to credit risk,
since collateral is generally not required. The Company's risk of
loss is limited due to the ability to terminate access on
delinquent accounts. The large number of customers comprising the
customer base mitigates the concentration of risk. In the year
ended December 31, 2017, no customer represented more than 10
percent of the Company's revenues.
Accounts
receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect
from outstanding balances. Management provides for uncollectible
amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation
allowance based on its assessment of the current status of
individual accounts. Balances that are still outstanding after
management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off
through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to
accounts receivable.
Other
The
Company faces certain factors, including the following: growth and
expansion which may strain the Company's resources; dependence on
key personnel; dependence on third-party suppliers of equipment and
communications services; dependence on relationships with incumbent
local exchange carriers; competition from other competitive local
exchange carriers and providers of communications services; and
potential disruption of services due to system
failures.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, and depreciation is
computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets (generally three to five years). Maintenance
and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Gains or losses on
the disposal of property and equipment are recognized in operations
in the year of disposition. Amortization of capital lease items is
included in depreciation expense. Depreciation expense for the
years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $31,188 and $29,210,
respectively.
Amortization
Subscriber Acquisition Costs
The
Company amortizes subscriber acquisition costs over the estimated
life of a customer (84 - 120 months as of December 31, 2017).
Amortization expense of subscriber acquisition costs was $22,447
and $21,708 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
IP-Network Transition Costs
The
Company amortizes the one-time charges associated with
transitioning a resale customer to its own IP-Network over a period
of 36 months. Amortization expense of IP-network transition costs
was $11,674 and $7,011 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and
2016, respectively.
Installation Costs
The
Company amortizes costs relative to the install of new customers
over a period of 36 months. Installation costs include order entry,
provisioning, service coordination and physical installation of the
services. Amortization expense of installation costs was $5,594 and
$4,553 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
Commissions
The
Company amortizes up-front sales commissions paid to third parties
over the contractual service period (7 - 36 months as of December
31, 2017). As significant portion of commission payments include
activities such as order entry, provisioning and service
coordination. Amortization of these commissions was $11,190 and
$5,784 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
Tradenames
The
Company amortizes tradenames and costs over the estimated life of
84 months. Amortization expense of tradenames costs was $1,700 and
$1,771 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
Noncompete Agreements
The
Company amortizes noncompete agreement costs over the life of the
agreement (12-24 months as of December 31, 2017). Noncompete
agreements were fully amortized as of December 31, 2017 and
December 31, 2016; therefore no amortization expense was
recognized.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company accounts for long-lived assets in
accordance with provisions of ASC Topic 360,
Accounting for the Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
This guidance addresses financial accounting and
reporting for the impairment and disposition of long-lived assets,
including property and equipment and purchased intangible assets.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets for
impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the
carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Conditions that
would necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant
decline in the observable market value of an asset, a significant
change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or a
significant adverse change that would indicate the carrying amount
of an asset or group of assets is not recoverable. For long-lived
assets to be held and used, the Company recognizes an impairment
loss only if it's carrying amount is not recoverable through its
undiscounted cash flows and measures the impairment loss, if any,
based on the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.
Long-lived assets held for sale are reported at the lower of cost
or fair value less costs to sell. If impairment is indicated, the
carrying amount of the asset is written down to fair
value.
Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets
Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of
identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations accounted
for under the acquisition method of accounting pursuant to ASC
Topic 805,
Business Combinations.
Purchased intangible assets consist
primarily of subscriber bases and customer relationships, acquired
software and technology and other assets acquired in conjunction
with the purchases of businesses and subscriber bases from other
companies. Subscriber bases acquired directly are valued at cost
plus assumed service liabilities, which approximates fair value at
the time of purchase. When management determines material
intangible assets are acquired in conjunction with the purchase of
a company, the Company engages an independent third party to
determine the allocation of the purchase price to the intangible
assets acquired. Certain intangible assets determined to have
definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their
estimated useful lives. Intangible assets subject to amortization
are reviewed for impairment whenever events have occurred that
would indicate an impairment could exist. If the Company determines
that the carrying value is not recoverable, an impairment charge,
reduction in the estimated remaining useful life or both may be
recorded.
The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets in
accordance with ASC Topic 350,
Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets,
which prohibit the
amortization of certain intangible assets, deemed to have
indefinite lives. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for
impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if deemed
necessary. As of December 31, 2017, we had $93,356 of goodwill. The
Company's 2017 annual goodwill impairment analysis did not result
in an impairment charge.
Income Taxes
The Company provides for the effect of income taxes on our
financial position and results of operations in accordance with ASC
740, Income Taxes. The Company's tax positions are evaluated for
recognition using a jurisdiction statute-based threshold, and those
tax positions requiring recognition are estimated conservatively
prior to being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing
authority that has knowledge of all relevant information.
Liabilities for income tax matters include amounts for income
taxes, penalties and interest thereon and may incorporate the
result of the potential alternative interpretations of tax laws and
the judgmental nature of the timing of recognition of taxable
income.
Share-Based Compensation and Consulting
The Company has an equity compensation plan providing for the grant
of equity awards. All transactions with nonemployees in which goods
or services are the consideration received for the issuance of
equity instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the
consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument
issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The measurement date
of the fair value of the equity instrument issued is the earlier of
the date on which the counter party's performance is complete or
the date on which it is probable that performance will
occur.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising
expense was $3,956 and $2,866 for the years ended December 31, 2017
and 2016, respectively.
Foreign Currency
The Company's foreign subsidiary, Primus Management ULC (Primus
Canada) uses the local currency of its country as its functional
currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars
at exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. Revenues, costs and
expenses are translated using the average exchange rates for the
period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation of our
consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations are
recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized
as foreign exchange gain (loss) in the statement of
operations.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income includes all changes in the Company's equity
during the period that results from transactions and other economic
events other than transactions with its stockholders. For the
Company, comprehensive income includes the gains or losses
resulting from foreign currency translations.
Distributions to Owners
It is management's policy to distribute amounts to the Company's
owners to cover their tax liability related to the earnings of the
Company. "Permitted Tax Distributions," as defined in the PNC Bank,
National Association Credit Agreement (2014 Credit Facility), shall
be based on good faith estimates by the Company of net taxable
income for the relevant period (or portion thereof) and subsequent
tax distributions shall be appropriately adjusted to the extent of
any excess or deficit in payments in respect of prior relevant
periods or portions thereof.
Sales, Use and Other Value Added Taxes
The Company's revenue is recorded net of applicable sales, use and
other value added taxes.
Recently issued accounting standards
In November, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18,
Statement of Cash Flows
Restricted Cash.
The update
requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during
the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted
cash. Entities will also be required to reconcile such totals to
amounts on the balance sheet and disclose the nature of the
restrictions. The update is effective for non-public business
entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early
adoption at the original effective date is permitted. The Company
is evaluating the impact of the implementation of this standard on
its financial statements.
In February, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,
Leases.
The update requires lessees to recognize lease
assets and liabilities for all leases, with certain exceptions, on
the balance sheets. The standard is now required to be adopted by
non-public business entities in annual periods beginning on or
after December 15, 2019 and must be applied on a full retrospective
basis. Early adoption at the original effective date is permitted.
The Company is evaluating the impact of the implementation of this
standard on its financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers. The new guidance outlines a single comprehensive
model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from
contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue
recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The
core principle of the revenue model is that an entity recognizes
revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to
customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the
entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or
services. The new standard requires significantly expanded
disclosures about revenue contract assets and liabilities. In April
2015, the FASB issued guidance that deferred the effective date by
one year. The standard is required to be adopted by non-public
business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December
15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2019, and may be applied on a full retrospective or
modified retrospective approach. Early adoption at the original
effective date is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact
of the implementation of this standard on its financial
statements.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock
Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting, to provide guidance
about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based
payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in
ASC 718. The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2017, and should be applied
prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date.
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of
this guidance on its financial statements.
Note 3. Earnings per Share
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common
stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per
share gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares
outstanding during the period including stock options and warrants
using the treasury stock method.
The following table summarizes the basic and diluted net income
(loss) per share calculations:
|
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$
(85,611
)
|
$
(27,143
)
|
Basic
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
2,564
|
2,613
|
Effect
of dilutive securities
|
-
|
-
|
Diluted
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
2,564
|
2,626
|
Basic
income (loss) per common share
|
$
(33.39
)
|
$
(10.39
)
|
Diluted
income (loss) per common share
|
$
(33.39
)
|
$
(10.34
)
|
Note 4. Fair Value
Fair values of assets measured at December 31, 2017 are as
follows:
|
|
Fair Value Measurements at the End of the Reporting Period
Using
|
|
|
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
|
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
Nonrecurring
fair value measurements
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
|
$
20,800
|
$
-
|
$
|
$
20,800
|
$
(46,780
)
|
Property
and equipment
|
$
-
|
$
-
|
$
-
|
$
-
|
$
(6,003
)
|
The Company conducted a review of the carrying value of certain
subscriber acquisition costs due to higher than expected churn. An
independent third party was engaged to determine the fair value of
the potentially impaired assets as of October 31, 2017. The
Company's accounting and finance management, which report to the
chief financial officer, reviewed and approved the fair value
assessment.
During the Company's annual review of the carrying value of fixed
assets, it was determined that certain assets were fully impaired
due to the integration of quote to order functionality into an
existing software platform.
The following table includes fair value measurements using
significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
|
|
|
|
Opening
balance — December 31, 2016
|
$
67,580
|
$
6,003
|
$
73,583
|
Impairment
|
(46,780
)
|
(6,003
)
|
(52,783
)
|
Closing
balance — December 31, 2017
|
$
20,800
|
$
-
|
$
20,800
|
The
following table describes the valuation techniques used to
calculate fair values for assets in Level 3:
|
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value
Measurements
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
|
$
20,800
|
Discounted
cash flow
|
Discount
rate
|
4.5
%
|
Note 5. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of the following as of December
31:
|
Estimated Life Range (years)
|
|
|
Owned
Assets:
|
|
|
|
Telecommunications
Equipment
|
5 -7
|
$
88,031
|
$
82,359
|
Leasehold
Improvements
|
|
10,637
|
14,242
|
Office
Equipment
|
3 - 5
|
1,857
|
1,707
|
Buildings
and Building Improvements
|
30 - 40
|
1,540
|
1,540
|
Furniture
and Fixtures
|
3 — 7
|
5,387
|
6,311
|
Computer
Software
|
3 — 5
|
32,794
|
49,604
|
Land
|
N/A
|
470
|
470
|
Automobiles
|
2 - 5
|
56
|
131
|
Construction-In-Process
|
N/A
|
3,813
|
2,993
|
Total
Owned Assets
|
|
144,585
|
159,357
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
(83,275
)
|
(74,786
)
|
Total
Owned Assets, Net
|
|
61,310
|
84,571
|
Total
Assets Under Capital Lease
|
|
38,123
|
36,643
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
(13,758
)
|
(10,257
)
|
Total
Assets Under Capital Lease, Net
|
|
24,365
|
26,386
|
Property
and Equipment, Net
|
|
$
85,675
|
$
110,957
|
The Company recognized an impairment related to certain assets of
$6,003 that has been recognized in net income (loss) for the
period. See Note 4. Fair Value.
Note 6. Leases
The Company has entered into various operating and capital leases
for facilities and equipment used in its operations. Aggregate
future minimum rental commitments under operating leases and
maturities of capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2017 are
as follows:
|
|
|
2018
|
$
7,155
|
$
3,161
|
2019
|
5,498
|
1,691
|
2020
|
2,826
|
724
|
2021
|
1,147
|
445
|
2022
|
666
|
245
|
Thereafter
|
397
|
1,441
|
|
$
17,689
|
$
7,707
|
Amounts
Representing Interest
|
|
(881
)
|
Present
Value of Minimum Lease Payments
|
|
6,826
|
Current
Portion
|
|
(3,003
)
|
Obligations
Under Capital Lease-Net of Current Portion
|
|
$
3,823
|
The Company had a strategic alignment starting in April 2017 that
included exiting certain facilities (See Note 16. Restructuring
Event). Some of these exited facilities are now under noncancelable
subleases and the future minimum rentals to be received by the
Company is $2,738.
Property and equipment acquired through capital leases are recorded
at the present value of the future payments due under the lease
agreements, discounted at rates varying from 2.00 to 8.23
percent.
Assets and accumulated amortization under capitalized leases
consists of the following as of December 31:
Assets
Under Capital Lease
|
|
|
|
Telecommunications
and Office Equipment
|
Life
of Lease
|
$
10,850
|
$
9,371
|
IRU
(1)
|
20
Years
|
25,326
|
25,325
|
Computer
Software
|
4
Years
|
1,947
|
1,947
|
Total
Assets Under Capital Lease
|
|
38,123
|
36,643
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
(13,758
)
|
(10,257
)
|
Total
Assets Under Capital Lease, Net
|
|
$
24,365
|
$
26,386
|
(1)
Purchase of network capacity under long-term contracts for the
indefeasible right to use (11W) fiber network infrastructure owned
by others.
Rental expense charged to operations was $4,616 and $6,142 for the
years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Note 7. Intangible Assets
Intangible assets and accumulated amortization as follows as of
December 31:
|
|
|
Subscriber
Acquisition Costs
|
$
107,351
|
$
201,346
|
Network
Transition Costs
|
50,939
|
37,557
|
Tradenames
and Trademarks
|
13,146
|
13,146
|
Noncompete
Agreement
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
Installation
Costs
|
25,658
|
17,066
|
Commissions
|
44,609
|
30,934
|
Total
Intangible Assets
|
244,703
|
303,049
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
(129,344
)
|
(125,379
)
|
Intangible
Assets, Net
|
$
115,359
|
$
177,670
|
Amortization expense was $52,605 and $40,888 for the years ended
December 31, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The total residual value
of certain intangible assets acquired through customer and company
acquisitions are $5,786 as of December 31, 2017 and
2016.
The Company recognized an impairment related to certain subscriber
acquisition of $46,780 that has been recognized in net income
(loss) for the period. See Note 4. Fair Value.
Estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets owned
as of December 31, 2017 is as follows:
Year
|
|
2018
|
$
34,840
|
2019
|
24,822
|
2020
|
15,524
|
2021
|
10,366
|
2022
|
9,616
|
Thereafter
|
14,405
|
Total
|
$
109,573
|
Note 8. Accrued Liabilities
The
Company's other accrued liabilities consists of the
following
as of December 31:
|
|
|
Accrued
other compensation and benefits
|
$
2,462
|
$
4,575
|
Accrued
bonus
|
10,942
|
10,442
|
Accrued
taxes
|
169
|
4,224
|
Accrued
interest
|
8,326
|
7,676
|
Accrued
facility restructuring liability
|
3,131
|
|
Accrued
legal settlements
|
13,360
|
19,500
|
Accrued
professional fees
|
1,389
|
1,717
|
Deferred
tax liability
|
2,934
|
2,596
|
Other
accrued expenses
|
4,402
|
11,228
|
Current
and non-current other accrued liabilities
|
47,115
|
61,958
|
Non-current
portion of deferred taxes
|
(2,934
)
|
(2,596
)
|
Non-current
portion of accrued legal settlements
|
(8,520
)
|
(12,360
)
|
Non-current
other
|
(1,393
)
|
(2,859
)
|
|
(12,847
)
|
(17,815
)
|
Current
portion of other accrued liabilities
|
$
34,268
|
$
44,143
|
Note 9. Long-Term Debt
The
Company's long-term debt consists of the following
as
of December 31:
|
|
|
Term
Loan Payable
|
$
401,608 $
|
414,483
|
Revolver
Loan Payable
|
45,000
|
40,000
|
Promissory
Notes (1)
|
6,774
|
6,000
|
Notes
Payable (1)
|
500
|
500
|
Stock
Repurchase Agreement (2)
|
13,700
|
13,700
|
Deferred
Financing, Net
|
(11,683
)
|
(12,687
)
|
Debt
Origination Discounts (3)
|
(4,963
)
|
(5,585
)
|
|
450,936
|
456,411
|
Current
Maturities
|
(30,000
)
|
(26,500
)
|
Total
Long-Term Debt
|
$
420,936
|
429,911
|
1.
See
Note 15. Related Party Transactions for discussion of the
subordinated promissory notes and note payable.
2.
As
it is the intent for the repurchased shares to be retired, the
Company has elected to account for the shares repurchased under the
constructive retirement method. For shares repurchased in excess of
par, the Company allocated the excess value to accumulated
deficit
3.
Interest
expense as a result of the amortization of debt origination
discounts was $1,822 and $1,717 for the years ended December 31,
2017 and 2016, respectively.
On July 18, 2014, the Company refinanced its existing debt under a
Term Loan Payable (2014 Credit Facility) arrangement totaling
$450,000 with PNC Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The
arrangement also includes $50,000 made available under the Revolver
Loan Payable. The Company capitalized the costs associated with
issuing the debt of $13,770. The debt was issued at a discount of
$9,450. The deferred financing and discount are recognized as
interest expense throughout the term of the loan.
On October 28, 2016, the Company amended the 2014 Credit Facility.
The Company capitalized the costs associated with the amendment of
$4,289. The amended 2014 Credit Facility is due in quarterly
installments of $2,800 through December 31 2016, then $5,625 per
quarter until June 30, 2020. The amended 2014 Credit Facility
matures with the remainder due on July 18
t
h
2020. The interest on the amended 2014 Credit Facility is Libor
plus 7.25% for the term loan and Libor plus 6.75% for the revolver
loan payable.
Under the revolver loan payable the Company is required to pay a
commitment fee for unused commitments at a per annum rate of 0.50%.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, $4,791 and $9,741
of the $50,000 Revolver Loan Payable was available due to
reductions of $209 and $259 for outstanding letters of credit that
collateralize certain of our obligations to third party
vendors.
On May 1, 2016, the Company entered into an installment purchase
agreement to repurchase 147 shares of common stock from a former
employee, valued at $13,700. The installments due are as follows:
$1,000 on December 31, 2016, $1,500 on May 1, 2017, $1,000 on
December 31, 2017, $3,000 on May 1, 2018, and $7,200 on May 1,
2019. Per the agreement, should the payment of any installment
conflict with a covenant in any material credit agreement of the
Company, the installment will be delayed. The sum delayed will
accrete at a rate of 4% per year. As of December 31, 2017, no
payments have been made due to a material impact to the amended
2014 Credit Facility, resulting in $80 of interest.
On April 12, 2017, the Company entered into a second amendment to
the 2014 Credit Facility. The Company was able to secure an
additional $10,000 to the term loan from its primary lender
Halcion. Additionally, there was a $5,000 commitment from Company
ownership if the Company dropped below $10,000 in liquidity. The
second amended 2014 Credit Facility is due in quarterly
installments of $125 per quarter until June 30, 2020. The
additional term loan matures with the remainder due on July 18,
2020. The Company capitalized the costs associated with the
amendment of $4,675.
The aggregate scheduled maturities of long-term debt as of December
31, 2017 is as follows:
Year
|
|
2018
|
$
30,000
|
2019
|
30,200
|
2020
|
407,382
|
2021
|
|
2022
|
-
|
Thereafter
|
-
|
Total
|
$
467,582
|
The credit agreement is secured by all assets of the Company and
its subsidiary.
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies
Sales Agents' Agreements
The Company's marketing strategies focus on providing local
services through a combination of its agent channel and its direct
and internal sales channel.
The remaining agents may or may not bring an existing base of
accounts and perform a traditional agent role. They will not be the
end users' points of contact; all contact for additions/changes and
service/maintenance will be handled directly by the
Company.
The total commissions paid through the Company's agents and
internal sales channels for the years ended December 31, 2017 and
2016 was $15,168 and $17,258, respectively. These commissions are
classified as selling, general and administrative expenses and
solely represent commissions paid in respect to agreements with
third party sales agents. These commissions paid capture fees to
the agent related to selling and account retention
activity.
Contingent Receivables
The Company has filed for refunds from the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) and has recorded a receivable of
$3,616 in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods ending
December 31, 2017 and 2016. The refunds are from adjustments made
to FCC Form 499-A. The actual amount received will be dependent on
the outcome of the USAC audit of the Company's
filings.
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course
of business.
On November 20, 2008, Telecom Decision Makers, Inc. (TDM) filed a
lawsuit against Access Integrated Networks, Inc. and Birch in the
United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky at
Louisville. TDM was seeking a Declaratory Judgment from the Court,
claiming that the "Confidential Independent Sales Representative
Agreement for Voice Products and Services" in effect with Navigator
Telecommunications (Navigator), was automatically assigned to Birch
Communications, Inc. in their purchase of a portion of Navigator's
assets on November 18, 2008. TDM claimed that Navigator's agreement
to pay certain commissions continued since they did not exercise a
buy-out option, and that this obligation is now binding on Birch.
At a pretrial conference on January 3, 2014, the Court granted the
Company's motion to limit the trial to the single issue raised in
the Complaint, specifically whether the transaction between
Navigator and Birch caused a "change of control", within the
language of the TDM/Navigator agreement. The jury's verdict
indicated that the transaction did cause a change of control. On or
about May 19, 2014 the Company submitted a renewed motion for
judgment asking the declaratory judgment be set aside, and that
motion was denied. No party filed a notice of appeal.
Instead, on or about August 28, 2014 the Company was named as the
defendant in a second TDM lawsuit. This matter was removed to
federal court by the Company. In the Second TDM Proceeding, TDM is
seeking damages for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and other
claims. These claims arise from the same contract that prompted the
first TDM Proceeding. The Company submitted a motion to dismiss,
urging that the new lawsuit impermissibly seeks to re-open the
first TDM proceeding, that TDM's claims are barred by finality
doctrines and applicable statutes of limitations. TDM appealed to
the Sixth Circuit of Appeals in November 2015. An estimate of
$3,600 was accrued as of December 31, 2016. The final arbitration
awarded to TDM in May 2017 was $3,647 plus attorney's fees awarded
of $382. The additional $429 was accrued in 2017. As of December
31, 2017, the amount awarded in arbitration has been paid in
full.
On October 7, 2015, Abante Rooter and Plumbing, Inc. (Abante) filed
a lawsuit against Birch Communications, Inc. in the United States
Georgia Northern District of Atlanta. Abante claimed violations of
the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act (TCPA) by Birch Communications, Inc. and/or certain
of its affiliates as a result of alleged unauthorized contact by
third party telemarketing services engaged by Birch to individuals'
cellular telephones. On or about July 6, 2016, Abante made a first
settlement demand in the Action for $26 million. Mediation was
conducted and was unsuccessful. Abante filed for certification as a
class action. Birch filed a Motion attacking the Abante's expert
witness, classification of TCPA violation and class description and
Birch filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. In May 2017, the Company
reached a tentative agreement with Abante, subject to approval by
the Court, to settle the case for $12,000 payable in equal
quarterly payments over three years. Preliminary approval to the
agreement was granted by Preliminary Approval Order entered June 8,
2017. Following notice to class members, briefing, and a fairness
hearing held on October 31, 2017, the Final Settlement Order was
entered on December 14, 2017. The $12,000 settlement was accrued as
of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2017, $10,000 is accrued
and unpaid.
In 2015, the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) launched an
investigation of the Company after reviewing customer complaints.
On December 29, 2016, the Company reached a settlement with the FCC
to pay a $4,200 fine and $1,900 in consumer refunds. As of December
31, 2017, all customer credits have been issued and $3,360 is
accrued and unpaid.
Accruals for litigation loss contingencies are recorded when it is
probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss
can be reasonably estimated.
Note 11. Benefit Plans
The Company's 401(k) plan covers all employees who have attained 18
years of age and completed 90 days of service. Participants may
contribute up to the maximum determined by the federal government
each year. The Company's match is discretionary. The Company has
elected not to partially match employee contributions in 2016 and
2017.
Due to the acquisition of Primus (See Note 14. Prior Year
Acquisitions) employees in Canada are covered under a Registered
Retirement Savings Plan. Eligible employees may make contributions
up to their personal eligible contribution limit under the Canadian
Income Tax Act. There is no employer contribution
component.
Note 12. Income Taxes
The Company, with the consent of its stockholders, has elected
under the Internal Revenue Code to be an S corporation effective
January 1, 2006. In lieu of corporate income taxes, the
stockholders of an S corporation are taxed on their proportionate
share of the Company's taxable income. Therefore, no provision or
liability for federal income taxes has been included in the
consolidated financial statements. However, the Company operates in
a few states that do not recognize S corporation status. The
Company recognizes state tax provisions as amounts are paid to the
tax jurisdictions.
Cbeyond files separate corporate tax returns which include sales to
affiliated companies. No immediate tax expense is recognized in the
consolidated statements other than the tax benefit from the release
of the valuation allowance on its net operating loss. Cbeyond has
deferred tax assets, which have been fully reserved due to the
uncertainty of their use. Cbeyond's net deferred tax liability of
$2,934 and $2,596 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively,
are the result of timing differences related to goodwill. The
Company estimates that Cbeyond's net operating losses will expire
prior to goodwill being written off for book purposes. At December
31, 2017, Cbeyond has federal net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $165,654 and state net operating loss carryforwards
of $779, which begin expiring in 2021.
Primus Holdings Inc. and Primus Management ULC are taxable as
corporations in Canada. Primus has net deferred tax assets of $256
and $240 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The
deferred assets are primarily attributable to different cost
recovery methods for fixed assets and customer lists.
The following table provides information regarding our deferred tax
assets and liabilities as of December 31:
Deferred tax assets:
|
|
|
Net
operating loss (federal and state)
|
$
35,294
|
$
44,254
|
Deferred
rent
|
959
|
2,069
|
Share-based
compensation expense
|
2,659
|
4,432
|
Voice
regulated revenue transfer to Birch
|
12,600
|
21,000
|
Other
|
297
|
2,463
|
Gross
deferred tax assets
|
51,809
|
74,218
|
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
(766
)
|
(2,392
)
|
Depreciation
|
(4,566
)
|
(10,104
)
|
Intangible
assets
|
(7,376
)
|
1,722
|
Goodwill
|
(2,934
)
|
(2,596
)
|
Gross
deferred tax liabilities
|
(15,642
)
|
(13,370
)
|
Net
deferred tax assets
|
36,167
|
60,848
|
Valuation
allowance
|
(33,233
)
|
(63,444
)
|
Net
deferred tax liabilities
|
2,934
|
2,596
|
Less
non-current net deferred tax liabilities
|
2,934
|
2,596
|
Current
net deferred tax liabilities
|
$
-
|
$
-
|
Primus
net deferred tax assets
|
|
|
Primus
net deferred tax assets
|
$
256
|
$
256
|
On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed
into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax reform legislation. The
legislation makes significant changes in the U.S. tax law including
a reduction in the corporate tax rates, changes to net operating
loss carryforwards and carrybacks, and a repeal of the corporate
alternative minimum tax. The legislation reduced the U.S. corporate
tax rate from the current rate of 35% to 21%. As a result of the
enacted law, Cboyond was required to revalue its net deferred tax
asset at the rate in effect during their scheduled reversal. This
revaluation resulted in deferred tax expense which was immediately
offset by a reduction in the valuation allowance.
The 2016, 2015 and 2014 Consolidated Birch and Cbeyond returns have
been filed and are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue
Service for three years from filing. The 2016 Primus returns have
not been filed and are in process, however, estimated tax payments
have been made and anticipated interest and penalties of $316 have
been accrued. The Company has accrued $2,535 for Primus' 2017
income tax liability, and an additional $172 related to anticipated
penalties and interest.
Income
tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was
$2,543 and $1,847, respectively.
For
financial reporting purposes, income before income (loss) taxes
includes the following components:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
$
(92,055
)
|
$
(38,724
)
|
Foreign
|
8,987
|
13,428
|
Total
|
$
(83,068
)
|
$
(25,296
)
|
Foreign withholding taxes have not been recognized on the 2017
earnings of the non-U.S. subsidiary. Generally, such amounts become
subject to U.S taxation upon remittance of the dividends and
certain other circumstances.
Note 13. Stock Incentive Plan
The Company sponsors a stock incentive plan (the Plan) that
provides for the granting of stock options to senior and general
management, to encourage continued employment and to provide
recognition for services that have contributed or will contribute
to the success of the Company. Under the Plan, the Company may
grant options to select employees and counsel to acquire shares of
the Company's common stock at the fair value at the date of grant.
Options are generally granted at a price (established by the board
of directors based on third-party valuation analysis) equal to the
most recent valuation analysis price as of the option grant date.
The number of shares and the exercise schedules are determined at
the sole discretion of the Company. The Company, at December 31,
2017, had no shares outstanding or exercisable under the stock
option plan.
A summary status of the options is presented as follows as of
December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Outstanding,
Beginning
|
37
|
$
22.58
|
65
|
$
32.19
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
Forfeited
|
(37
)
|
22.58
|
(28
)
|
44.68
|
Canceled
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding,
Ending
|
-
|
|
$
37
|
$
22.58
|
Options
Exercisable
|
-
|
|
$
37
|
$
22.58
|
The Company recorded share-based compensation expense of $196 for
the year ended December 31, 2016. No expense was recognized in the
year ended December 31, 2017.
Note 14. Prior Year Acquisitions
Primus Management ULC and its affiliates
On April 1, 2016, the Company completed the purchase of select
assets and the customers of Primus and its affiliates, (Primus). A
cash payment of $29,815 was made to affect this
transaction.
The major classes of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the
acquisition date are as follows:
Real
property
|
$
1,354
|
Personal
property
|
277
|
Customer
relationships
|
30,500
|
Inventories
and other assets
|
9,058
|
Debt-free
current liabilities
|
(11,374
)
|
Fair
value of identifiable net assets
|
$
29,815
|
The
goodwill arising on the acquisition is as follows:
|
|
Fair
value of consideration transferred
|
$
29,815
|
Fair
value of identifiable net assets
|
(29,815
)
|
Goodwill
|
$
|
The fair value of trade receivables on April 1, 2016, was $7,958
which equaled the gross amount receivable. The customer
relationship intangible is amortized over 96 months.
The results of operations of Primus have been included in our
consolidated results of operations from the acquisition date. For
the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the
Company's results includes $96,930 and $77,791 of revenue and
$6,880 and $10,604 of net income from this
acquisition.
The following represents the Company's December 31, 2016 pro forma
consolidated revenue and net loss as if Primus had been acquired on
January 1, 2016 and had been included in the Company's consolidated
results for the entire year. These amounts include pre-acquisition
results of Primus.
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
606,550
|
|
|
Net
Loss
|
$
(28,755
)
|
The Company recognized $1,196 of transaction costs in 2016 related
to the acquisition and the charges were reported in selling,
general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement
of operations and comprehensive income.
Note 15. Related Party Transactions
BirCan Holdings, LLC Transaction
On October 28, 2016, the owners of BCHI transferred their
membership interests of BirCan Holdings, LLC, in exchange for
subordinated notes to the shareholders of $6,000. The interest on
the subordinated notes is 12% of the unpaid balance. As of December
31, 2017, the Company has accrued $774 of interest as additional
debt per the terms of the agreement. The Company also incurred a
$500 note payable in the exchange. Real property valued at $3,901
and personal property valued at $2,630 were transferred to the
Company.
Note 16. Restructuring Event
The Company had a strategic alignment starting in April 2017 that
included a reduction in headcount, facility costs and other
operating costs. As of December 31, 2017, restructuring costs
totaled $7,502.
The following table summarizes changes to the accrued liability
associated with the restructuring as of December 31,
2017:
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
$
2,184
|
$
$5,032
|
$
286
|
$
7,502
|
Payments
|
(2,077
)
|
(1,901
)
|
(262
)
|
(4,240
)
|
Accrued
Liability
|
$
107
|
$
3,131
|
$
24
|
$
3,262
|
(1)
The
remaining employee-related liability will be paid within 12 months
and approximates fair value due to the short discount
period.
(2)
These
charges represent the present value of expected lease payments and
direct costs to obtain a sublease, reduced by estimated sublease
rental income. The timing and amount of estimated cash flows will
continue to be evaluated each reporting period.
Note 17. Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
2016
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
138,677
|
$
162,537
|
$
156,229
|
$
146,136
|
Gross
profit (exclusive of depreciation and amortization
|
66,862
|
75,059
|
71,875
|
61,376
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
14,497
|
18,179
|
18,423
|
18,999
|
Operating
income (loss)
|
15,628
|
12,424
|
12,915
|
(14,488
)
|
Income
(loss) before income taxes
|
5,711
|
2,285
|
2,776
|
(36,068
)
|
Net
income (loss)
|
5,456
|
1,442
|
2,575
|
(36,616
)
|
Net
income (loss) per common share-basic
|
2.01
|
0.56
|
1.00
|
(14.28
)
|
Net
income (loss) per common share-diluted
|
1.98
|
0.56
|
1.00
|
(14.28
)
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
141,834
|
$
141,663
|
$
137,075
|
$
129,752
|
Gross
profit (exclusive of depreciation and amortization
|
61,565
|
61,834
|
61,117
|
57,849
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
19,206
|
21,307
|
20,983
|
22,297
|
Impairment
of tangible assets
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,003
|
Impairment
of intangible assets
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
46,780
|
Operating
(loss) income
|
2,094
|
3,886
|
6,811
|
(46,204
)
|
Income
(loss) before income taxes
|
(9,041
)
|
(9,488
)
|
(6,050
)
|
(58,489
)
|
Net
income (loss)
|
(10,439
)
|
(9,444
)
|
(6,704
)
|
(59,024
)
|
Net
income (loss) per common share-basic
|
(4.07
)
|
(3.68
)
|
(2.61
)
|
(23.02
)
|
Net
income (loss) per common share-diluted
|
(4.07
)
|
(3.68
)
|
(2.61
)
|
(23.02
)
|
Note 18. Fusion Transaction Announcement
Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. (Fusion) filed an
announcement on August 28, 2017 to acquire Birch's Cloud and
Business Services business, including its customers, operations and
infrastructure. It is currently estimated that approximately 73
million common shares of Fusion will be issued in connection with
this transaction, valued at $3.85 per share. Fusion will assume
Birch's existing debt of approximately $458 million, which is
expected to be refinanced along with Fusion's existing
debt.
Note 19. Subsequent Event
On March 1, 2018, Birch entered into a non-binding agreement to
negotiate and sell the Company's Tempo Telecom LLC (Tempo) wireless
subscribers with a transaction close date no later than March 30,
2018. Tempo provides prepaid and lifeline voice and data services
through prepaid calling cards, lifeline wireless plans and home
phone service.
As
of December 31, 2017, total assets for Tempo are $4,895 and
wireless revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $11,450.
As of March 5, 2018, the purchase price is expected to range from
$3,000 to $3,600, depending on the number of active subscribers at
the time of closing. Any gain or loss resulting from this
transaction is expected to be immaterial to the financial
statements.
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 and the unaudited
pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year
ended December 31, 2016 are derived from the historical
consolidated financial statements of Fusion Telecommunications
International, Inc. (n/k/a Fusion Connect,
Inc.)(“Fusion”) after giving effect to the merger
transaction with Birch Communications Holdings, Inc.
(“BCHI”) and after giving effect to the other
transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of August 26, 2017, as amended (the “Merger
Agreement”), including
the issuance of the
Merger Shares, the Consumer Spin-off and the Carrier Spin-off (as
each such term is defined in the Merger Agreement), and
related financing
transactions.
The
unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for
the year ended December 31, 2017 give pro forma effect to the
business combination and related financing transactions as if it
had occurred on January 1, 2017. The unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 assumes that the
business combination and the related financing transactions had
occured on December 31, 2017.
The
unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for
the year ended December 31, 2017 are derived from Fusion's audited
consolidated statement of operations and the audited consolidated
statement of operations of BCHI, in each case, for the year ended
December 31, 2017. In accordance with the terms of the Merger
Agreement, the unaudited pro forma combined statements of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 give effect to the
Consumer Spin-off and the Carrier Spin-off.
The unaudited pro forma condensed financial information has been
prepared using the acquisition method of accounting under the
provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (referred to as
ASC) 805, “
Business
Combinations
.” As the
number of shares of Fusion common stock issued to the former
shareholders of BCHI at closing resulted in a change in control of
Fusion, the transaction has been accounted for as a reverse
acquisition and BCHI has been treated as the acquirer in the
business combination for accounting purposes. The acquisition
accounting is based upon certain valuation and other estimates. The
pro forma adjustments have been made solely for the purpose of
providing unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements
prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The following unaudited pro forma financial statements are based
on, and should be read in conjunction with:
●
Fusion’s
audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes
thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 22,
2018.
●
BCHI’s
audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes
thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with
this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The pro forma financial statements give effect to the following
transactions:
●
The
merger of BCHI with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fusion,
with the merger subsidiary being the survivor of that
merger.
●
The
Consumer Spin-off and the Carrier Spin-off.
●
The refinancing of all of the outstanding
indebtedness of Fusion and BCHI
through new first lien
and second lien term loans totaling $650 million with an average
interest rate of 9.77%
●
The
sale by Fusion at the closing of the merger of $5 million of shares
of its common stock and $15 million of shares of its new series D
preferred stock.
The pro forma adjustments are based on the information currently
available and the assumptions and estimates underlying the pro
forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. The
unaudited pro forma financial statements are for informational
purposes only, are not indications of future performance, and
should not be considered indicative of actual results that would
have been achieved had the forgoing transactions actually been
consummated on the dates or at the beginning of the periods
presented.
Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2017
(in thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
Fusion
|
|
Birch
|
|
New Debt
Financing
|
|
Repayment of
existing indebtedness
|
|
Carrier
Services Spin-Off
|
|
Consumer
Spin-Off
|
|
Additional
Equity
|
|
Merger
Adjustments
|
|
Asset
Impairment
|
|
Pro Forma
Combined
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents
|
$
2,530
|
|
$
5,757
|
|
$
596,003
|
(a)
|
$
(547,463)
|
(e,f)
|
$
(58)
|
|
$
(256)
|
|
19,158
|
(h)
|
$
-
|
|
|
|
$
75,671
|
Accounts
receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts
|
12,963
|
|
34,921
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(2,228)
|
|
(8,703)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,953
|
Inventory
|
|
|
1,179
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(37)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,142
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
2,091
|
|
10,054
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(482)
|
|
(1,142)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,521
|
Accounts
receivable - employees/stockholders
|
-
|
|
920
|
|
-
|
|
(920)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Total current assets
|
17,584
|
|
52,831
|
|
596,003
|
|
(548,383)
|
|
(2,768)
|
|
(10,138)
|
#
|
19,158
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
124,287
|
Property and equipment, net
|
12,857
|
|
85,675
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(18)
|
|
(1,213)
|
|
|
|
4,029
|
(c,d)
|
(1,297)
|
(g)
|
100,033
|
Other assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
deposits
|
616
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(3)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
613
|
Restricted
cash
|
27
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
27
|
Goodwill
|
34,774
|
|
93,356
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(3,548)
|
|
|
|
23,327
|
(c)
|
|
|
147,909
|
Intangible
assets, net
|
56,156
|
|
115,359
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(23,856)
|
|
|
|
35,954
|
(c,d)
|
(5,854)
|
(i)
|
177,759
|
Other
assets
|
44
|
|
877
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(157)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
764
|
Total other assets
|
91,617
|
|
209,592
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(3)
|
|
(27,561)
|
|
-
|
|
59,281
|
|
(5,854)
|
|
327,073
|
TOTAL ASSETS
|
$
122,058
|
|
$
348,098
|
|
$
596,003
|
|
$
(548,383)
|
|
$
(2,789)
|
|
$
(38,912)
|
|
$
19,158
|
|
$
63,310
|
|
$
(7,151)
|
|
$
551,392
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
6,500
|
|
30,000
|
|
27,750
|
(a)
|
(36,500)
|
(e)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
27,750
|
Obligations
under asset purchase agreements - current
portion
|
228
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
228
|
Equipment
financing obligation
|
1,207
|
|
3,003
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,210
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
25,089
|
|
94,100
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(2,993)
|
|
(7,820)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
108,376
|
Deferred
Revenue
|
-
|
|
12,601
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(2,318)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
10,283
|
Line of
credit
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Total Current liabilities
|
33,024
|
|
139,704
|
|
27,750
|
|
(36,500)
|
|
(2,993)
|
|
(10,138)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
150,847
|
Long-term liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
payable - non-related parties, net of discount
|
31,953
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(31,953)
|
(e)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Long-term
debt
|
|
|
420,936
|
|
-
|
|
(417,670)
|
(e)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,266
|
Term
loan
|
54,223
|
|
-
|
|
568,253
|
(a)
|
(54,223)
|
(e)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
568,253
|
Indebtedness
under revolving credit facility
|
1,500
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,500)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Obligations
under asset purchase agreements
|
222
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
222
|
Other
non-current liabilities
|
-
|
|
12,847
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(352)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12,495
|
Notes
payable - related parties
|
928
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(928)
|
(e)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Equipment
financing obligations
|
591
|
|
3,823
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,414
|
Derivative
liabilities
|
873
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
873
|
Total liabilities
|
123,314
|
|
577,310
|
|
596,003
|
|
(542,774)
|
|
(2,993)
|
|
(10,490)
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
740,370
|
Total stockholders' equity
|
(1,256)
|
|
(229,212)
|
|
-
|
(a)
|
(5,609)
|
(e,f)
|
204
|
|
(28,421)
|
|
19,158
|
(h)
|
63,310
|
(b)
|
(7,151)
|
(g)
|
(188,977)
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
$
122,058
|
|
$
348,098
|
|
$
596,003
|
|
$
(548,383)
|
|
$
(2,789)
|
|
$
(38,912)
|
|
$
19,158
|
|
$
63,310
|
|
$
(7,151)
|
|
$
551,392
|
(a)
|
Record estimated net proceeds from anticipated
financing:
|
|
Net proceeds comprised of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Term
Loan
|
$
650,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Facility
fee
|
(53,998)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
596,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The proposed term loan will include $555M First Lien, an $85M
Second Lien and a $10M subordinated Seller Note. It will also
include a $40M revolver (undrawn at close). The term loan will bear
a blended interest at LIBOR rate plus margin for a total
of 9.7% per annum payable according to the terms of the payment
schedule.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
To adjust for the fair value of Fusion shares issued in the
transaction, as adjusted for the Fusion stockholders' deficit at
the date of the transaction, as follows:
|
|
Fair value of Fusion shares acquired (post-split) - 16,602,175
shares (including shares issuable upon conversion of preferred
stock and in-the-money warrants)
|
|
|
Shares
O/S at 12/31/17
|
|
|
|
14,980,755
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares O/S
|
|
14,980,755
|
|
1,363,986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In-the-money
stock warrants at 12/31/17
|
|
257,433
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
Issuable upon conversion of PS at 12/31/17
|
|
1,363,986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,602,175
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
price at 12/31/17
|
|
$
3.75
|
|
$
62,258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares outstanding represent a number of shares issued and
outstanding at 12/31/17. In-the-money warrants represents warrants
with an exercise price of $3.75 or less at 12/31/17. Shares
issuable upon conversion
of preferred stock as of 12/31/17 were based upon a conversion
calculation as listed in the preferred stock agreements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
To assign fair values to Fusion assets acquired and record
goodwill
49,806,524
|
|
Fair value
of consideration effectively transferred
|
$
62,258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets (less
goodwill) acquired
|
124,478
|
|
|
|
|
|
49,806,524
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
assumed
|
(120,321)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets
acquired
|
4,157
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
$
58,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of consideration was calculated by multiplying stock
price of $3.75 per share by a total of 16,602,175 shares
(post-split) at 12/31/17. The number of shares included shares
outstanding, in-the money stock warrants
and shares issuable upon conversion of preferred stock as of
12/31/17. Assets acquired excluded carrier services assets and
included a step up in value based upon a third party
valuation.
Liability acquired excluded carrier services liabilities.
|
|
|
(d)
|
Reflects adjustments to recognize the estimated fair value of
Fusion assets as follows:
|
|
Customer
relationships
|
53,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademark
|
34,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed
technology
|
4,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and
equipment
|
16,886
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fusion engaged a third party to complete the analysis of purchase
consideration and fair value of assets acquired. The analysis has
been completed in accordance with ASC 805, business
combinations,
to
arrive at estimated fair value of Fusion
assets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
Retire existing Fusion and Birch debt, including write-off of
unamortized debt discount of $19.3M. Fusion debt consists of $62M
of term loan, $34M of subordinated
note and $1.5M of a revolver. It also includes approximately $1M of
related party debt. Fusions portion of debt discount
is $2.7M. Birch debt consists of $423M of term loan and $45M
revolver. The Birch debt discount is $16.7M. The remaining $3.3M of
related party notes will be paid over three quarters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
Denotes payment of stock repurchase obligation by Birch
shareholders in the amount of $13.7 million. In 2016, Birch entered
into an installment purchase agreement to repurchase 148 shares of
common stock
from a former employee for $13.7M. Installments were scheduled as
follows: $1M on 12/31/16, $1.5M on 5/1/17,$1M on 12/31/17, $3M on
5/1/18, and $7.2M on 5/1/19. No payment had been made due
to covenant restrictions. Unpaid balance will accrete interest at
4% per year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
To record impairment of a Fusion back-office platform which will no
longer be in use post acquisition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
Represents additional equity that consist of (1) $5M of common
stock and (2) $15M of preferred series D stock, net of fees which
amounted to $542K
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(I)
|
Reflects accelerated Amorization of trade names, Birch
Communications $1.2M and Cbeyond $4.6M, for BCHI that will be
phased out over the balance of the year.
|
Fusion
Telecommunications International, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of
Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
Fusion
|
|
Birch
|
|
Refinancing of Existing Indebtedness
|
|
|
|
Carrier Services Spin-Off
|
|
Consumer Spin-Off
|
|
Merger Adjustments
|
|
Asset Impairment
|
|
Pro Forma Combined
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$
150,531
|
|
$
550,324
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
(33,189)
|
|
$
(100,357)
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
567,309
|
Cost of
revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown
separately below)
|
83,033
|
|
307,959
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(31,982)
|
|
(62,372)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
296,638
|
Gross Profit
|
67,497
|
|
242,365
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(1,207)
|
|
(37,985)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
270,671
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
14,521
|
|
83,793
|
|
|
|
|
|
(341)
|
|
(13,582)
|
|
5,942
|
(e)
|
5,371
|
(g)
|
95,704
|
Impairment
charges
|
641
|
|
52,783
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,328)
|
|
-
|
|
1,780
|
(g)
|
53,876
|
Restructuring
charges
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
Selling,
general and administration expenses, including stock-based
compensation
|
57,724
|
|
139,595
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,315)
|
|
(29,857)
|
|
14,725
|
(f)
|
|
|
179,872
|
Total
operating expenses
|
72,886
|
|
276,171
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(2,656)
|
|
(44,767)
|
|
20,667
|
|
7,151
|
|
329,452
|
Operating loss
|
(5,389)
|
|
(33,806)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
1,449
|
|
6,782
|
|
(20,667)
|
|
(7,151)
|
|
(58,781)
|
Other (expenses) income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
(8,649)
|
|
(50,920)
|
|
(14,344)
|
(b)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(73,913)
|
Gain on
change in fair value of derivative liability
|
(909)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(909)
|
Loss on
extinguishment of debt
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(21,771)
|
(a)
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(21,771)
|
Loss on
extinguishment of property and equipment
|
(312)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(312)
|
Gain on
change in fair value of contingent liability
|
1,012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,012
|
Other
income, net of other expenses
|
209
|
|
1,658
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
(9)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,858
|
Total other
(expenses) income
|
(8,649)
|
|
(49,262)
|
|
(36,115)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(6)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(94,035)
|
(Loss) income before income taxes
|
(14,038)
|
|
(83,068)
|
|
(36,115)
|
|
-
|
|
1,449
|
|
6,776
|
|
(20,667)
|
|
(7,151)
|
|
(152,817)
|
Benefit
(provision) for income taxes
|
(62)
|
|
(2,543)
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
96
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,509)
|
Net (loss) income
|
(14,100)
|
|
(85,611)
|
|
(36,115)
|
|
-
|
|
1,449
|
|
6,872
|
|
(20,667)
|
|
(7,151)
|
|
(155,326)
|
|
Less: Net
income attributable to noncontrolling interest
|
86
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(86)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
Net loss attributable to Fusion Telecommunications International,
Inc.
|
(14,014)
|
|
(85,611)
|
|
(36,115)
|
|
|
|
1,363
|
|
6,872
|
|
(20,667)
|
|
(7,151)
|
|
(155,326)
|
Preferred
stock dividends in arrears
|
(1,838)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
1,838
|
(c)
|
|
|
-
|
Net (loss) income attributable to common
stockholders
|
$
(15,852)
|
|
$
(85,611)
|
|
$
(36,115)
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
1,363
|
|
$
6,872
|
|
$
(18,829)
|
|
$
(7,151)
|
|
$
(155,326)
|
Basic and
diluted loss per common share
|
$
(0.72)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
(2.33)
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and
diluted
|
21,969,601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,391,480
|
(d)
|
|
|
67,361,081
|
(a)
|
Denotes redemption premium and write off of unamortized debt
discount for indebtedness being refinanced
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
Increase in interest rate based on refinancing, including discount
amortization resulting from facility fee and deferred loan costs of
$54 million related to the refinancing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
Remove preferred dividends as all preferred stock is converted
prior to merger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
Shares (post-split) issued to Birch in merger transaction include
14,980,755 of Fusion shares issued and outstanding, 257,433 of
Fusion in-the-money warrants, 1,363,986 of Fusion shares issuable
upon conversion of preferred
stock and 49,806,524 of new shares to be issued as part of the
transaction, and additioanl shares of 952,382 related to the
additional equity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
To record amortization expense for additional $36 million of
intangibles acquired based on a 7 year useful life and the
increased book basis of property and equipment
of $4.0 million based on a 5 year expected life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
To record merger-related transaction fees of $14.7M consisting of
bonus awards, and other deal related expenses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
To record impairment of a Fusion back-office platform which will no
longer be in use post acquisition. Reflects accelerated Amorization
of trade names, Birch Communications $1.2M and Cbeyond $4.6M, for
BCHI that will be phased out over the balance of the year.
|