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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 18, 2024

 

 

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-32663   88-0318078

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

4830 North Loop 1604W, Suite 111
San Antonio, Texas 78249
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (210) 547-8800

Not Applicable

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   CCO   New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Indenture Governing 7.875% Senior Secured Notes Due 2030

On March 18, 2024, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) completed the sale of $865.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) in a private placement to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company acting as guarantors party thereto (collectively, the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent.

The Notes mature on April 1, 2030 and bear interest at a rate of 7.875% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable to the holders thereof semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2024. The Notes are guaranteed fully and unconditionally on a senior secured basis by the Guarantors and any of the Company’s future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Company’s senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”), its senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) and its receivables-based credit facility (the “ABL Facility”).

The Notes and the guarantees are secured on a first-priority basis by security interests in all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ assets securing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, subject to certain exceptions, on a pari passu basis with the liens on such assets (other than the assets securing the ABL Facility) (such assets, other than the assets securing the ABL Facility, the “Notes Priority Collateral”), and on a second-priority basis by security interests in all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ assets securing the Company’s ABL Facility on a first-priority basis (the “ABL Priority Collateral” and, together with the Notes Priority Collateral, the “Notes Collateral”), in each case, other than any excluded assets and subject to intercreditor agreements. The ABL Facility is secured on a second-priority basis by the Notes Priority Collateral.

The Notes and the guarantees are general senior secured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors and rank pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the ABL Facility, the 5.125% senior secured notes due 2027 (the “Existing 2027 Secured Notes”), the 9.000% senior secured notes due 2028, the 7.750% senior notes due 2028 (the “Existing 2028 Senior Notes”) and the 7.500% senior notes due 2029 and will be senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated and unsecured indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors. The Notes are effectively equal to all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future indebtedness secured by a first-priority lien on the Notes Priority Collateral (including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities), to the extent of the value of such collateral, are effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future indebtedness secured by a first-priority lien on the ABL Priority Collateral (including the ABL Facility), to the extent of the value of such collateral, and are structurally subordinated to any existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including preferred stock, of existing and future subsidiaries of the Company that do not guarantee the Notes, including Clear Channel International B.V.’s 6.625% senior secured notes due 2025.

The Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes beginning on October 1, 2026 at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. Prior to October 1, 2026, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus the “make-whole” premium described in the Indenture. The Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at any time prior to October 1, 2026 using the net proceeds from certain equity offerings at 107.875% of the principal amount of the Notes. During any twelve-month period prior to October 1, 2026, subject to certain exceptions and conditions, the Company may also redeem up to 10% of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; provided that, at the time of any such redemption, there are no outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (including any amounts drawn under any revolving credit facility or other borrowings outstanding in respect of any term loans), and no such redemption can be made with the proceeds of any indebtedness that refinances existing indebtedness. If the Company experiences specific kinds of changes in control, the Company must offer to repurchase all of the notes at 101.000% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.


The Indenture contains covenants that limit the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) incur or guarantee additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) redeem, purchase or retire subordinated debt; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts from the Company’s restricted subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; (v) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (vi) merge or consolidate with another person or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (vii) sell certain assets, including capital stock of the Company’s subsidiaries; (viii) designate the Company’s subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; (ix) pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock or make other restricted payments; and (x) incur certain liens.

Copies of the Indenture and the Notes are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of the Indenture and the Notes, respectively.

Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement

Concurrently with the sale of the Notes, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”) to the Company’s credit agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”), with Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement governs the Company’s revolving credit facility and term loan (the “Term Loan Facility”).

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendment, among other things: (i) the maturity date of the Term Loan Facility was extended to August 23, 2028; provided that (x) if on May 15, 2027 there are Existing 2027 Secured Notes (or any permitted refinancing thereof) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $250.0 million that mature prior to November 21, 2028, the maturity date of the Term Loan Facility shall be May 15, 2027 or (y) if on January 15, 2028 there are Existing 2028 Senior Notes (or any permitted refinancing thereof) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $199.0 million that mature prior to November 21, 2028, the maturity date of the Term Loan Facility shall be January 15, 2028; (ii) to increase the Applicable Rate, as defined therein, for the Term Loan Facility by 50 basis points and (iii) provide for a prepayment penalty of 1.00% for any prepayments of or amendments to the Term Loan Facility made in connection with a “Repricing Event”, to the extent the primary purpose of such prepayment is to reduce the effective yield of the Term Loan Facility, on or prior to the date that is six (6) months after the closing date of the Credit Agreement Amendment.

The remaining terms of the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Credit Agreement Amendment, respectively, are substantially the same as the terms under the existing Credit Agreement, including with respect to events of default, covenants, and loan acceleration.

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

 4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2024, by and among Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent, governing the 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030.
 4.2    Form of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 filed herewith).
10.1    Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2024, among Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., the other loan parties thereto, the lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (including Annex A, which is a conformed copy of the Credit Agreement).
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL).


SIGNATURES

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

 

    CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: March 18, 2024     By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

      Lynn A. Feldman
     

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal

Officer and Corporate Secretary

EX-4.1 2 d777525dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of March 18, 2024

among

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.,

as the Issuer,

EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and as Collateral Agent

7.875% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2030

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

             Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1  

 

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

     1  
 

Section 1.02

 

Other Definitions

     49  
 

Section 1.03

 

Trust Indenture Act

     49  
 

Section 1.04

 

Rules of Construction

     49  
 

Section 1.05

 

Acts of Holders

     50  
 

Section 1.06

 

Certain Calculations

     52  
ARTICLE II THE NOTES      54  
 

Section 2.01

 

Form and Dating; Terms

     54  
 

Section 2.02

 

Execution and Authentication

     56  
 

Section 2.03

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     56  
 

Section 2.04

 

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

     57  
 

Section 2.05

 

Holder Lists

     57  
 

Section 2.06

 

Transfer and Exchange

     57  
 

Section 2.07

 

Replacement Notes

     67  
 

Section 2.08

 

Outstanding Notes

     67  
 

Section 2.09

 

Treasury Notes

     68  
 

Section 2.10

 

Temporary Notes

     68  
 

Section 2.11

 

Cancellation

     68  
 

Section 2.12

 

Defaulted Interest

     68  
 

Section 2.13

 

CUSIP Numbers

     69  
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION      69  
 

Section 3.01

 

Notices to Trustee

     69  
 

Section 3.02

 

Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Purchased

     69  
 

Section 3.03

 

Notice of Redemption

     70  
 

Section 3.04

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     71  
 

Section 3.05

 

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

     71  
 

Section 3.06

 

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part

     71  
 

Section 3.07

 

Optional Redemption

     72  
 

Section 3.08

 

Mandatory Redemption

     74  
 

Section 3.09

 

Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds

     74  
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS      76  
 

Section 4.01

 

Payment of Notes

     76  
 

Section 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     76  
 

Section 4.03

 

Reports and Other Information

     76  
 

Section 4.04

 

Compliance Certificate

     79  
 

Section 4.05

 

[Reserved]

     80  


             Page  

 

Section 4.06

 

[Reserved]

     80  
 

Section 4.07

 

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     80  
 

Section 4.08

 

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     87  
 

Section 4.09

 

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

     89  
 

Section 4.10

 

Asset Sales

     96  
 

Section 4.11

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     100  
 

Section 4.12

 

[Reserved]

     102  
 

Section 4.13

 

[Reserved]

     102  
 

Section 4.14

 

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

     102  
 

Section 4.15

 

Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries

     104  
 

Section 4.16

 

[Reserved]

     105  
 

Section 4.17

 

Suspension of Covenants if the Notes Achieve Investment Grade Rating

     105  
 

Section 4.18

 

Liens

     106  
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS      106  
 

Section 5.01

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

     106  
 

Section 5.02

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

     109  
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES      109  
 

Section 6.01

 

Events of Default

     109  
 

Section 6.02

 

Acceleration

     112  
 

Section 6.03

 

Other Remedies

     113  
 

Section 6.04

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     113  
 

Section 6.05

 

Control by Majority

     113  
 

Section 6.06

 

Limitation on Suits

     113  
 

Section 6.07

 

Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment

     114  
 

Section 6.08

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     114  
 

Section 6.09

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     114  
 

Section 6.10

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     114  
 

Section 6.11

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     114  
 

Section 6.12

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     115  
 

Section 6.13

 

Priorities

     115  
 

Section 6.14

 

Undertaking for Costs

     115  
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE      116  
 

Section 7.01

 

Duties of Trustee

     116  
 

Section 7.02

 

Rights of Trustee

     117  
 

Section 7.03

 

Individual Rights of Trustee

     118  
 

Section 7.04

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     118  
 

Section 7.05

 

Notice of Defaults

     118  
 

Section 7.06

 

[Reserved]

     118  
 

Section 7.07

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     118  
 

Section 7.08

 

Replacement of Trustee or Agent

     119  
 

Section 7.09

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

     120  
 

Section 7.10

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     120  
 

Section 7.11

 

Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements

     120  

 

-ii-


             Page  
ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      121  

 

Section 8.01

 

Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     121  
 

Section 8.02

 

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     121  
 

Section 8.03

 

Covenant Defeasance

     122  
 

Section 8.04

 

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     122  
 

Section 8.05

 

Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     123  
 

Section 8.06

 

Repayment to Issuer

     124  
 

Section 8.07

 

Reinstatement

     124  
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER      124  
 

Section 9.01

 

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

     124  
 

Section 9.02

 

With Consent of Holders of Notes

     126  
 

Section 9.03

 

[Reserved]

     128  
 

Section 9.04

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     128  
 

Section 9.05

 

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     128  
 

Section 9.06

 

Trustee To Sign Amendments, etc.

     128  
ARTICLE X GUARANTEES      129  
 

Section 10.01

 

Guarantee

     129  
 

Section 10.02

 

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     130  
 

Section 10.03

 

Execution and Delivery

     131  
 

Section 10.04

 

Subrogation

     131  
 

Section 10.05

 

Benefits Acknowledged

     131  
 

Section 10.06

 

Release of Guarantees

     131  
ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      132  
 

Section 11.01

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

     132  
 

Section 11.02

 

Application of Trust Money

     133  
ARTICLE XII COLLATERAL      134  
 

Section 12.01

 

Security Documents

     134  
 

Section 12.02

 

Release of Collateral

     134  
 

Section 12.03

 

Suits to Protect the Collateral

     135  
 

Section 12.04

 

Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents

     136  
 

Section 12.05

 

Purchaser Protected

     136  
 

Section 12.06

 

Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     136  
 

Section 12.07

 

Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations

     136  
 

Section 12.08

 

Collateral Agent

     137  
 

Section 12.09

 

Designations

     144  
 

Section 12.10

 

No Impairment of the Security Interests

     144  
 

Section 12.11

 

[Reserved]

     144  
 

Section 12.12

 

After Acquired Property

     144  
 

Section 12.13

 

Maintenance of Property and Insurance

     145  
 

Section 12.14

 

Further Assurances

     145  

 

-iii-


             Page  
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS      146  

 

Section 13.01

 

[Reserved]

     146  
 

Section 13.02

 

Notices

     146  
 

Section 13.03

 

[Reserved]

     147  
 

Section 13.04

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     147  
 

Section 13.05

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     147  
 

Section 13.06

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     148  
 

Section 13.07

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

     148  
 

Section 13.08

 

Governing Law

     148  
 

Section 13.09

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     148  
 

Section 13.10

 

Force Majeure

     148  
 

Section 13.11

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     148  
 

Section 13.12

 

Successors

     149  
 

Section 13.13

 

Severability

     149  
 

Section 13.14

 

Counterpart Originals

     149  
 

Section 13.15

 

Electronic Transmission; Electronic Signatures

     149  
 

Section 13.16

 

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

     149  
 

Section 13.17

 

Intercreditor Agreements

     150  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

  

Form of Note

Exhibit B

  

Form of Certificate of Transfer

Exhibit C

  

Form of Certificate of Exchange

Exhibit D

  

Form of Supplemental Indenture to be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

-iv-


INDENTURE, dated as of March 18, 2024, among Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), each of the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on the signature pages hereto, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $865,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Initial Notes”); and

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuer, the Guarantors, and the Trustee and Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that shall be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

“ABL Facility” means the asset based credit facility under the ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2023, and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by and among the Issuer, the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the other agents and grantors from time to time party thereto, including any agreements, collateral documents, guarantees, instruments, mortgages and notes executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, extensions, modifications, refinancings, refundings, renewals, restatements, or supplements thereof and any one or more notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, refinance, refund, renew, replace or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such refinancing, refunding or replacement facility or indenture that increases the amount that may be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity of the loans thereunder or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or other agent, lender or group of lenders or investors.

“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019, as supplemented as of the Issue Date by that certain Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder, and as further amended or supplemented from time to time, between the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent in respect of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the collateral agent in respect of the Existing Secured Notes, the collateral agent in respect of the ABL Facility and each other collateral agent from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


“ABL Obligations” means “Obligations” (as defined in the ABL Facility or the substantially equivalent definition under any successor agreement to the ABL Facility).

“ABL Priority Collateral” means “ABL Priority Collateral” (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

“Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person,

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging, consolidating or amalgamating with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

“Additional First Lien Obligations” means any Indebtedness having Pari Passu Lien Priority relative to the Notes with respect to the Collateral (which Lien is permitted under this Indenture); provided that an authorized representative of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have executed a joinder to the Security Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and other applicable Security Documents.

“Additional First Lien Secured Parties” means the holders of any Additional First Lien Obligations and any trustee, authorized representative or agent of such Additional First Lien Obligations.

“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01 and 4.09 hereof.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

“Agent” means any Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

 

-2-


“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

(a) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date; and

(b) the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such Note at October 1, 2026 (such redemption price being set forth in Section 3.07(c) hereof and in Section 5(c) of such Note), plus (B) all required remaining interest payments (calculated based on the cash interest rate) due on such Note through October 1, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and/or Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

“Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

in each case, other than:

(a) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment, property or other assets in the ordinary course of business, any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) in the ordinary course of business or the disposition of property or equipment no longer used or useful in the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) (i) the disposition of assets or properties that constitute all or substantially all of the assets or properties of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which are Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof and (ii) any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

(c) the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.07 hereof or the making of any Permitted Investment;

(d) any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than the greater of (i) $75,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available);

(e) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary; (f) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property or assets (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

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(g) the sale, lease, assignment, sub-lease, license or sub-license of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(h) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation or any similar action with respect to assets, involuntary loss or damage to or destruction of any property or assets and the disposition of property or assets received upon foreclosure by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(j) any disposition of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties as set forth in binding joint venture or similar agreements;

(k) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by this Indenture;

(l) any disposition of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and sales of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof, in each case Incurred pursuant Section 4.09(b)(16) hereof;

(m) the abandonment of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which in the reasonable good-faith determination of the Issuer are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(n) voluntary terminations of Hedging Obligations;

(o) the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(q) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(r) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

(s) [reserved];

(t) any Sale and Leaseback Transaction and asset securitization permitted or not prohibited by this Indenture; provided that the fair market value of all property so disposed of after the Issue Date shall not exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 10.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available); (u) (i) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens, Reorganizations and related transactions and/or (ii) dispositions conducted in connection with a REIT Conversion Transaction for so long as the Issuer (or its applicable parent entity) is pursuing a REIT Election in good-faith and the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement has been satisfied; or

 

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(v) the disposition of any assets (including Capital Stock) (i) acquired in a transaction after the Issue Date, which assets are not useful in the core or principal business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the reasonable determination of the Issuer to consummate any acquisition.

In the event that a transaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of a permitted Asset Sale and would also be a Permitted Investment or an Investment permitted under Section 4.07 hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide and classify such transaction (or a portion thereof) as an Asset Sale and/or one or more of the types of Permitted Investments or Investments permitted under Section 4.07 hereof.

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

“August 2019 Issue Date” means August 23, 2019.

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Billboard” means any outdoor display used to advertise products and services, including all billboards, transit displays, mall displays, parking garage displays, electronic displays and related structures and any ownership or leasehold interests in any of the foregoing.

“Billboard Collateral” means all of the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s interest in and to any Billboard, including any such interest which is or becomes so related to any real property that an interest in any such Billboard arises under the real property law of the state in which such Billboard is situated.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock; (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

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(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition and any related calculations, all obligations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a capitalized lease) regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that are contemplated as of December 15, 2018) that would otherwise require such obligation not to be characterized as a capitalized lease.

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

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2)(a) Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, euro, or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; or

(b) in the case of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above; (6) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

 

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(7) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency), and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(9) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(10) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency); and

(11) investment funds investing at least 95.0% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (1) and (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

“CCIBV” means Clear Channel International B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer.

“CCIBV Secured Notes” means the 6.625% senior secured notes due 2025 issued by CCIBV on August 4, 2020.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the Issue Date:

 

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(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions (other than by merger, consolidation or amalgamation), of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; provided that (x) so long as the Issuer is a Subsidiary of any direct or indirect parent company, no Person shall be deemed to have acquired, leased or have been transferred all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries unless such Person shall be or become a beneficial owner of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent company (other than a parent company that is a Subsidiary of another parent company) and (y) any Voting Stock of which any Permitted Holder is the beneficial owner shall not in any case be included in any Voting Stock of which any such Person is the beneficial owner; or (2) the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by (A) any Person (other than any Permitted Holder) or (B) Persons (other than any Permitted Holder) that are together a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any such group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that (x) so long as the Issuer is a Subsidiary of any direct or indirect parent company, no Person shall be deemed to be or become a beneficial owner of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer unless such Person shall be or become a beneficial owner of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent company (other than a parent company that is a Subsidiary of another parent company) and (y) any Voting Stock of which any Permitted Holder is the beneficial owner shall not in any case be included in any Voting Stock of which any such Person is the beneficial owner.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto.

“Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all the “Collateral” or “Pledged Collateral” or other similar terms as defined in any other Security Document and (iii) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to secure the Notes Obligations and all other property of whatever kind and nature pledged or charged, in each case, pursuant to any Security Document.

“Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as collateral agent for the holders of the Notes Obligations under the Security Documents and any successor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

“Collateral Requirement” means at any time, the requirement that:

(1) the Collateral Agent shall have received each Security Document required to be delivered on the Issue Date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (or any time after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 12.12 or Section 12.14 hereof) duly executed by the Issuer and each Guarantor on the Issue Date that is a party thereto;

(2) (i) the Notes Obligations and the Notes Obligations Guarantees shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Documents by a first-priority security interest in all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity) held directly by the Issuer and the Guarantors, subject to no Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and, subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have received, to the extent the relevant Equity Interests are certificated, 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 and (ii) all Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Guarantor that is evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument with an individual outstanding principal amount in excess of $25,000,000 shall, subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, have been delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Documents (provided that any promissory notes issued to employees, officers and directors of any of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to be delivered) together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, and all intercompany loans shall have been pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Documents;

 

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(3) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Security Document, the Notes Obligations shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of the Issuer and each Guarantor (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, United States intellectual property, intercompany receivables, other general intangibles (including contract rights), owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, to the extent, and with the priority, required by the Security Documents; provided that security interests in real property (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, Billboard Collateral) shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties;

(4) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens (other than Permitted Liens);

(5) the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property that is not an Excluded Asset, duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a title insurance policy for such Mortgaged Property (or marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a title insurance policy) insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first priority Lien on the property described therein, in an amount not less than 100% of the fair market value of the real property covered thereby and free of any other Liens except Permitted Liens, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and to the extent available in each applicable jurisdiction, (iii) a survey with respect to each Mortgaged Property, provided, however, that a survey shall not be required to the extent that (A) an existing survey together with an “affidavit of no change” is delivered to the Collateral Agent and (B) the removal of the standard survey exception and provision of reasonable and customary survey-related endorsements and other coverages in the applicable Mortgage policy, (iv) a completed standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Issuer), (v) [reserved], (vi) an opinion of local counsel addressed to the Collateral Agent in customary form and substance with respect to the enforceability and perfection of each Mortgage, and (vii) any existing abstracts and appraisals and other documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgaged Property; and

(6) except as otherwise contemplated by this Indenture or any Security Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including UCC financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, required by the Security Documents or applicable law to create the Liens on the Collateral intended to be created by the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

 

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The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of the title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained therefrom as determined by the Issuer; provided that the same determination is made in respect of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

The administrative agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities may grant extensions of time under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Issue Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors on such date) required by the Collateral Requirement where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Issuer, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Indenture or the Security Documents, and any such extensions shall apply hereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Indenture or any other Security Document to the contrary:

(1) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction;

(2) the Collateral Requirement shall not apply to any Excluded Assets:

(3) no deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or other control agreements or control arrangements shall be required with respect to any deposit account or securities account;

(4) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, no actions in any jurisdiction outside of the United States or required by the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the United States, or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States);

(5) no stock certificates evidencing Excluded Equity shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent; and

(6) the requirements under the Collateral Requirement shall be subject in all respects to the Intercreditor Agreements.

“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and Capitalized Software Expenditures and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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“Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries having a Lien on the Collateral, other than Liens that are expressly subordinated or junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the ABL Facility), to (b) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all third-party Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, undrawn letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and/or bank guarantees); provided that “Consolidated Indebtedness” shall be calculated (i) net of the Unrestricted Cash Amount, (ii) excluding any obligation, liability or indebtedness of any such Person if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, such Person has irrevocably deposited with the proper Person in trust or escrow the necessary funds (or evidences of indebtedness) for the payment, redemption or satisfaction of such obligation, liability or indebtedness, and thereafter such funds and evidences of such obligation, liability or indebtedness or other security so deposited are not included in the calculation of Unrestricted Cash Amount and (iii) based on the initial stated principal amount of any Indebtedness that is issued at a discount to its initial stated principal amount without giving effect to any such discounts; provided, further, that Consolidated Indebtedness shall not include (w) Indebtedness in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(16) hereof, (x) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and bank guarantees, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder, (y) obligations under Hedging Obligations entered into and (z) Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction solely to the extent and for so long as the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an escrow and are not otherwise made available to the relevant Person (it being understood that in any event, any such proceeds subject to such escrow shall be deemed to constitute “restricted cash” for purposes of cash netting) (provided that such escrow is secured only by proceeds of such Indebtedness and the proceeds thereof shall be promptly applied to satisfy and discharge such Indebtedness if the definitive agreement for such transaction is terminated prior to the consummation thereof).

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the amount payable as cash interest expense (including that attributable to capital leases), net of cash interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including financing and net cash costs (less net cash payments) under any Hedging Obligations, all commissions, discounts and other cash fees and charges owed with respect to letter of credit and bankers’ acceptance and the cash interest expense of Indebtedness for which the proceeds are held in escrow (except, excluding the interest expense in respect thereof that is covered by such proceeds held in escrow), but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) any non-cash interest expense and any capitalized interest, whether paid or accrued, (b) the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (c) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (d) any expenses resulting from discounting of indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, (e) penalties or interest related to taxes and any other amounts of non-cash interest resulting from the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting, (f) the accretion or accrual of, or accrued interest on, discounted liabilities (other than Indebtedness) during such period, (g) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, (h) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (i) any payments with respect to make whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, (j) all non-recurring interest expense consisting of liquidated damages for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (k) expensing of bridge, arrangement, structuring, commitment, amendment or other financing fees.

 

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For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Indenture to “Consolidated Interest Expense” shall refer to the Consolidated Interest Expense of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, to (b) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, without duplication, Consolidated Net Income shall not include:

(1) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Issuer’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed (or, so long as such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, that (as reasonably determined by the Issuer) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment, subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution or return on investment to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below;

(2) solely for the purpose of determining the amount of Consolidated Net Income available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(b) hereof, any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Issuer or a Guarantor by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders (other than (a) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released and (b) restrictions pursuant to this Indenture), except that the Issuer’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed or that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained above in this clause (2)); (4) any net gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any asset (including pursuant to any sale/leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by an Officer or the Board of Directors of the Issuer);

(3) any net gain (or loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net gain (or loss) on disposal of disposed, discontinued or abandoned operations;

 

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(5) any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gain, loss, charge or expense (including relating to the Transaction Expenses), or any charges, expenses or reserves in respect of any restructuring, relocation, redundancy or severance expense, new product introductions or one-time compensation charges;

(6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

(7) any (i) non-cash compensation charge or expense arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards and any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and (ii) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;

(8) all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid or other expenses incurred directly in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness and any net gain (loss) from any write-off or forgiveness of Indebtedness;

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

(10) any unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person and any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies;

(11) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(12) any recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting effects including, but not limited to, adjustments to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of any consummated acquisition, or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in process research and development);

(13) any impairment charge, write-down or write-off, including impairment charges, write-downs or write-offs relating to goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation;

(14) any effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or any obligations under any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments; (15) accruals and reserves that are established within 12-months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(16) any net unrealized gains and losses resulting from Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements;

(17) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures and any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses arising as a result of the Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowances related to such item;

(18) any unrealized or realized gain or loss due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects, determined in accordance with GAAP;

(19) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks;

(20) the amount of board fees to any director of the Issuer or any parent entity or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(21) the amount of loss or discount on sale of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(22) any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition, disposition or recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including (A) such fees, expenses or charges (including rating agency fees and related expenses) related to the offering or incurrence of any Credit Facilities or the offering or incurrence of any debt securities and any securitization related fees and expenses (including any Securitization Fees) and (B) any amendment or other modification of this Indenture, any Securitization Facility and any Credit Facilities or any other debt securities;

(23)(A) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve (and adjustments to existing reserves), integration cost or other business optimization expense or cost (including charges directly related to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives) that is deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions or divestitures after the Issue Date, including those related to any severance, retention, signing bonuses, relocation, recruiting and other employee related costs, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employment benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities), systems development and establishment costs, future lease commitments and costs related to the opening and closure and/or consolidation of facilities and to exiting lines of business and consulting fees incurred with any of the foregoing and (B) fees, costs and expenses associated with acquisition related litigation and settlements thereof;

 

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(24)(x) any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are non-cash costs or expenses and/or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or Net Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and (y) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Issuer in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, to the extent permitted under this Indenture;

(25) earnout and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments;

(26) costs related to the implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives; and

(27) any costs or expenses associated with the Transactions.

In addition, to the extent not already excluded (or included, as applicable) from the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall, without duplication, (1) be increased by business interruption insurance in an amount representing the earnings for the applicable period that such proceeds are intended to replace (whether or not received so long as such Person in good-faith expects to receive the same within the next four fiscal quarters (it being understood that to the extent not actually received within such fiscal quarters, such proceeds shall be deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal quarters)) and (2) not include (i) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder or other contractual reimbursement obligations of a third party, (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, (iii) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period, (iv) any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, (v) any non-cash charges resulting from mark to market accounting relating to Equity Interests, (vi) any unrealized net gain or loss resulting from currency translation or unrealized transaction gains or losses impacting net income (including currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) and any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses shall be excluded, including those resulting from intercompany Indebtedness and any unrealized net gains and losses resulting from obligations in respect of any Hedging Obligations in accordance with GAAP or any other derivative instrument pursuant the application of ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and (vii) any non-cash impairment charges resulting from the application of ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other and the amortization of intangibles including those arising pursuant to ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, and, provided, further, that solely for purposes of calculating the amount of Consolidated Net Income available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a), the income or loss of any Person accrued prior to the date on which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or the date that such other Person’s assets are acquired by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, in each case, shall be excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Indenture to “Consolidated Net Income” shall refer to the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

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“Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral and that is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, to (b) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

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

(2) to advance or supply funds

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

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

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

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders of the Notes and the Issuer.

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt or credit facilities, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the ABL Facility, the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the August 2023 Secured Notes, or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

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“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, as the case may be, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

“Derivative Instrument” with respect to a Person, means any contract, instrument or other right to receive payment or delivery of cash or other assets to which such Person or any Affiliate of such Person that is acting in concert with such Person in connection with such Person’s investment in the Notes (other than a Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of the Notes and/or the creditworthiness of the Issuer and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means (1) the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Issuer, less (2) the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer, a Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Issuer (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer, on the issuance date thereof.

“Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided, further, that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Immediate Family Members), of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment, in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any distributor equity plan or agreement, shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

 

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“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof.

“EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period

(1) increased (without duplication) by:

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, state franchise, excise and similar taxes, property taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(ii)(w) consolidated interest expense of such Person for such period, (x) net losses or any obligations under any Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate, currency or commodities risk, (y) bank fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iii) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iv) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period including any impairment charges or the impact of purchase accounting, (excluding any such non-cash charge, write-down or item to the extent it represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period) or other items classified by the Issuer as special items less other non-cash items of income increasing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash item of income to the extent it represents a receipt of cash in any future period); plus

(v) without duplication of any amounts added back pursuant to subclause (xiii) below, the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; plus

(vi) the amount of pro forma adjustments, including pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, and other synergies (in each case net of amounts actually realized) related to acquisitions, dispositions and other similar transactions, or related to restructuring initiatives, cost savings initiatives, entry into new contracts and other initiatives that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Issuer in good faith to result from actions that have either been taken, with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or that are expected to be taken (in the good-faith determination of the Issuer) within 24 months after the date of consummation of such acquisition, disposition or other similar transaction or the initiation of such restructuring initiative, cost savings initiative or other initiatives (including any entry into new contracts); plus

 

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

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

(ix) realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus

(x) net realized losses from Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus

(xi) the amount of any charges, expenses, costs or other payments in respect of (x) facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (y) abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations and (z) any losses on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations; plus

(xii) any non-cash losses realized in such period in connection with adjustments to any employee benefit plan due to changes in actuarial assumptions, valuation or studies; plus

(xiii) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of the initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature; plus

(xiv) costs and expenses associated with the REIT Election or a REIT Conversion Transaction (including, without limitation, planning and advisory costs related to the foregoing);

(2) decreased by (without duplication):

(i) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or cash reserve for a potential cash item that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase EBITDA in such prior period; plus (ii) realized foreign exchange income or gains resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus

 

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(iii) any net realized income or gains from any obligations under any Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus

(iv) any amount included in Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period attributable to non-controlling interests pursuant to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810-10-45; plus

(v) any gains on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations;

(3) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460 or any comparable regulation; and

(4) increased or decreased (to the extent not already included in determining EBITDA) by any Pro Forma Adjustment.

There shall be included in determining EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee. For purposes of determining EBITDA for any period, there shall be excluded the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition). Any adjustments in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income shall be without duplication of any adjustment to EBITDA, and any adjustments to EBITDA shall be without duplication of any adjustments to Consolidated Net Income. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Indenture to a “EBITDA” shall refer to the EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

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“EMU” means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or of a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to any such Person’s common stock registered on Form S-8;

(2) issuances to the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

“euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

“Euroclear” means Euroclear S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

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

“Excluded Assets” means

(a) any (x) fee-owned real property other than Material Real Property, (y) fee-owned real property located in a special flood hazard area (as determined by the Issuer) and (z) all leasehold interests in real property, including the requirement to deliver landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters, but excluding, in the case of this clause (a), all Billboard Collateral or other interests in Billboards, the Lien on which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement in the jurisdiction of the relevant Grantor;

(b) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title;

(c) letter of credit rights to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement;

(d) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $25,000,000;

(e) assets for which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by applicable laws after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC and other applicable law;

 

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(f) other than to the extent the ABL Facility is outstanding, any cash and cash equivalents, deposit accounts and securities accounts (including securities entitlements and related assets held in a securities account) (it being understood that this exclusion shall not affect the grant of the Lien on proceeds of Collateral, and all proceeds of Collateral shall be Collateral); (g) any lease, license or other agreements, or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangements, in each case to the extent permitted under this Indenture, to the extent that a pledge thereof or a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement, purchase money, capitalized lease or similar arrangement, or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment clauses of the UCC and applicable laws, other than the proceeds and receivables thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under applicable laws notwithstanding such prohibition;

(h) any assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries (other than on account of any non-income taxes payable in connection with filings, recordings, registrations, stampings and any similar actions in connection with the creation or perfection of Liens), as reasonably determined by the Issuer, but for the avoidance of doubt, including as Excluded Assets the assets and properties of (x) any Foreign Subsidiary Holdco, (y) any Foreign Subsidiary or (z) any Subsidiaries of the entities described in (x) and (y);

(i) any intent-to-use trademark application in the United States prior to the filing and acceptance of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant, attachment, or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability, or result in the voiding, of such intent-to-use trademark application or any registration issuing therefrom under applicable federal law;

(j) any Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets and/or related assets to the extent disposed of or pledged in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing permitted under this Indenture;

(k) any segregated funds held in escrow for the benefit of an unaffiliated third party;

(l) Excluded Equity;

(m) those assets as to which the Issuer reasonably determines that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit of the security to be afforded thereby; and

(n) any Equity Interests of any subsidiary of the Issuer in excess of the maximum amount of such Equity Interests that could be included in the Collateral without creating a requirement pursuant to Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act for separate financial statements of such subsidiary to be included in reports by the Issuer, any subsidiary or parent entity of the Issuer with the SEC (or any other governmental agency),

provided, however, that (i) Excluded Assets shall not include any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Assets referred to in each of the clauses above (unless such proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Assets referred to in such clauses) and (ii) until the date on which the Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations are no longer secured by the Collateral, no property or assets shall constitute “Excluded Assets” under clauses (h) or (m) to the extent such property or assets secures any Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations.

“Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer from,

 

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(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be.

“Excluded Equity” means “Excluded Equity” (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities).

“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer, (c) any Domestic Subsidiary (i) that is a Subsidiary of (1) a Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code or (2) a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco or (ii) if substantially all of its assets consist of the stock, or the stock and indebtedness (including, for this purpose, any indebtedness or other instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes), of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code or of one or more Domestic Subsidiaries described in this clause (c) (any such entity described in this clause (c)(ii), a “Foreign Subsidiary Holdco”), and (d) any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Excluded Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Excluded Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Facility and the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

“Existing Notes” means the Existing Secured Notes and the Existing Unsecured Notes, in each case, to the extent outstanding on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

“Existing Secured Notes” means (i) the outstanding 5.125% senior secured notes due 2027 issued by the Issuer on August 23, 2019 (the “August 2019 Secured Notes”) and (ii) the outstanding 9.000% senior secured notes due 2028 issued by the Issuer on August 22, 2023 (the “August 2023 Secured Notes”).

“Existing Unsecured Notes” means (i) the outstanding 7.750% senior notes due 2028 issued by the Issuer on February 17, 2021 and (ii) the outstanding 7.500% senior notes due 2029 issued by the Issuer on June 1, 2021.

“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the August 23, 2019, as supplemented as of the Issue Date by that certain Joinder No. 1, and as further amended or supplemented from time to time, between the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent in respect of the Existing Secured Notes and the collateral agent in respect of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (as the same may be amended from time to time) with respect to the Collateral.

“First Lien Obligations” means, collectively, (1) the Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations, (2) the Notes Obligations, (3) Obligations under the Existing Secured Notes and (4) any Additional First Lien Obligations.

“Fixed Asset Collateral” means all “Fixed Assets Priority Collateral” (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (a) EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to (b) the Fixed Charges of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

 

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

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus

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

(3) all cash dividends or other distributions paid to any Person other than such Person or any such Subsidiary (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, and any Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect from time to time; provided that the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligations. At any time after adoption of IFRS by the Issuer for financial reporting purposes, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS for all purposes of this Indenture, in lieu of GAAP, and, upon any such election (the date of such election, the “IFRS Election Date”), references herein to GAAP shall be construed to mean IFRS as in effect on the IFRS Election Date; provided that (1) any such election once made shall be irrevocable (and shall only be made once), (2) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of IFRS and (3) from and after such election, all ratios, computations and other determinations (A) based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with IFRS and (B) in this Indenture that require the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Issuer shall give notice of any election to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes with 15 days of such election. Solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an incurrence of Indebtedness.

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b) or 2.06(d) hereof.

“Government Securities” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

 

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which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Grantor” means the Issuer and any Guarantor.

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

“Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuer’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

“Guarantor” means, each Person that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a lender, arranger or agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or an Affiliate of the foregoing (x) at the time it enters into (including by way of novation) a Hedging Obligation (regardless of whether such Person subsequently ceases to be a lender, arranger or agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or an Affiliate of the foregoing) or (y) as of the Issue Date (regardless of whether such Person subsequently ceases to be a lender, arranger or agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or an Affiliate of the foregoing) and that is a party to a Hedging Obligation in existence on the Issue Date with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in its capacity as a counterparty to such Hedging Obligation.

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

“Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

“IFRS” means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect on the IFRS Election Date.

 

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“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than a Foreign Subsidiary or a Subsidiary that meets the criteria of clause (c) of the definition of Excluded Subsidiary) that is a Restricted Subsidiary and not a Guarantor, (a) whose total assets, together with the total assets of all such Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, at the last day of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Issuer for which financial statements are publicly available did not equal or exceed 5.0% of Total Assets at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP, and (b) that has been designated by the Issuer in writing to the Trustee as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”; provided that if the Total Assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries so designated by the Issuer as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” (and not redesignated as “Material Subsidiaries”) shall at any time exceed the limits set forth in clause (a) above, then all such Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries unless and until the Issuer shall redesignate one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries, in each case in a written notice to the Trustee, and, as a result thereof, the Total Assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries still designated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” do not exceed such limits; provided, further, that the Issuer may designate and re-designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the terms set forth in this definition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Immaterial Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Facility and the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

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

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments to the extent the same would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Hedging Obligations (with the amount of such net obligations being deemed to be the aggregate Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date);

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid within thirty (30) days after becoming due and payable, (iii) any other obligation that appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person, to the extent (A) such Person is indemnified for the payment thereof by a solvent Person or (B) amounts to be applied to the payment therefor are in escrow and (iv) liabilities associated with customer prepayments and deposits); (g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock; and

 

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(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(h) all guarantee obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing;

provided that (i) in no event shall (x) any obligations under any Hedging Obligations or (y) any obligations under or in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(16) hereof be deemed “Indebtedness” for any calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or any other financial ratio under this Indenture, (ii) the amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith and (iii) the Indebtedness of any person shall, except for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to the extent the interest expense in respect thereof is not covered by proceeds held in escrow or in connection with any test date of any acquisition not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party acquisition financing or any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment, or any test related to a subsequent transaction, exclude Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction solely to the extent the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an escrow and are not otherwise made available to such person.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company, or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Indebtedness, (B) in the case of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude intercompany liabilities arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (C) exclude (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the seller and (iii) Indebtedness of any parent company appearing on the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP.

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good-faith judgment of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

 

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“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

“Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

“Initial Purchasers” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

“Intercreditor Agreements” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any intercreditor agreement entered into after the Issue Date setting forth the relative priority of Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations and any other Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

“Interest Payment Date” means April 1 and October 1 of each year to stated maturity.

“Investment Grade Event” means the Notes have achieved an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(2) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and the Subsidiaries of the Issuer;

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

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

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to directors, officers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

 

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(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s direct or indirect equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Issuer’s direct or indirect “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s direct or indirect equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation;

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

(3) if the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, sells or otherwise disposes of Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect thereto, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, any investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto shall not be deemed to be an Investment at such time.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash and Cash Equivalents by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment to the extent such amounts do not increase any other baskets under this Indenture.

“Issue Date” means March 18, 2024.

“Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

“Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means any intercreditor agreement setting forth the relative priority of Liens securing the First Lien Obligations, on the one hand, and Obligations secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority, on the other, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

“Junior Lien Priority” means Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations as permitted by this Indenture and is subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the UCC (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

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“Long Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with negative changes to the Performance References.

“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Capital Stock of the Issuer on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(17)(b) hereof multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common Capital Stock on the principal securities exchange on which such common Capital Stock are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

“Material Real Property” means any fee owned real property of the Issuer or any Guarantor as of the Issue Date and/or acquired by the Issuer or any Guarantor after the Issue Date and located in the United States with a book value in excess of $25,000,000 (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith as of the Issue Date or, if acquired thereafter, as of the date of such acquisition, as applicable).

“Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary (but including, in any case, any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Material Subsidiary as provided in, or has been designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary in a manner that does not comply with, the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary”).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

“Mortgage” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds of hypothecation, security deeds, and mortgages creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property made by the Issuer or any Guarantor in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to this Indenture or the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

“Mortgaged Property” means each real property owned by the Issuer and any Guarantor, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered pursuant to this Indenture or the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

 

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“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on unsubordinated Indebtedness (other than under the ABL Facility or the Senior Secured Credit Facilities) required (other than as required by Section 4.10(b)(1) or (2) hereof) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, and in the case of any Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer, a portion of the aggregate cash proceeds equal to the portion of the outstanding Equity Interests of such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary owned by Persons other than the Issuer and any other Restricted Subsidiary (to the extent such proceeds are committed to be distributed to such Persons).

“Net Short” means, with respect to a Holder or beneficial owner, as of a date of determination, either (i) the value of its Short Derivative Instruments exceeds the sum of the (x) the value of its Notes plus (y) the value of its Long Derivative Instruments as of such date of determination or (ii) it is reasonably expected that such would have been the case were a Failure to Pay or Bankruptcy Credit Event (each as defined in the 2014 International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.

“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

“Notes” means the 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 issued by the Issuer on the Issue Date under this Indenture and, unless the context otherwise requires, any Additional Notes that are actually issued.

“Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Security Documents.

“Obligations” means any principal (including any accretion), 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), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal (including any accretion), interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Offering Memorandum” means the final offering memorandum, dated March 4, 2024, relating to the sale of the Notes issued on the Issue Date.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Issuer.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer.

 

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“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) of the Issuer which ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes or (ii) of any Guarantor if such Indebtedness ranks equally in right of payment to the Guarantees of the Notes.

“Pari Passu Lien Priority” means, relative to specified Indebtedness, having equal Lien priority on specified Collateral and subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

“Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (including as a result of a merger or consolidation).

“Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person.

“Permitted Holder” means any of the members of management of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect parent companies) who are holders of Equity Interests of the Issuer (or any of its direct or indirect parent companies) on the Issue Date and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that (x) in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such members of management, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies and (y) for purposes of this definition, the amount of Equity Interests held by members of management who qualify as “Permitted Holders” shall never exceed the amount of Equity Interests held by such members of management on the Issue Date. Any person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of Section 4.14 hereof (or would result in a Change of Control Offer in the absence of the waiver of such requirement by Holders in accordance with Section 4.14 hereof) shall thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

“Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is amalgamated, merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

 

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and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.10(a) hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to a binding commitment in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

(a) in exchange for any other Investment, accounts receivable or notes receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment, accounts receivable or notes receivable; or

(b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) hereof;

(8) any Investment the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(9) Indebtedness (including any guarantee thereof) permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;

(10) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in clauses (2), (5) and (9) of Section 4.11(b) hereof);

(11) any Investment consisting of a purchase or other acquisition of inventory, supplies, material or equipment;

(12) Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (x) $275,000,000 and (y) 45.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that if such Investment is in Capital Stock of a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed permitted under clause (3) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (12);

 

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(13) [Reserved];

(14) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees, directors, officers and consultants not in excess of the greater of $30,000,000 and 5.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(15) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees consistent with industry practice or past practice, as well as for moving expenses and other similar expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

(16) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit;

(17) Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any other Person pursuant to a “local marketing agreement” or similar arrangement relating to a station owned or licensed by such Person;

(18) any performance guarantee and Contingent Obligations in the ordinary course of business and the creation of liens on the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(19) any purchase or repurchase of the Notes or the Existing Notes;

(20) any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at that time outstanding, that does not exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 85.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if such Investment is in Capital Stock of a Person that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed permitted under clause (3) above and shall not be included as having been made pursuant to this clause (20);

(21) Investments in joint ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $150,000,000 and 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause is made in any Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (3) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (21) for so long as such Person continues to be the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(22) (i) Investments arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets pursuant to a securitization repurchase obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility;

(23) transactions entered into in order to consummate a Reorganization; and

(24) any other Investment so long as, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the Investment and the Incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to make such Investment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 6.75 to 1.0.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax and other social security laws or similar legislation (including in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety, appeal bonds or letters of credit to which such Person is a party or account party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently pursued, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP, or for property taxes on property that the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

 

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(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety, bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued, and completion guarantees provided for, in each case, issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or consistent with past practice prior to the Issue Date; (5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph and telephone and cable television lines, gas and oil pipelines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) Liens securing obligations under Indebtedness permitted to be incurred (and so incurred and so classified) pursuant to clause (5) or (18) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided, however, that any such Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to such clause (5) or (18) of Section 4.09(b) hereof remains classified as incurred thereunder; and provided, further, however, that Liens securing obligations under Indebtedness permitted to be incurred (and so incurred and so classified) pursuant to clause (18) of Section 4.09(b) hereof extend only to the assets or Equity Interests of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (including Liens securing the August 2019 Secured Notes but excluding Liens securing the ABL Facility, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the August 2023 Secured Notes and the Notes);

(8) Liens existing on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(9) Liens existing on property or other assets at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of an amalgamation, merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation; provided, further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(10) Liens securing obligations under Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or a Guarantor permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness; (14) Liens arising from UCC (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases, consignments or accounts entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(15) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

(17) [reserved];

(18) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8) or (9) or in clauses (20) or (33) below; provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the obligations under Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (6), (7), (8), (9), (20) or (33) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided further, however, that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (20) or (33), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (20) or (33), as applicable, and not this clause (18) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (20) or (33), as applicable;

(19) deposits made or other security provided in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(20) other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations which do not exceed the greater of $215,000,000 and 35.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(21) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) of Section 6.01(a) hereof so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

(22) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(23) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry; (24) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under this Indenture; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

 

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(25) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(26) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(27) [reserved];

(28) Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under any Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender, in each case, in the ordinary course of business in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services provided by, or any automated clearing house transfers of funds with, lenders under such Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender;

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

(30) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(31) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted;

(32) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(34) [reserved];

(33) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness or other obligations under any Credit Facilities (including the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the August 2023 Secured Notes) permitted to be incurred (and so incurred and classified) pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii); provided that, (i) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii)(B), such Liens may rank senior in priority to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Notes but in such case shall rank junior in priority to the Liens on the Fixed Asset Collateral securing the Notes, and (ii) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii)(A) or (C), such Liens shall rank on parity with, or junior to, the Liens securing the Notes; (35) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations, provided, that at the time of incurrence of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby, in the case of (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.0 to 1.0 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Indenture, the greater of 5.0 to 1.0 and the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available), (y) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.25 to 1.0 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Indenture, the greater of 5.25 to 1.0 and the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available) and (z) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on assets that are not Collateral, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio does not exceed 8.25 to 1.0 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Indenture, the greater of 8.25 to 1.0 and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available), determined on a pro forma basis;

(36) Liens on (i) the Securitization Assets arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or (ii) the Receivables Assets arising in connection with a Receivables Facility, in each case Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(16) hereof; and

(37) Liens arising in connection with any Reorganization.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on and the costs in respect of such Indebtedness.

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

“Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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“Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any four consecutive fiscal quarter period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the EBITDA, (a) the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such EBITDA, as the case may be, that is expected to have a continuing impact and (b) additional good-faith pro forma adjustments arising out of cost savings initiatives attributable to such transaction and additional costs associated with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case being given pro forma effect, which actions (i) have been taken or (ii) will be taken or implemented within the succeeding twenty four (24) months following such transaction and, in each case, including, but not limited to, (w) reduction in personnel expenses, (x) reduction of costs related to administrative functions, (y) reductions of costs related to leased or owned properties and (z) reductions from the consolidation of operations and streamlining of corporate overhead taking into account, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of the Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary and the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, assuming such Permitted Acquisition or conversion, and all other Permitted Acquisitions or conversions that have been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities repaid in connection therewith had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Indebtedness to be incurred bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, so long as such actions are initiated during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such four consecutive fiscal quarter period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such four consecutive fiscal quarter period; provided further that at the election of the Issuer, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $25,000,000.

“Public Debt” means any Indebtedness consisting of bonds, debentures, notes or other similar debt securities issued in (a) a public offering registered under the Securities Act or (b) a private placement to institutional investors that is underwritten for resale in accordance with Rule 144A or Regulation S of such Act, whether or not it includes registration rights entitling the holders of such debt securities to registration thereof with the SEC. The term “Public Debt” (i) shall not include the Notes (or any Additional Notes) and (ii) shall not be construed to include any Indebtedness issued to institutional investors in a direct placement of such Indebtedness that is not underwritten by an intermediary (it being understood that, without limiting the foregoing, a financing that is distributed to not more than ten Persons (provided that multiple managed accounts and affiliates of any such Persons shall be treated as one Person for the purposes of this definition) shall be deemed not to be underwritten), or any commercial bank or similar Indebtedness, Capitalized Lease Obligation or recourse transfer of any financial asset or any other type of Indebtedness incurred in a manner not customarily viewed as a “securities offering.”

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business; provided that the fair market value of any such assets or Capital Stock shall be determined by the Issuer in good faith.

 

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“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility of a Securitization Subsidiary that is non-recourse to the Issuer or any Subsidiaries (other than Standard Securitization Undertakings) other than a Securitization Subsidiary and that meets the following conditions: (i) the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings. The grant of a security interest in any Securitization Assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or the ABL Facility prior to engaging in any securitization financing shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Financing.

“Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

“Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary subject to a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement and which are sold, conveyed, assigned or otherwise transferred or pledged by the Issuer to a commercial bank or an Affiliate thereof in connection with a Receivables Facility.

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

“Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as applicable.

 

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“Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

“Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903.

“Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(iii) hereof.

“REIT” means a ‘‘real estate investment trust’’ as defined under Sections 856–860 of the Code.

“REIT Conversion Transaction” means any of the following transactions entered into in connection with, or in contemplation of, a REIT Election: (i) a disposition in accordance with clause (u)(ii) of the definition of “Asset Sale,” (ii) the payment of any dividends or distributions in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(8) hereof or Section 4.07(d) hereof and (iii) any other transaction consummated in connection with, or in contemplation of, a REIT Election.

“REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement” means, after giving effect to the relevant REIT Conversion Transaction, (a) there is no Default or Event of Default and (b) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0, as calculated on a pro forma basis.

“REIT Election” means the election by the Issuer (or its applicable parent entity) to be treated as a REIT; provided that (x) the Issuer (or its applicable parent entity) has publicly announced its intention to become a REIT and (y) as of such election, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to all related REIT Conversion Transactions, the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement is satisfied.

“Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Reorganization” means any reorganization of any of the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries implemented in order to optimize the tax position of such entities or any parent thereof (as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith) so long as such reorganization does not materially impair any Guarantee or security interests of the holders of the Notes and is otherwise not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes, taken as a whole, and after giving effect to such restructuring, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise comply with this Indenture and the Security Documents.

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

 

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“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

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

“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

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

“Screened Affiliate” means any Affiliate of a Holder (i) that makes investment decisions independently from such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate, (ii) that has in place customary information screens between it and such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries, (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the Notes and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holders in connection with its investment in the Notes.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.

 

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

“Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, real estate asset, mortgage receivables loan receivables, royalty, franchise fee, license fee, patent or other revenue streams and other rights to payment or related assets and the proceeds thereof and any properties, assets (including Billboards) and revenue streams associated with the Americas Outdoor Advertising segment of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) all collateral securing such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guaranties or other obligations in respect of such receivable or asset, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such account or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted), together with accounts or assets in connection with a securitization, factoring or receivable sale transaction.

“Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its Securitization Assets to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells Securitization Assets to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

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

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

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

“Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.

“Security Documents” means, collectively, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement, other security or intercreditor agreements relating to the Collateral and instruments filed and recorded in appropriate jurisdictions to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the UCC of the relevant states applicable to the Collateral), each for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, as amended, amended and restated, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time.

 

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“Senior Secured Credit Facilities” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2020, the Second Amendment, dated as of May 5, 2021, the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2023, the Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2023, the Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Issue Date (to the extent such amendment is executed), and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by and among the Issuer, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, including any agreements, collateral documents, guarantees, instruments, mortgages and notes executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, extensions, modifications, refinancings, refundings, renewals, restatements, or supplements thereof and any one or more notes, indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, refinance, refund, renew, replace or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such refinancing, refunding or replacement facility or indenture that increases the amount that may be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity of the loans thereunder or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or other agent, lender or group of lenders or investors.

“Senior Secured Credit Facility Obligations” means “Obligations” (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities).

“Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with negative changes to the Performance References.

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

“Similar Business” means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto.

“Specified Transaction” means any Investment, disposition, Incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment or Subsidiary designation that by the terms of this Indenture requires a test to be calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect.”

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

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

(1) any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; and

(2) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity (excluding charitable foundations) of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Obligations, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Obligation, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Obligations have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark to market value(s) for such Hedging Obligation, as determined by the Hedge Bank (or the Issuer, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Hedging Obligation) in accordance with the terms thereof and in accordance with customary methods for calculating mark-to-market values under similar arrangements by the Hedge Bank (or the Issuer, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Hedging Obligation).

“Term Loan Facility” means the term loan facility governed by the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

“Total Assets” means total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis prepared in accordance with GAAP, shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as may be expressly stated.

“Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

“Transactions” means (i) the offering and issuance of the Notes for cash on the Issue Date, (ii) the completion of a prepayment of certain borrowings under the Term Loan Facility with a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes and the substantially contemporaneous extension of the maturity of the Term Loan Facility, and (iii) transactions related to any of the foregoing on or prior to the Issue Date and the payment of fees and expenses related to any of the foregoing.

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date 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 the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to October 1, 2026; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to October 1, 2026 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

“Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

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

“Unrestricted Cash Amount” means, as to any Person on any date of determination, the amount of (a) unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person whether or not held in an account pledged to the Collateral Agent and (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person restricted in favor of the Notes or the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (which may also include Cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Collateral along with the Notes or the Senior Secured Credit Facilities), if any, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP; it being understood and agreed that proceeds subject to escrow shall be deemed to constitute “restricted cash” for purposes of the Unrestricted Cash Amount.

“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

“Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that:

(1) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer;

(2) such designation complies with Section 4.07 hereof; and

(3) each of:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated; and has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) its Subsidiaries

 

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The Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:

(1) the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

(2) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not higher than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not lower than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, in each case, than immediately prior to such designation; provided, however, that such determination is made on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Issuer shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Facility and the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

“U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

(2) the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Action”    12.08(x)
“Affiliate Transaction”    4.11(a)
“ASC”    4.09(b)(7)
“Asset Sale Offer”    4.10(c)
“Authentication Order”    2.02
“Change of Control Offer”    4.14(a)
“Change of Control Payment”    4.14(a)
“Change of Control Payment Date”    4.14(a)(2)
“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”    4.10(c)
“Collateral Excess Proceeds”    4.10(c)
“Covenant Defeasance”    8.03
“Defeased Covenants”    8.03
“DTC”    2.03
“Event of Default”    6.01(a)
“Excess Proceeds”    4.10(c)
“Fixed Amounts”    1.06(d)(i)
“incur” or “incurrence”    4.09(a)
“Incurrence Based Amounts”    1.06(d)(i)
“Legal Defeasance”    8.02
“Note Register”    2.03
“Offer Amount”    3.09(b)
“Offer Period”    3.09(b)
“Paying Agent”    2.03
“Purchase Date”    3.09(b)
“Redemption Date”    3.07(b)
“Refinancing Indebtedness”    4.09(b)(13)
“Refunding Capital Stock”    4.07(b)(2)(A)
“Registrar”    2.03
“Related Person”    12.08(b)
“Restricted Payment”    4.07(a)
“Reversion Date”    4.17(b)
“Security Document Order”    12.08(t)
“Successor Issuer”    5.01(a)(1)
“Successor Person”    5.01(c)(1)(A)
“Suspended Covenants”    4.17(a)
“Suspension Date”    4.17(a)(2)
“Suspension Period”    4.17(b)
“Transfer Agent”    2.03
“Treasury Capital Stock”    4.07(b)(2)

Section 1.03 Trust Indenture Act.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Trust Indenture Act is not applicable to this Indenture.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

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

(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(g) references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

(h) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

(i) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to both genders;

(j) the words “including,” “includes” and similar words shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”;

(k) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock at any time shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock at such time or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock at such time, whichever is greater;

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

(m) subordination shall refer to contractual payment subordination and not to structural subordination.

Section 1.05 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Notes may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same.

 

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The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

(e) The Issuer may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of the entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or to take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of the Notes. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Notes made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of the Notes furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder of Notes entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder of Notes or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this Section 1.05(f) shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

(g) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder of Notes, including DTC, that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Notes, and any Person that is the Holder of a Global Note, including DTC, may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(h) The Issuer may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by DTC entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Notes. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders of the Notes on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders of Notes after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

 

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Section 1.06 Certain Calculations.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Indenture with respect to any period during which any Specified Transactions occur or, subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and EBITDA and any other financial calculation shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transactions on a “pro forma basis” and shall be calculated for the applicable period of measurement (which may, at the Issuer’s election, be the most recently ended twelve months) for which quarterly or fiscal year-end financial statements are internally available, as determined by the Issuer, immediately preceding the date of such event; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of Consolidated Net Income available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a) shall not be calculated on a “pro forma basis.”

(b) For all purposes under this Indenture, with respect to compliance with any test for an applicable period of measurement that is calculated on a “pro forma basis” or after giving “pro forma effect,” (i) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (ii) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement (as of the last date in the case of a balance sheet item) in such test: (A) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (x) in the case of a disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or any asset of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (y) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included; (B) any retirement of Indebtedness; and (C) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, (x) without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (i) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of “EBITDA” and give effect to events (including cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Issuer in good faith) (1) (a) directly attributable to such transaction, (b) expected to have a continuing impact on the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (c) factually supportable or (2) otherwise consistent with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” and (y) in connection with any Specified Transaction that is the Incurrence of Indebtedness in respect of which compliance with any specified leverage ratio test is by the terms of this Indenture required to be calculated on a pro forma basis, (1) the proceeds of such Indebtedness shall not be netted from Indebtedness in the calculation of the applicable leverage ratio test and (2) if such Indebtedness is a revolving facility, the incurrence or repayment of any indebtedness in respect of such revolving facility included in such incurrence test calculation immediately prior to or simultaneously with the incurrence of such indebtedness for which the pro forma calculation of such ratio or test is being made and/or any drawing under any revolving facilities used to finance working capital needs of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Issuer), shall be disregarded but, for avoidance of doubt, shall thereafter be included in any future calculations after giving effect to any prepayments or other Specified Transactions with respect thereto.

 

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(c) The Issuer may elect, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee not later than 30 days after entering into any commitment providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness, that all or any portion of the Indebtedness that could be incurred under such commitment at the time such commitment is entered into shall be treated as incurred and outstanding in such amount for all purposes of the calculation (whether or not such Indebtedness is outstanding at the time such commitment is entered into) for so long as such commitments are outstanding or until the Issuer revokes such election, and any subsequent incurrence of such Indebtedness under such commitment (including upon repayment and reborrowing) shall not be deemed, for purposes of any such calculation, to be the incurrence of Indebtedness at such subsequent time.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture:

(i) with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of this Indenture that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, any Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio test and/or any Consolidated Leverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of this Indenture that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Indenture, the Fixed Amounts under such section and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the revolving credit facility under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence;

(ii) for purposes of calculating any leverage ratio in this Indenture in connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness, (A) there shall be no netting of the cash proceeds proposed to be received in connection with the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and (B) to the extent the Indebtedness to be Incurred is revolving Indebtedness, such Incurred revolving Indebtedness (or if applicable, the portion (and only such portion) of the increased commitments thereunder) shall be treated as fully drawn; and

(iii) for the purposes of calculating any leverage ratio in this Indenture, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars shall be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination determined in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

(e) in the event that the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (x) incurs Indebtedness to finance an acquisition or (y) assumes Indebtedness of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the date of determination of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of the Issuer, be:

 

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(i) the date that a definitive agreement for such acquisition is entered into and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the Incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the EBITDA of the Issuer or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such acquisition or related transactions; provided, further, that if the Issuer elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, (1) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (2) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized until the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition, but any calculation of EBITDA for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated, or

(ii) the date such Indebtedness is Incurred or assumed.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each Global Note shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

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(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

(i) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of each Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who shall take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and

(ii) an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Paying Agent and Registrar, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.10 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.14 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3 hereof.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the Holders of the Notes and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes; provided that the Issuer’s ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuer’s compliance with Section 4.09 hereof. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture. If, however, any Additional Notes are not part of the same issue as the Notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes or if the Issuer otherwise determines that any Additional Notes should be differentiated from any other Notes, such Additional Notes may have a separate CUSIP number.

(e) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time such Note is authenticated, such Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders of Notes or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, where Notes may be presented for registration (“Registrar”), an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, where Notes may be presented for transfer or exchange (“Transfer Agent”) and an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more co-transfer agents and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any co-transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder of Notes. So long as the Notes are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuer shall satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and shall comply with any notice requirements required by such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

The Issuer initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuer initially appoints U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as the Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (or similar proceedings) relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders of Notes. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

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(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee shall take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or

(B) if the transferee shall take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

 

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(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; (C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S.

 

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Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; (iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.

 

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and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; (E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

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(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

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(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer shall be made to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer shall be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

(C) if the transfer shall be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) [Reserved].

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

(i) Private Placement Legend.

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

 

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At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer shall require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (D) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

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(viii) At the option of the Holder of any Notes, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes to which the Holder making the exchange is entitled in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If either (x) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuer, or (y) if the Issuer and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, then the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirements of the Trustee, shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder of any Note referred to in clause (x) or (y) of the preceding sentence that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds such Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, such Note shall cease to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, such Note shall cease to be outstanding and interest thereon shall cease to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay any Notes payable on such date, then such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest on and after such date.

 

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Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to such pledged Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Issuer or such other obligor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) in its customary manner. Certification of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer upon its request therefor. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders of Notes on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of such special record date promptly, and in any event at least 20 days before such special record date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Notes a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of, in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers.

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

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price and (v) whether the redemption is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Purchased.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Registrar shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (a) if such Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed or (b) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or, to the extent that selection on a pro rata basis is not practicable for any reason, by lot or by such other method as the Registrar shall deem appropriate or as required by the rules of the Depositary. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Registrar from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000; no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not in a principal amount of at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

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Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, the Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the purchase or Redemption Date to (x) each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address, (y) to the Trustee to forward to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address, or (z) otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 hereof. Notices of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, provide that the redemption contemplated thereby is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering, that the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) that if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed shall be issued in the name of the Holder of the Notes upon cancellation of the original Note;

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

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

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

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

(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and (i) whether the redemption contemplated thereby is conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or Equity Offering (and shall specify any such conditions).

 

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At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be delivered or caused to be delivered to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become, subject to the satisfaction of any conditions precedent to the consummation of such redemption specified in such notice, irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided in Section 3.07 hereof and in Section 5 of the Notes). The notice, if delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder of any Notes receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

On the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder of such Note at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

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Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth below, the Issuer shall not be permitted to redeem the Notes. The Notes will be payable at par at maturity.

(b) At any time prior to October 1, 2026, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuer or any other Person), at the Issuer’s option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), and, without duplication, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Issuer may provide in such notice that the consummation of such redemption or purchase and the payment of the redemption price with respect thereto may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition, financing transaction or Equity Offering, and at the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

(c) On and after October 1, 2026, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuer or any other Person), at the Issuer’s option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices set forth below. The Issuer may provide in such notice that the consummation of such redemption or purchase and the payment of the redemption price with respect thereto may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent that in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person. The Notes shall be redeemable at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2026

     103.938

2027

     101.969

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

 

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(d) Until October 1, 2026, the Issuer may, at its option, on one or more occasions, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 hereof, redeem up to 40% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 107.875% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to the Issuer; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(e) During any 12-month period until October 1, 2026, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem up to 10% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date; provided that at the time of any such redemption, there shall be no outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (including any amounts drawn under any revolving credit facility or other borrowings outstanding in respect of any term loans) or any replacement Credit Facility in respect thereof that provides for loans; provided, further, that no such redemption shall be made with the proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness.

(f) The Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect thereto may be performed by another Person. Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering. Any redemption or notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or an Equity Offering. If such redemption or purchase is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed.

(g) The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be purchased pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, if Holders of not less than 90.0% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, such Redemption Date.

 

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Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.

The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuer may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds.

(a) The Issuer shall follow the procedures specified in clauses (b) through (f) of this Section 3.09 for any Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer commenced pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof.

(b) An Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuer shall apply all Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required, any First Lien Obligations or other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes, in each case subject to Section 4.10 hereof (on a pro rata basis, if applicable), or, subject to Section 4.10 hereof, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and First Lien Obligations or any other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer shall send, by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders of the Notes, with a copy to the Trustee and the Registrar, or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

(i) that the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

(ii) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date; (v) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 only;

 

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(vi) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Note completed, or transfer such Note by book-entry transfer, to the Issuer, the Depositary, if appointed by the Issuer, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

(vii) that Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Obligations and any other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu to the Notes, in each case subject to Section 4.10 hereof, surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Registrar shall select the Notes and such Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Indebtedness tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Registrar so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 shall be purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer) representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

(f) The Issuer, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Any Note not so accepted for purchase shall be promptly delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

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Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the aggregate amount of interest payable on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee holds as of noon Eastern Time on the Interest Payment Date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no additional interest or other amounts shall be payable in respect of the interest period for which such payment is made as a result of such extension of time.

The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1.0% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuer shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or Transfer Agent) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Issuer hereby initially designates the office of the Trustee located at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 100 Wall Street, 16th floor, New York, New York 10005, as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, from and after the Issue Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee no later than 15 days after the periods set forth below:

(i) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, all financial information that would be required to be contained in an annual report on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, filed with the SEC, including a “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, all financial information that would be required to be contained in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form, filed with the SEC; and

 

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(iii) promptly after the occurrence of any of the following events, all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K or any successor or comparable form (if the Issuer had been a reporting company under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act); provided that the foregoing shall not obligate the Issuer to (x) make available any information otherwise required to be included on a Form 8-K regarding the occurrence of any such events if the Issuer determines in its good-faith judgment that such event that would otherwise be required to be disclosed is not material to the Holders of the Notes or the business, assets, operations, financial positions or prospects of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (y) make available copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K:

(A) the entry into or termination of material agreements;

(B) significant acquisitions or dispositions (which shall only be with respect to acquisitions or dispositions that are “significant” pursuant to the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Rule 1-02(w)(2) of Regulation S-X);

(C) the sale of equity securities;

(D) bankruptcy;

(E) cross-default under direct material financial obligations;

(F) a change in the Issuer’s certifying independent auditor;

(G) the appointment or departure of directors or executive officers (but only to the extent required by Form 8-K);

(H) non-reliance on previously issued financial statements;

(I) change of control transactions;

(K) material impairments;

 

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(J) triggering events that accelerate or increase a direct financial obligation or an obligation under an off-balance sheet arrangement; and in each case, in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form, except as described above or below; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to (i) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K with respect to any “non-GAAP” financial information contained therein or (ii) provide separate financial statements or other information contemplated by Rule 3-09, 3-10 or 3-16 of Regulation S-X, or in each case any successor provisions; provided that, if the Issuer has designated any of its Subsidiaries as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and such Unrestricted Subsidiary or group of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, if taken together as one Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Party, then the annual and quarterly information required by clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.03(a) shall include a presentation of selected financial metrics of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries as a group in the “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.” In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will not be required to (i) comply with Sections 302, 906 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or (ii) otherwise furnish any information, certificates or reports required by Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K. To the extent any such information is not so filed or furnished, as applicable, within the time periods specified in this Section 4.03(a) and such information is subsequently filed or furnished, as applicable, the Issuer shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured; provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under Article 6 hereof if Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have declared the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately and such declaration shall not have been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer shall, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(b) The Issuer may satisfy its obligations in this Section 4.03 with respect to financial information relating to the Issuer by furnishing financial information relating to a parent entity; provided that the same is accompanied by an explanation of the material differences, if any, between the information relating to such parent entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand. For the avoidance of doubt, the consolidating information referred to in the proviso in the preceding sentence need not be audited.

(c) Substantially concurrently with the furnishing or making such information available to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall post copies of such information required by Section 4.03(a) on a website (which may be nonpublic and may be maintained by the Issuer or a third party) to which access will be given to Holders, prospective investors in the Notes and securities analysts and market making financial institutions that are reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer. To the extent the Issuer determines in good faith that it cannot make such reports available in the manner described in the preceding sentence after the use of its commercially reasonable efforts, furnish such reports to the Holders of the Notes, upon their request. The Issuer may condition the delivery of any such reports to such Holders, prospective investors in the Notes and securities analysts and market making financial institutions on the agreement of such Persons to (i) treat all such reports (and the information contained there) and information as confidential, (ii) not use such reports (and the information contained therein) and information for any purpose other than their investment or potential investment in the Notes and (iii) not publicly disclose any such reports (and the information contained therein) and information.

(d) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable for information contained therein, including the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s compliance with any of the covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations described under this covenant, shall for the 365 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default consist exclusively, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of the right to receive additional interest on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum. This additional interest shall be payable in the same manner and subject to the same terms as other interest payable under this Indenture. This additional interest shall accrue on all outstanding Notes from and including the date on which an Event of Default relating to a failure to comply with the reporting obligations described above under this covenant first occurs to, but excluding, the 365th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which the Event of Default relating to such reporting obligations is cured or waived). If the Event of Default resulting from such failure to comply with the reporting obligations is continuing on such 365th day, such additional interest shall cease to accrue and the Notes shall be subject to the other remedies provided under Article 6 hereof.

(f) The Issuer shall also hold quarterly conference calls for the Holders of Notes to discuss financial information for the previous quarter (it being understood that such quarterly conference call may be the same conference call as with the Issuer’s (or as applicable, any of any parent entity’s) equity investors and analysts). The conference call shall be following the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Issuer and not later than 20 Business Days from the time that the Issuer distributes the financial information as set forth in Section 4.03(a). The Issuer shall issue a press release announcing the time and date of such conference call (which date may be the same date on which the press release is issued) and providing instructions for Holders, securities analysts and prospective investors to obtain access to such call; provided, however, that such press release can be distributed solely to certified users of the website described in Section 4.03(c).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.03, if the Issuer or any parent entity of the Issuer has furnished the Holders of Notes and filed with the SEC the reports described in this Section 4.03 with respect to the Issuer or any parent entity, the Issuer shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.03.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from an Officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture of which the Issuer is aware, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default of which the Issuer is aware, the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than five Business Days) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 4.05 [Reserved].

Section 4.06 [Reserved].

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

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

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution or any payment having the effect thereof on account of the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (in such Person’s capacity as holder of such Equity Interests), including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation other than:

(A) dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or

(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary payable to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(2) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(3) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness other than:

(A) Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(8) hereof; or

(B) the payment of principal on or the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment of principal or such purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or acquisition; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”) unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

 

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(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the August 2019 Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Sections 4.07(b)(1), 4.07(b)(2) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) pursuant to clause (C) thereof only), 4.07(b)(6)(C), 4.07(b)(8), 4.07(b)(17)(b) and 4.07(d) hereof, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on July 1, 2019 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit; plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property) received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary since immediately after the August 2019 Issue Date from the issue or sale of:

(i) (a) Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock (as defined below), but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

(x) Equity Interests to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, after the August 2019 Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(4) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and

(b) to the extent such proceeds or other property are actually contributed to the capital of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(4) hereof); or

(ii) debt of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer or a direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer; provided, however, that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities sold to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

 

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(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of net proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property) contributed to the capital of the Issuer following the August 2019 Issue Date (other than (i) by a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) from any Excluded Contributions); plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount of proceeds (including cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, of marketable securities or other property) received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case with respect to Restricted Investments made after the August 2019 Issue Date; or

(ii) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend or distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the August 2019 Issue Date;

provided, however, that this clause (D) shall not include the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale to the extent such Net Proceeds have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(19) hereof; plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the August 2019 Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment; plus

(F) the greater of $280,000,000 and 45.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available).

(b) Section 4.07(a) hereof shall not prohibit:

 

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(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution or the giving of redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment or redemption would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture; (2) (A) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer, or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, to the extent contributed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”), (B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Refunding Capital Stock, and (C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under Sections 4.07(b)(6)(A) or 4.07(b)(6)(B) hereof, the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to purchase, redeem, defease, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, which is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement (including any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or acquisition), or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed the greater of $45,000,000 or 7.5% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of the greater of $75,000,000 and 12.5% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) in any calendar year; provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the capital of the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the direct or indirect parent companies of the Issuer, in each case to employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, that occurs after the August 2019 Issue Date; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer (or by any direct or indirect parent company to the extent actually contributed in cash to the Issuer) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the August 2019 Issue Date; less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4);

 

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and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parent companies in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies shall not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(6) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the August 2019 Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (A) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock;

(B) a Restricted Payment to a direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent corporation issued after the August 2019 Issue Date; provided that the amount of Restricted Payments paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the capital of the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(2) hereof;

provided, however, that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (6), for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof;

(7) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, warrants or convertible securities and payments of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of Capital Stock upon exercise or conversion of securities exercisable or convertible into Capital Stock;

(8) for so long as the Issuer (or its applicable parent entity) is pursuing a REIT Election in good faith and the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement is satisfied after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (8), the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions, whether in cash or in kind, to the Issuer’s (or the applicable parent entity’s) shareholders in the required amount as determined in good faith by the Issuer (or applicable parent entity)

 

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in order to qualify the Issuer (or the applicable parent entity) as a REIT and effect the distribution of the Issuer’s (or the applicable parent entity’s) earnings and profits in connection with or in anticipation of the Issuer’s (or the parent entity’s) REIT Election, including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash dividends or distributions to satisfy the requirements of Section 857(a)(2)(B) of the Code, or any successor provision and any subsequent “true-up” payments to correct for recalculation of the appropriate amount;

(9) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (10) not to exceed $25,000,000;

(11) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed $500,000,000;

(12) any Restricted Payment used to fund or effect the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto;

(13) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those set forth in Sections 4.10 and 4.14 hereof; provided, however, that all Notes tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

(14) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends, distributions or other amounts or the making of loans or advances by the Issuer, if applicable, in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay federal, state, local, or non-U.S. income taxes (as the case may be) to the extent such income taxes are paid by such parent and are attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar tax group of which the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members (or are disregarded entities of any such member)) and, to the extent of the amount of income attributable to its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; (b) the declaration and payment of dividends, other distributions or other amounts or the making of loans or advances by the Issuer, if applicable, in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, and general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, in each case to the extent such costs, fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries; and (c) the declaration and payment of dividends, other distributions or other amounts or the making of loans or advances by the Issuer, if applicable, in amounts required to pay fees and expenses related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent entity;

(15) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(16) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01 hereof; provided, however, that as a result of such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall make a Change of Control Offer and that all Notes tendered by Holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value; (17) (a) any Restricted Payment by the Issuer to pay listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company which are reasonable and customary and (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on the common stock or common equity interests of the Issuer (or a parent entity) (and any equivalent declaration and payment of a distribution of any security exchangeable for such common stock or common equity interests to the extent required by the terms of any such exchangeable securities), in an amount in any fiscal year not to exceed 6.0% of Market Capitalization;

 

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(18) any Restricted Payments; provided, however, that immediately after giving pro forma effect thereto and the incurrence of any Indebtedness the net proceeds of which are used to make such Restricted Payment, (x) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would be less than 6.5 to 1.0 and (y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(19) distributions, by dividend or otherwise, of Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that do not, or no longer, constitute Excess Proceeds or Collateral Excess Proceeds because they were used to make an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be; provided, however, that all Notes validly tendered by Holders of Notes in the Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, have been purchased;

(20) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of a Restricted Investment or any Investment made with a previously existing Restricted Investment, in each case in an amount not to exceed the amount attributed to such Restricted Investment at the time initially made;

(21) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests in connection with a share dividend, distribution, share split, reverse share split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, permitted under the Indenture;

(22) [reserved];

(23) any Restricted Payment made in connection with a Reorganization; and

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

(c) The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the second to last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time under this Section 4.07 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

 

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(d) Following the REIT Election, with respect to any taxable year for which the Issuer (or any parent entity) is intended to be treated as a REIT, then, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer may declare or pay dividends or make distributions on or in respect of shares of the Issuer’s (or the applicable parent entity’s) Capital Stock, in each case otherwise constituting a Restricted Payment (but for this paragraph), to holders of such Capital Stock in an aggregate amount equal to (i) the taxable income of the Issuer (or the applicable parent entity) as determined for purposes of Section 857 of the Code, or any applicable successor provision and (ii) any additional amounts as may be necessary for the Issuer (or the applicable parent entity) to (A) qualify and remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under U.S. federal income (and, as applicable, any comparable version of state, local and non-U.S.) tax law and/or (B) avoid entity level income tax or excise tax (or any penalty or addition to tax) (for the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph shall permit the Issuer (or the applicable parent entity) to make cash distributions of 100% of its “real estate investment trust table income,” as defined under Section 857(b)(2) of the Code); provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any such dividend or distribution, no Event of Default of the type described Section 6.01(a)(1), (2) (without giving effect to the grace period set forth therein) or (6) hereof shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay (i) dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits (except for any dividend or liquidation priority between classes of Capital Stock) or (ii) any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Existing Notes, the CCIBV Secured Notes and, in each case, the Guarantees thereof;

(2) (x) the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the ABL Facility and the related documentation and (y) this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof on the property so acquired;

 

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(4) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order; (5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof in existence at the time of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so assumed;

(6) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of (i) the Issuer or (ii) a Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary that impose restrictions on the assets to be sold;

(7) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof;

(10) customary provisions in any joint venture agreement or other similar agreement relating solely to such joint venture;

(11) customary provisions contained in any lease, sublease, license, sublicense or similar agreement, including with respect to intellectual property, and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) customary provisions contained in any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any Credit Facilities as permitted pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and provided that an Officer reasonably and in good faith determines at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (and at the time of any modification of the terms of any such encumbrance or restriction) that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially adversely affect the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s ability to make any payments, when due, with respect to the Notes or its Guarantee thereof and any other Indebtedness that is an obligation of the Issuer or such Guarantor and such determination is set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and

(13) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (12) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good-faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

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Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and the Issuer shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided, however, that (1) the Issuer and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if in each case either (x) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at the time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued is no greater than 7.0 to 1.0 or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis is at least 2.0 to 1.0, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available; provided, further, however, that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), more than an aggregate of the greater of $150,000,000 or 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors is outstanding pursuant to this paragraph at such time.

(b) Section 4.09(a) hereof shall not apply to:

(1) [reserved];

(2) [reserved];

(3) [reserved];

(4) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) in existence on the Issue Date (including the Existing Notes (other than the August 2023 Secured Notes) but excluding the ABL Facility, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Indebtedness described in clauses (8), (9) and (18) of this Section 4.09(b)), or (ii) under Credit Facilities (including the Notes issued on the Issue Date (including any Guarantee) and the August 2023 Secured Notes) in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of (A) $2,200,000,000 plus (B) $175,000,000 plus (C) the greater of $610,000,000 and 100.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available);

(5) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred or Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment that is used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all other Indebtedness incurred and Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock issued and outstanding under this clause (5), not to exceed the greater of (x) $140,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) at any time outstanding; so long as such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase, lease or improvement, or is created within 270 days thereafter; (6) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding the foregoing; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such bankers’ acceptances and letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

 

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(7) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn-out or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet (other than by application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 460 or in respect of acquired contingencies and contingent consideration recorded under ASC 805) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (7));

(8) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing by the Issuer or a Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of the Notes, as applicable; provided further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer (except that a pledge of Indebtedness referred to in this clause (8) shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Indebtedness) of any such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (except to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer (except that a pledge of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock referred to in this clause (9) shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock) of any such shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this covenant, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk; (11) obligations in respect of self-insurance, customs, stay, performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees and other obligations of a like nature provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(12) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of $240,000,000 and 40.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to this clause (12) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (12) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness or issued such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance on this clause (12), with such automatic reclassification subject to the greater of $150,000,000 and 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) limitation in the first paragraph of this covenant that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the availability as of such date of determination under the greater of $150,000,000 and 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) sublimit would be exceeded);

(13) the incurrence by (x) the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness or the issuance of shares of Disqualified Stock by the Guarantors, and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor of Indebtedness or the issuance of shares of Disqualified Stock or shares of Preferred Stock, in each case, that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease:

(A) any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) hereof and clauses (4)(i), 4(ii), (5), (14) and (23) of this Section 4.09(b) (including with respect to (x) Section 4.09(a) hereof, any unfunded commitment for which an Officer’s Certificate has been delivered to the Trustee as provided in Section 1.06(c) hereof and (y) clause (4) of this Section 4.09(b), any revolving or other line of credit pursuant to which there is an unfunded commitment in effect as of the Issue Date), or

(B) any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock set forth in clause (A) above (including unfunded commitments that serve to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any unfunded commitments under Indebtedness set forth in such clause (A));

 

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provided, however, that in the case of clauses (A) and (B), any unfunded commitment shall continue to be treated as outstanding for purposes of the definitions of Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, to the extent such unfunded commitment was outstanding for purposes thereof prior to such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance under this clause (13), including, in each case, additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees and expenses in connection therewith or incurred as a result of original issue discount, accreted value in excess of the proceeds thereof or the stated principal amount thereof being in excess of the fair value thereof at issuance, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Issuer (collectively, the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that:

(i) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (except by virtue of prepayment of such Indebtedness);

(ii) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, is subordinated to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(iii) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:

(A) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Guarantor; or

(B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(iv) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding (plus customary fees and expenses, including premiums, accrued and unpaid interest and defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced plus (y) an amount equal to any unutilized commitment relating to the Indebtedness being refinanced or otherwise then outstanding under a Credit Facility or other financing arrangement being refinanced to the extent the unutilized commitment being refinanced could be drawn in compliance with this Section 4.09 immediately prior to such refinancing, plus (z) fees, underwriting discounts, accrued and unpaid interest, premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees and similar fees) Incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing, provided that (x) subclauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (13) shall not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Credit Facilities.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness may be Incurred from time to time after the termination, discharge or repayment of any such Credit Facility or other Indebtedness and (y) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock outstanding under Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii) hereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been incurred and to be outstanding under such clause (4)(ii) and not this clause (13) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such clause;

(14) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either (A) the total amount of Indebtedness incurred and outstanding under this clause (14) is in an aggregate amount together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof not to exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available), or (B) any of the following are satisfied as of the date of incurrence:

(A) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is not higher than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not lower than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, in each case, than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

provided, however, that in each case, such determination is made on a pro forma basis taking into account such acquisition or merger;

(15) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence;

(16) Indebtedness in respect of any Qualified Securitization Facility or any Receivables Facility which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (16) and then outstanding, will not exceed the greater of $175,000,000 and 30.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available);

(17) (A) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Guarantor so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Guarantor is permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer; or

 

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provided that, in each case, such Restricted Subsidiary shall comply with Section 4.15 hereof;

(C) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) or the Issuer of obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor); (18) Indebtedness under the CCIBV Secured Notes and other Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Issuer in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (18) the greater of $375,000,000 and 55.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) plus any additional Indebtedness incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees and expenses in connection with extending, replacing, refunding, refinancing, renewing or defeasing the CCIBV Secured Notes and any other Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (18) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (18) but shall be deemed incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this clause (18), with such automatic reclassification subject to the greater of $150,000,000 and 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) limitation in the first paragraph of this covenant that Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the availability as of such date of determination under the greater of $150,000,000 and 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available) sublimit would be exceeded);

(19) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, current or former officers, directors, employees and consultants thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer, a Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective direct or indirect parent companies to the extent described in Section 4.07(b)(4) hereof;

(20) cash management obligations and Indebtedness in respect of netting services, employee credit card programs and similar arrangements in connection with cash management and deposit accounts;

(21) (a) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business or (b) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(22) obligations in respect of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in an aggregate amount outstanding which, when taken together with the liquidation preference of all other Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to this clause and then outstanding, will not exceed $50,000,000;

(23) [reserved];

 

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(24) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor arising pursuant to any Reorganization; and (25) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are deposited with the Trustee within five (5) Business Days to satisfy or discharge the Notes or exercise the Issuer’s legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option, in each case, in accordance with this Indenture.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (25) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses of Section 4.09(b) hereof or under Section 4.09(a) hereof; provided that (x) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the ABL Facility on the Issue Date shall be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (4)(ii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and (y) Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may be reclassified only to the extent that, after giving effect to such reclassification (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor would be permitted to incur the Indebtedness or issue the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as so reclassified on the date; and

(2) at the time of incurrence or any reclassification thereafter, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in more than one of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Sections 4.09(a) and 4.09(b) hereof; provided, however, that with respect to such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock may only be classified or reclassified as a type of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may so incur such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Indenture on the date of classification or reclassification.

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing.

 

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(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(g) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as the case may be.

For all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture, subordination will refer to contractual payment subordination and not to structural subordination. The Notes and this Indenture do not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, (2) unsubordinated Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other unsubordinated Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or (3) Indebtedness as subordinated or junior Indebtedness merely because it is structurally subordinated to other Indebtedness.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes (or Guarantees) or that are owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Issuer and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been irrevocably released from such liabilities,

 

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(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, subject to ordinary settlement periods, and (C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration for which internal financial statements were available), with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value

shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 18 months after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale:

(1) (A) to the extent such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale of Collateral, (x) to permanently reduce any First Lien Obligations (other than the Notes), including Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and/or the Existing Secured Notes, and, if applicable, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; provided that the Issuer equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer) Obligations under the Notes, (y) to reduce or repay ABL Obligations, if such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale of ABL Priority Collateral, or (z) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof for a Collateral Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders of Notes to purchase a pro rata amount of Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, redeem Notes as provided in Section 3.07 hereof or purchase Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof); and

(B) to the extent such Net Proceeds are from an Asset Sale that does not constitute Collateral, (x) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such asset, (y) to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that the Issuer equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer) Obligations under the Notes, or (z) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders of Notes to purchase a pro rata amount of Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, redeem Notes as provided in Section 3.07 hereof or purchase Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof);

(2) solely in the case of an Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, to permanently reduce Obligations under Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; or

(3) to (a) make an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided, however, that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) acquire properties, (c) make capital expenditures or (d) acquire other assets that, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d), either (x) are used or useful in a Similar Business or (y) replace the businesses, properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good-faith expectation that such Net Proceeds shall be applied to satisfy such commitment within the later of 18 months after receipt of such Net Proceeds and 180 days following such commitment; provided, further, however, that if such commitment is cancelled or terminated after the later of such 18 month or 180 day period for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be.

 

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(c) Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale described in the preceding paragraph that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Collateral Excess Proceeds,” with respect to any Asset Sale of Collateral, or “Excess Proceeds,” with respect to any Asset Sale of assets or property that do not constitute Collateral, except the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be, will be reduced by the sum of the amount of the Notes offered to be purchased in an offer pursuant to Section 4.10(b)(1) hereof.

When the aggregate amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $100,000,000, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture on the Collateral disposed of (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to all holders of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations (a “Collateral Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations that may be purchased out of such Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreement governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreements governing such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations. The Issuer will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $100,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuer, in its sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 18-month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds of $100,000,000 or less.

To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture on the Collateral disposed of, as the case may be, validly tendered pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is less than the Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes, the Issuer may use any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to make Restricted Payments, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture or for any other purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations surrendered in a Collateral Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and the Issuer or the agent for such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations will select such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations validly tendered.

 

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Upon completion of any such Collateral Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $100,000,000, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreements governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreement governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $100,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuer, in its sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 18-month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $100,000,000 or less.

To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to make Restricted Payments, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture or for any other purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and the Issuer or the agent for such Indebtedness shall select such other Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes and the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Indebtedness validly tendered. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Proceeds may (1) apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility, including under any Credit Facilities, or otherwise invest or apply such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture, and (2) elect to invest in additional assets prior to receiving the Net Proceeds attributable to any given Asset Sale (provided that such investment shall be made no earlier than the earliest of notice to the Trustee of the relevant Asset Sale, execution of a definitive agreement for the relevant Asset Sale, and consummation of the relevant Asset Sale) and deem the amount so invested to be applied pursuant to and in accordance with clause (3) of this Section 4.10(b) with respect to such Asset Sale.

 

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

(d) Except as described in clause (11) of Section 9.02 hereof, the provisions under this Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of an Asset Sale may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of $60,000,000 and 10.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available), unless:

(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of the greater of $100,000,000 and 15.0% of EBITDA (for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of determination for which internal financial statements are available), a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a).

(b) Section 4.11(a) hereof shall not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof and Investments constituting Permitted Investments;

(3) for so long as the Issuer is a member of a group filing a consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar group tax return (including with any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer (regardless of whether the Issuer is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such parent company)), payments in respect of the hypothetical consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar group tax liabilities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, determined as if the Issuer were the common parent of a group of a separate affiliated group of corporations filing a consolidated federal income tax return (or the common parent of the applicable comparable group filing a consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar group tax return under state, local, or non-U.S.

 

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law); (4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities provided on behalf or for the benefit of, employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(5) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(6) any arrangement or agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby with an affiliate as in effect as of the Issue Date, and any extension, amendment, restatement, modification or other supplement to, or replacement of, any of the foregoing otherwise permitted by this Indenture and so long as any such extension, amendment, restatement, modification or other supplement is not materially adverse in the good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement, principal investors agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise materially adverse in the good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Holders when taken as a whole;

(8) the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related thereto, including Transaction Expenses related thereto;

(9) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners, lessors or lessees of property or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(10) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) any Reorganization;

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

(13) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants of the Issuer, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and employment agreements, severance arrangements, stock option plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which, in each case, are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors in good faith; (14) payments in respect of any Capital Stock of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, Public Debt, Notes or other loans held by Affiliates;

 

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(15) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of the lenders to such Unrestricted Subsidiaries in connection with bona fide lending or financing transactions; and

(16) any sale of securities (including Disqualified Stock but excluding other Capital Stock) made to an Affiliate on the same terms as are being made to non-Affiliate investors in any public or private sale of such securities and any related transactions involving such securities where such Affiliate is treated no more favorably than the non-Affiliate investors, provided that, in each case, at least 80% of such securities are sold to, in the case of a public or private sale of securities, or held by, in the case of other related transactions involving such securities, non-Affiliate investors.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 4.11(a) and (b) hereof, for all purposes of this Section 4.11, the Issuer shall be permitted to engage in any Affiliate Transaction involving Net Proceeds of Asset Sales (or Collateral Excess Proceeds and/or Excess Proceeds related thereto) applied in a manner that complies with Section 4.10 hereof.

Section 4.12 [Reserved].

Section 4.13 [Reserved].

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in each of Section 5 of the Notes and Sections 3.03 and 3.07 hereof, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in Section 5 of the Notes and Sections 3.03 and 3.07 hereof, the Issuer will send notice of such Change of Control Offer by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee, or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC, with the following information:

(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14, and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer shall be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is transmitted or delivered (the “Change of Control Payment Date”); (3) that any Note not properly tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

 

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

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(7) that the Holders whose Notes are being repurchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in principal amount;

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

(9) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.14, that a Holder must follow.

The notice, if delivered or transmitted in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder of any Note receives such notice. If (a) the notice is delivered in a manner herein provided and (b) any Holder of any Note fails to receive such notice or a Holder of any Note receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders of Notes that properly received such notice without defect.

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

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

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and (3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation (and delivery to the Paying Agent) the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

 

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(c) The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

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

(e) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof.

(f) Except as described in clause (11) of Section 9.02, the provisions under this Indenture relative to the Issuer’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Issuer shall not permit any Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, other than a Guarantor, an Immaterial Subsidiary or a Securitization Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of (i) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii) hereof or (ii) capital markets debt securities of the Issuer or any Guarantor unless:

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

(2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and shall not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee until payment in full of Obligations under this Indenture,

provided that this covenant shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 60 day periods set forth in subclauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.15(a).

(b) If any Guarantor becomes an Immaterial Subsidiary, the Issuer shall have the right, by delivery of a supplemental indenture executed by the Issuer to the Trustee, to cause such Immaterial Subsidiary to automatically and unconditionally cease to be a Guarantor, subject to the requirement described in Section 4.15(a) hereof that such Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor if it ceases to be an Immaterial Subsidiary (except that if such Subsidiary has been properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary it shall not be so required to become a Guarantor or execute a supplemental indenture); provided, further, that such Immaterial Subsidiary shall not be permitted to Guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Existing Secured Notes or other Indebtedness of the Issuer or the other Guarantors, unless it again becomes a Guarantor.

Section 4.16 [Reserved].

Section 4.17 Suspension of Covenants if the Notes Achieve Investment Grade Rating.

(a) If on any date following the date of this Indenture:

(1) the Notes achieve an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies; and

(2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (a “Suspension Date”),

then, beginning on that day and subject to the provisions of the following paragraphs (b) and (c), the covenants set forth in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.15 and 5.01(a)(4) (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”) shall be terminated.

(b) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its Investment Grade Rating or downgrades the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events, unless and until the Notes subsequently attain an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default is in existence (in which event the Suspended Covenants shall no longer be in effect for such time as the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default is in existence). Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated, no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on any actions taken or events occurring during any Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising after the commencement of a Suspension Period and prior to the immediately following Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. The periods of time between the applicable Suspension Date and the immediately following Reversion Date are each referred to in this description as a “Suspension Period.”

 

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(c) On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the immediately preceding Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.09(b)(4)(i). Calculations made after a Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 will be made as though the covenant in Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will not reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a). No Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of the Reversion Date occurring on the basis of any actions taken or the continuance of any circumstances resulting from actions taken or the performance of obligations under agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period (other than agreements to take actions after the Reversion Date that would not be permitted outside of the Suspension Period entered into in contemplation of the Reversion Date). For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.10, the amount of Excess Proceeds and/or Collateral Excess Proceeds from all Asset Sales not applied in accordance with the covenant will be deemed to be reset to zero. On and after the Reversion Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries that Guarantee obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the ABL Facility, the Existing Secured Notes or Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4)(ii) shall Guarantee the Notes.

Section 4.18 Liens.

(a) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) (each, an “Initial Lien”) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, unless:

(1) in the case of Initial Liens on any Collateral, (i) such Initial Lien expressly has Junior Lien Priority on the Collateral relative to the Notes and the Guarantees or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(2) in the case of any Initial Lien on any asset or property that is not Collateral, (i) the Notes (or a Guarantee in the case of Initial Liens on assets or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Initial Lien secures any Subordinated Indebtedness) the Obligations secured by such Initial Lien until such time as such Obligations are no longer secured by such Initial Lien at which time the Lien securing the Notes and the Guarantees shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien.

(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.18 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the applicable Lien described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.18(a) hereof.

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

(a) The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), nor may the Issuer sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of assets or properties that in either case constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries which are Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

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(1) the Issuer is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”); provided that in the case where the Successor Issuer is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(2) the Successor Issuer, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes, this Indenture and the applicable Security Documents, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) either (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would not be higher, or (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be lower, in each case than it was immediately prior to such acquisition or merger;

(5) each Guarantor, unless it is (a) the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (1)(B) of Section 5.01(c) shall apply or (b) a Guarantor that will be released from its obligations under its Guarantee in connection with such transactions, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; and

(7) to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged or consolidated with or into the Issuer are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, the Issuer or the Successor Issuer, as applicable, will take such action, if any, as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Security Documents.

(b) The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, as applicable, and the Issuer, will be automatically released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(1) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or a Guarantor; and (2) the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

 

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(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, no Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer or such Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s related Guarantee and the applicable Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; and

(E) to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into such Guarantor are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, such Guarantor or the Successor Person will take such action, if any, as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien in perfected to the extent required by the applicable Security Documents; or

(2) the transaction complies with clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.10(a) hereof.

(d) In the case of clause (1) of Section 5.01(c) hereof, the Successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may (1) merge or consolidate with or into or wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (3) convert into (which may be effected by merger with a Restricted Subsidiary that has substantially no assets and liabilities) a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor (which may be effected by merger so long as the survivor thereof is a Guarantor).

 

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Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein; provided that the predecessor issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all of the Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) An “Event of Default” wherever used herein means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in payment when due and payable , upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3) failure by the Issuer or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (8) of this Section 6.01(a)) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated final maturity; and (B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $100,000,000 or more at any one time outstanding, in each case;

 

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(5) failure by the Issuer or any other Significant Party to pay final non-appealable judgments aggregating in excess of $100,000,000, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 90 days after such judgments become final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6) the Issuer or any other Significant Party, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under the Bankruptcy Code that:

(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Party in a proceeding in which the Issuer or any such Significant Party is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any Significant Party, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any Significant Party; or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Party;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

 

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(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Party shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Party, as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture and such Default continues uncured for ten or more Business Days; (9) (i) the Liens created by the Security Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby (unless perfection is not required by this Indenture or the Security Documents) other than (A) in accordance with the terms of the relevant Security Document and this Indenture, (B) the satisfaction in full of all Obligations under this Indenture or (C) any loss of perfection that results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Security Documents and (ii) such default continues for 30 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes; and

(10) the Issuer or any Guarantor that is a Significant Party (or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Party) shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any security interest in any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable.

(b) A Default under clause (3), (4), (5) or (9) of Section 6.01(a) hereof will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the Default and, with respect to clauses (3), (5) and (9), the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (3), (5) and (9), as applicable, of Section 6.01(a) hereof after receipt of such notice; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default.

(c) Any notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or take any other action (a “Noteholder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder to the Issuer and the Trustee that such Holder is not (or, in the case such Holder is DTC or its nominee, that such Holder is being instructed solely by beneficial owners that have represented to such Holder that they are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Noteholder Direction relating to a notice of Default, shall be deemed repeated at all times until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder must at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction covenant, provide the Issuer with such other information as the Issuer may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Noteholder’s Position Representation within five Business Days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Holder is DTC or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder shall be provided by the beneficial owner of the Notes in lieu of DTC or its nominee.

If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer determines in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe a Directing Holder was, at any relevant time, in breach of its Position Representation and provides to the Trustee evidence that the Issuer has filed papers with a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a determination that such Directing Holder was, at such time, in breach of its Position Representation, and seeking to invalidate any Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction, the cure period with respect to such Event of Default shall be automatically stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter. If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the Notes, the Issuer provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to any Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction shall be automatically stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant.

 

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Any breach of the Position Representation shall result in such Holder’s participation in such Noteholder Direction being disregarded; and, if, without the participation of such Holder, the percentage of Notes held by the remaining Holders that provided such Noteholder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Noteholder Direction, such Noteholder Direction shall be void ab initio, with the effect that such Event of Default shall be deemed never to have occurred.

(d) In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:

(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

(2) holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

(e) (i) If a Default for a failure to report or failure to deliver a required certificate in connection with another default (the “Initial Default”) occurs, then at the time such Initial Default is cured, such Default for a failure to report or failure to deliver a required certificate in connection with another default that resulted solely because of that Initial Default will also be cured without any further action, and (ii) any Default or Event of Default for the failure to comply with the time periods prescribed under Section 4.03 hereof or otherwise to deliver any notice or certificate pursuant to any other provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to be cured upon the delivery of any such report required by such section or such notice or certificate, as applicable, even though such delivery is not within the prescribed period specified in this Indenture. Any time period in this Indenture to cure any actual or alleged Default or Event of Default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) may declare the principal of, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee, acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof with respect to the Issuer, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable without further action or notice.

 

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Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

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A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Notes is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Notes may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of the Notes, as the case may be.

 

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Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Notes to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of the Notes, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of Notes any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder of Notes, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of Notes in any such proceeding.

Section 6.13 Priorities.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, if the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6 (including upon exercise of remedies with respect to the Collateral), it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(1) to the Trustee and the Agents and their respective agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(2) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(3) to the Issuer, to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all amounts in the Trustee Account shall be paid first to the Holders of Notes. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.13.

Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.

 

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This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless such Holders have offered the Trustee indemnity, security or prefunding satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion, as applicable, against loss, liability or expense.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this clause (c) does not limit the effect of clause (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

 

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(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders of the Notes have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law or as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(g) In the absence of bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of any covenants contained in Article 4.

Section 7.06 [Reserved].

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee and any Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse each of the Trustee and each Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s or each such Agent’s agents and counsel.

 

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The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify each of the Trustee and each Agent for, and hold each of the Trustee and each Agent harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder of Notes, the Issuer or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). Each of the Trustee and each Agent shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee or any Agent to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee or applicable Agent may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or any Agent through such Person’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or any Agent, as applicable.

To secure the payment obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, each of the Trustee and each Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by such Person, except money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee or any Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee or Agent.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee or any Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or any successor Agent shall become effective only upon the acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08 by such successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable. The Trustee or any Agent may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or any Agent by so notifying the Trustee or such Agent and the Issuer in writing. The Issuer may remove the Trustee or any Agent if:

(a) in the case of the Trustee, such Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee or such Agent is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent Person or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under the Bankruptcy Code;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or such Agent or such Person’s property; or

(d) the Trustee or such Agent becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee or any Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or any Agent for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or successor Agent. Within one year after the successor Trustee or successor Agent takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable, to replace such successor Trustee or successor Agent appointed by the Issuer.

 

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If a successor Trustee or successor Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or Agent, as applicable, resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or Agent (at the Issuer’s expense), the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Agent.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of Notes who has been a Holder of Notes for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee or successor Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or successor Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or the applicable Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or successor Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of Notes. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable; provided that all sums owing to the retiring Trustee or Agent hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or any Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee or any Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust or relevant agent business, as applicable, to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Agent, as applicable.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

Section 7.11 Security Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.

By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver each Intercreditor Agreement and any other Security Documents in which the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Security Documents executed after the Issue Date, and in the case of the Trustee, to authorize the Collateral Agent to take any action permitted under this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents (without any further consent of the Holders of the Notes). It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed that, in doing so, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are (a) expressly authorized to make the representations attributed to Holders in any such agreements and (b) not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose.

 

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Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under, each Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Documents, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under this Indenture (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).

ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees, and have all Liens on the Collateral released, on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture as referenced in Section 8.04 hereof;

(b) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

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Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants, and have all Liens on the Collateral released (each, a “Defeased Covenant,” and collectively, the “Defeased Covenants”) contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.18 hereof and clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such Defeased Covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any Defeased Covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Defeased Covenant or by reason of any reference in any such Defeased Covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(a)(3), 6.01(a)(4), 6.01(a)(5), 6.01(a)(6) (solely with respect to any Significant Party) and 6.01(a)(7) hereof (solely with respect to any Significant Party) shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient (in the case of Government Securities or a combination of cash and Government Securities, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants), to pay the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal amount, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, and the Issuer must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

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in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Notes shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Notes shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to such other Indebtedness, and in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any Credit Facility ranking pari passu with the Notes or any other material agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any Guarantor or others; and

(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

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Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuer.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Notes shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes and the Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Guarantors may amend or supplement any Guarantee issued under this Indenture, in each case, without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof; (4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders in a transaction that complies with this Indenture;

 

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(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7) to comply with requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if such qualification is required;

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

(9) to add a Guarantor under this Indenture or to secure the Notes;

(10) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the “Description of the Notes”;

(11) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes;

(12) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(13) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes Obligations, in any property or assets, including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any of the Security Documents or otherwise;

(14) to add Additional First Lien Secured Parties to any Security Documents, to the extent permitted to be so secured by this Indenture;

(15) to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto;

(16) in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; or (17) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of the ABL Facility, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Existing Secured Notes or any other agreement that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

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Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee), the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, the Security Documents and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or any of its Affiliates, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or any of its Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may (A) make any change in any Security Document or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with Collateral or application of trust proceeds of the Collateral with the effect of releasing the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral which secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes or (B) change or alter the priority of the Liens securing the Obligations in respect of the Notes in any material portion of the Collateral in any way materially adverse, taken as a whole, to the Holders, other than, in each case, as provided under the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee), the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal amount of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of such Note or change the time (except those providing when notice of redemption is to be provided to the Trustee or Holders) at which any Notes may be redeemed (in each case other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof);

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration) or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all affected Holders;

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(7) make any change to this paragraph of this Section 9.02;

(8) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(9) make any change to the ranking of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders;

 

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(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Party in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes; or (11) after the Issuer’s obligation to purchase Notes arises thereunder, amend, change or modify in any respect materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes the obligations of the Issuer to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control or make and consummate an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to any Asset Sale that has been consummated or, after such Change of Control has occurred or such Asset Sale has been consummated, modify any of the provisions or definitions with respect thereto in a manner that is materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes that modifies or waives the specific rights or obligations of any Agent may be made without the consent of such Agent (it being understood that the Trustee’s execution of any such amendment or supplement shall constitute such consent if the Trustee is then also acting as such Agent).

Section 9.03 [Reserved].

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of Notes.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Notes entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Notes at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Notes after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders of Notes has been obtained.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee To Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuer may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be provided with and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03 hereof).

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no resolution of the Board of Directors, Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee.

Subject to this Article 10, from and after the Issue Date, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees on a senior secured basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, and interest, and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuer to the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment by the Issuer when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Indenture or the Notes, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder and under the Notes). Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder of Notes in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

If any Holder of Notes or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, then this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders of the Notes in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general secured senior obligation of such Guarantor and will rank pari passu in right of payment to all senior Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor, including such Guarantor’s guarantee of senior Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities and the Existing Notes.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder of Notes, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders of the Notes and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery.

(a) To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, one of its Senior Vice Presidents, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

(c) If an officer of a Guarantor whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates a Note, the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless.

(d) The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

(e) If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuer shall cause any newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

Section 10.04 Subrogation.

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged.

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees.

A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger or otherwise) of (i) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor which sale, exchange or transfer is made in a manner in compliance with this Indenture; (b) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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(c) the Issuer exercising its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as set forth in Article 8 hereof or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of the terms of this Indenture, including as set forth in Article 11 hereof;

(d) such Guarantor ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted under this Indenture;

(e) such Guarantor being (or being substantially concurrently) released or discharged from all of (i) its obligations under all of its Guarantees of payment by the Issuer of any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or (ii) in the case of a Guarantee made by a Guarantor as a result of its guarantee of other Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof, the relevant Indebtedness, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii), a release as a result of payment under such Guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still considered a release);

(f) upon the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Issuer or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor, in each case, in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; and

(g) upon the occurrence of an Investment Grade Event; provided that such Guarantee shall be reinstated upon the Reversion Date.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

(1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2) (A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, shall become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes cash in U.S.

 

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dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption thereof, as the case may be; (B) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any Credit Facility or any other material agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(C) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(D) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (if the Trustee shall so request) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

(b) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of Section 11.01(a) hereof, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE XII

COLLATERAL

Section 12.01 Security Documents.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and performance of all other Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents, which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

The Trustee and the Issuer hereby acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent holds the Collateral in trust for the benefit of itself, the Holders and the Trustee and pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral) and the Intercreditor Agreements as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Issuer shall deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Security Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be reasonably required by the next sentence of this Section 12.01, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Security Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. The Issuer shall, and shall cause the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to, take any and all actions and make all filings (including the filing of UCC financing statements, continuation statements and amendments thereto) required to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Notes Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents (to the extent required hereby and thereby), a valid and enforceable perfected Lien and security interest in and on all of the Collateral (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents), in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself, the Holders and the Trustee subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens, and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral Requirement.

Section 12.02 Release of Collateral.

(a) Subject to Section 12.02(c), the Liens securing the Notes and the Notes Obligations shall be automatically released, and the Trustee shall execute documents evidencing such release, or instruct the Collateral Agent to execute, as applicable, the same at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense, under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(A) to enable the Issuer and/or one or more Guarantors to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition (including by the termination of capital leases or the repossession of the leased property in a capital lease by the lessor) of such property or assets (to a Person that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer) to the extent permitted by Section 4.10 hereof; (B) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor; or

 

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(C) in respect of any property and assets of the Issuer or a Guarantor that would constitute ABL Priority Collateral if at such time it is not subject to a Lien securing ABL Obligations, so long as the ABL Facility is still outstanding.

(b) Subject to Section 12.02(c), the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees also shall be automatically released, and the Trustee shall execute documents evidencing such release, or instruct the Collateral Agent to execute, as applicable, the same at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense, under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(A) upon payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Security Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest are paid;

(B) upon the Issuer exercising its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article 8 hereof or the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in a manner not in violation of the terms of this Indenture, including as described under Article 11 hereof;

(C) pursuant to the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; or

(D) with the consent of the requisite Holders of the Notes in accordance with Article 9 of this Indenture, including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes.

(c) With respect to any release of Collateral, the Trustee shall, or shall cause the Collateral Agent to, execute, deliver or acknowledge (at the Issuer’s expense) such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 12.03 Suits to Protect the Collateral.

Subject to the provisions of Article 7 hereof and the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee, without the consent of the Holders, on behalf of the Holders, may or may direct the Collateral Agent to take all actions it determines in order to:

(a) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents; and

(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations hereunder.

 

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Subject to the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may determine to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of any of the Security Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 12.03 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 12.04 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents.

Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 12.05 Purchaser Protected.

In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article 12 to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuer or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

Section 12.06 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.

In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 12 upon the Issuer or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or Trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 12; and if the Trustee shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee.

Section 12.07 Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations.

In the event that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that (i) payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, are paid or (ii) the Issuer shall have exercised its Legal Defeasance option or its Covenant Defeasance option, in each case in compliance with the provisions of Article 8, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral (other than with respect to funds held by the Trustee pursuant to Article 8), and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done (at the expense of the Issuer) all acts reasonably requested by the Issuer to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

 

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Section 12.08 Collateral Agent.

(a) The Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and the Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and each Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 12.08. The provisions of this Section 12.08 are solely for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and none of the Trustee, any of the Holders nor the Issuer or any of the Guarantors shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions contained herein other than as expressly provided in Section 12.03. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or the Issuer or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates, (a “Related Person”) and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or willful misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith.

(c) None of the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction) or under or in connection with any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappeable order of a court of competent jurisdiction), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuer or any Guarantor or Affiliate of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Officer or Related Person thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Notes or any Security Documents, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, or for any failure of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

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None of the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Issuer or any Guarantor or the Issuer’s or any of the Guarantors’ Affiliates.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuer or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. The Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability, loss and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuer referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article 6 or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 12.08).

(f) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuer, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuer shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Collateral Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Trustee, subject to the consent of the Issuer (which shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default), a successor collateral agent.

 

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If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuer pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to, at the expense of the Issuer, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.08 (and Section 7.07) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(g) U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappeable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(h) The Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Security Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) enter into the Intercreditor Agreements, (iii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements, (iv) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and (v) perform and observe its obligations under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(i) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article 6, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.

(j) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuer, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions (to the extent applicable).

 

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(k) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders and the Trustee shall have no obligation to the Collateral Agent or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of the Issuer’s or any of the Guarantor’s property constituting collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreements other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission, or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent shall have no other duty or liability whatsoever to the Trustee or any Holder as to any of the foregoing.

(l) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of First Lien Obligations at any time when neither the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement nor any other intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(m) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of ABL Obligations at any time when neither the ABL Intercreditor Agreement nor any other intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting ABL Obligations entitled to the benefit of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the ABL Obligations so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(n) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority at any time when no Intercreditor Agreement with respect to Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority entitled to the benefit of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (on terms that are customary for such financings as determined by the Issuer in good faith reflecting the subordination of such Liens to the Liens secured by the Notes and Guarantees) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the Indebtedness secured by the Collateral with Junior Lien Priority so incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

 

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(o) No provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Security Document shall require the Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Collateral Agent) if it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances unless the Collateral Agent has received security or indemnity from the Holders in an amount and in a form all satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, protecting the Collateral Agent from all such liability. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(p) The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents or instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(q) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

(r) Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee assumes any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuer or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents.

 

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The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of the Intercreditor Agreements and any Security Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and any Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents.

(s) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that the Collateral Agent shall not assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral.

(t) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent and the Trustee of a written request of the Issuer signed by one Officer of the Issuer (a “Security Document Order”), the Collateral Agent and the Trustee are hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder, any Security Document to be executed after the Issue Date. Such Security Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee pursuant to, and is a Security Document Order referred to in, this Section 12.08(t), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (if applicable) to execute and enter into such Security Document. Any such execution of a Security Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuer, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Security Document have been satisfied. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Security Documents.

(u) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Security Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or the Trustee, as applicable, or as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

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(v) After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Trustee acting in accordance with the terms of this Indenture may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

(w) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13 hereof and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(x) In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any other Security Document to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under the Notes or any Security Document, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(y) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture the Notes or any Security Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture the Notes or any Security Document (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(z) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 13.05. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(aa) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee solely with respect to the Security Documents and the Collateral, except as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.

(bb) The Issuer shall pay compensation to, reimburse expenses of and indemnify the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 7.07 and the Intercreditor Agreements.

 

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(cc) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, privileges and immunities of the Additional Collateral Agent, Collateral Agent, Notes Collateral Agent or the Original Notes Collateral Agent (in each case, as such term is defined in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) as set forth in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement, as though fully set forth herein.

Section 12.09 Designations.

For purposes of the provisions hereof and the Intercreditor Agreements requiring the Issuer to designate Indebtedness for purposes of the term “Additional First Lien Obligations”, “Additional Fixed Assets Debt Obligations”, “Additional Obligations”, “Fixed Assets Debt Obligations”, “Obligations” (in each case, as defined in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement), or any other such designations hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreements, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation is set forth in writing, signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements.

Section 12.10 No Impairment of the Security Interests.

Except as otherwise permitted under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, neither the Issuer nor any of the Guarantors will be permitted to take any action, or knowingly omit to take any action, which action or omission would have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes.

Section 12.11 [Reserved].

Section 12.12 After Acquired Property.

(a) From and after the Issue Date, and subject to the Security Documents, if (i) any Subsidiary of the Issuer becomes a Guarantor or (ii) the Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any property or rights which are of a type constituting Collateral under any Security Document (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Assets or assets not required to be Collateral pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents), it will be required to execute and deliver such security instruments, financing statements and such certificates as are required under this Indenture or any Security Document to vest in the Collateral Agent a security interest (subject to Permitted Liens, including any pari passu liens that secure obligations in respect of any other First Lien Obligations and prior liens that secure ABL Obligations with respect to ABL Priority Collateral) in such after-acquired collateral (or all of its assets, except Excluded Assets, in the case of a new Guarantor) and to take such actions to add such after-acquired collateral to the Collateral, in each case to the extent required by, and subject to the limitations and exceptions of, the Collateral Requirement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral Requirement, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired collateral to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

(b) (i) Any Subsidiary of the Issuer which becomes a Guarantor shall take all such actions necessary to comply with the Collateral Requirement within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such event causing such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor, and (ii) the Issuer shall within ninety (90) days after the acquisition of such property or rights cause such property to be subjected to a Lien to the extent required by the Collateral Requirement and will take, or cause the relevant Guarantor to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, in each case in a manner consistent with the Collateral Requirement and the procedures outlined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, to the extent applicable.

 

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Such time periods in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 12.12(b) shall be subject to extensions as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing (in a manner consistent with the procedures outlined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, to the extent applicable); it being understood and agreed that the administrative agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities may grant extensions of time under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities for such actions necessary to comply with the Collateral Requirement, and any such extension shall apply hereunder as if the Collateral Agent had agreed to such extensions in writing.

Section 12.13 Maintenance of Property and Insurance.

(a) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep all of their respective property material to the operation of the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in good working order and condition in all material respects, ordinary wear and tear and fire, casualty and condemnation excepted; provided that the Parent Guarantor shall not be obligated to comply with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12.13 to the extent that the failure to do so is not adverse in any material respect to the Parent Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) The Issuer will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (and the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured or lenders loss payee, as applicable, as soon as possible after the Issue Date) on all property material to the operation of the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are determined by the Issuer in good faith to be reasonable and prudent, taking into account the risks that are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same business or a business that the Issuer deems reasonably similar, it being understood that this Section shall not prevent the use of deductible or excess loss insurance and shall not prevent (i) the Issuer or any of their Subsidiaries from acting as a self-insurer or maintaining insurance with another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Issuer so long as such action is consistent with sound business practice or (ii) the Issuer from obtaining and owning insurance policies covering activities of its Subsidiaries.

Section 12.14 Further Assurances.

The Issuer and the Guarantors, at their sole cost and expense and subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, will execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register, as applicable, any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other agreements or instruments and shall take all further action, as may be required from time to time in order to:

(a) carry out the terms and provisions of the Security Documents;

(b) subject to the Liens created by any of the Security Documents any of the properties, rights or interests required to be encumbered thereby, including all assets of any Guarantor (other than Excluded Assets) or newly acquired assets of a Guarantor;

(c) perfect and maintain the validity, enforceability, effectiveness and priority of any of the Security Documents and the Liens intended to be created thereby; and

(d) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm to the Collateral Agent any of the rights granted now or hereafter intended by the parties thereto to be granted to the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents or under any other instrument executed in connection herewith.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01 [Reserved].

Section 13.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuer and/or any Guarantor:

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

4830 North Loop 1604W, Suite 111

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Attention: David Sailer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: [(210) 822-2828]

Facsimile: [(210) 832-3884]1

with a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Ross M. Leff, P.C. and Drew Maliniak

Telephone: (212) 446-4800

Facsimile: (212) 446-4800

If to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the initial Paying Agent and the Registrar:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attn: Clear Channel Administrator

Telephone: (615) 251-0733

Facsimile: (615) 251-0737

The Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Note to Draft: Company to update or confirm.

 

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All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders of Notes) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder of Notes shall be mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder of Notes or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders of Notes.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders of Notes, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 13.03 [Reserved].

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(2) An Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

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Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of Notes. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 13.08 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 13.09 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS, THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 13.10 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee or any Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

Section 13.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

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Section 13.12 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 13.13 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 13.14 Counterpart Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Indenture by facsimile or .pdf attachment to an email or by other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Indenture, and may be used in lieu of original signature pages for all purposes.

Section 13.15 Electronic Transmission; Electronic Signatures.

The Trustee shall not have any duty to confirm that the person sending any notice, instruction or other communication (a “Notice”) by electronic transmission (including by e-mail, facsimile transmission, web portal or other electronic methods) is, in fact, a person authorized to do so. Electronic signatures believed by the Trustee to comply with the ESIGN Act of 2000 or other applicable law (including electronic images of handwritten signatures and digital signatures provided by DocuSign, Orbit, Adobe Sign or any other digital signature provider acceptable to the Trustee) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes hereunder, together with all related certificates and other documents, may each be executed by the parties thereto by electronic signature and such electronic signature shall be deemed to be an original signature for all purposes. Each other party assumes all risks arising out of the use of electronic signatures and electronic methods to send Notices to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on an unauthorized Notice, and the risk of interception or misuse by third parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may in any instance and in its sole discretion require that an original document bearing a manual signature be delivered to the Trustee in lieu of, or in addition to, any such electronic Notice.

Section 13.16 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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Section 13.17 Intercreditor Agreements.

(a) Each Holder of the Notes, by accepting such Note, will be deemed to have (i) appointed and authorized the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to give effect to the provisions in the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents and perform the duties and exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically given to it under the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents securing such Indebtedness, together with any other incidental rights, power and discretions, (ii) agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, consenting to the subordination of Liens provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) and (iii) irrevocably appointed the Collateral Agent and the Trustee to act on its behalf to enter into and comply with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, any additional intercreditor agreements and the Security Documents (including the execution of, and compliance with, any waiver, modification, amendment, renewal or replacement expressed to be executed by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent on its behalf).

(b) The parties acknowledge and agree that U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association is entering into the Intercreditor Agreements in its capacity as Collateral Agent thereunder. In the event of any conflict between this Indenture, the Notes or any Security Document, on the one hand, and an Intercreditor Agreement on the other, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

[Signatures on following page]

 

-150-


ISSUER:
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name:   David Sailer
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

GUARANTORS:

1567 Media LLC

Clear Channel Adshel, Inc.

Clear Channel Airports, Inc.

Clear Channel Electrical Services, LLC

Clear Channel IP, LLC

Clear Channel Metra, LLC

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Company Canada

Clear Channel Spectacolor, LLC

Exceptional Outdoor, Inc.

Get Outdoors Florida, LLC

Universal Outdoor, Inc.

 

By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name:   David Sailer
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Clear Channel Outdoor, LLC
By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name:   David Sailer
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
CCOI Holdco III, LLC
CCOI Holdco Parent I, LLC
CCOI Holdco Parent II, LLC
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name:   David Sailer
  Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


Outdoor Management Services, Inc.
By:   /s/ David Sailer
Name:   David Sailer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

By:   /s/ Wally Jones
  Name: Wally Jones
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


CUSIP [   ]

ISIN [   ]2

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] GLOBAL NOTE

7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

 

No. ___    Principal Amount [$______________]
   [as revised by
   the Schedule of Exchanges
   of Interests in Global Note
   attached hereto]

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.

as the Issuer

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of $[________________________] United States Dollars[, as revised by the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in Global Note attached hereto] on April 1, 2030.

Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1

Record Dates: March 15 and September 15

  

 

Rule 144A Note CUSIP: 18453HAF3

Rule 144A Note ISIN: US18453HAF38

Regulation S Note CUSIP: U1828LAE8

Regulation S Note ISIN: USU1828LAE84

 

A-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated: [  ]

 

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. as Issuer

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

A-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

   
 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[Back of Note]

7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. INTEREST. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.875% per annum from March 18, 20243 until maturity. The Issuer shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on October 1, 20244, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at 1.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable on the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at 1.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable on the Notes. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If the Issuer delivers Global Notes to the Trustee for cancellation on a date that is on or after the Record Date and on or before the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date will be paid on the Redemption Date (as defined herein) to the Holder in whose name the Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders whose Notes will be subject to redemption by the Issuer. Each interest period will end on (but not include) the relevant Interest Payment Date.

2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Interest on the Notes shall be paid to the Persons who are registered Holders of the Notes at the close of business on the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding an Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest may be made by check delivered to the Holders of the Notes at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders of Notes; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. PAYING AGENT, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association shall act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders of Notes. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

With respect to the Initial Notes.

With respect to the Initial Notes.

 

A-5


4. INDENTURE. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto, and the Trustee and Collateral Agent. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) Except as described below under Sections 5(b), 5(d), 5(e) and 5(f), the Issuer shall not be permitted to redeem the Notes prior to October 1, 2026. The Notes will be payable at par at maturity.

(b) At any time prior to October 1, 2026, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuer or any other Person), at the Issuer’s option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), and, without duplication, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Issuer may provide in such notice that the consummation of such redemption or purchase and the payment of the redemption price with respect thereto may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition, financing transaction or Equity Offering, and at the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

(c) On and after October 1, 2026, the Notes may be redeemed or purchased (by the Issuer or any other Person), at the Issuer’s option, in whole or in part, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at any time and from time to time at the redemption prices set forth below. The Issuer may provide in such notice that the consummation of such redemption or purchase and the payment of the redemption price with respect thereto may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent that in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person. The Notes shall be redeemable at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

  

Percentage

 

2026

     103.938

2027

     101.969

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

 

A-6


(d) Until October 1, 2026 the Issuer may, at its option, on one or more occasions, upon notice as provided in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, redeem up to 40% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price equal to 107.875% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by or contributed to the Issuer; provided that at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption unless all such Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently; provided, further, that each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(e) During any 12-month period until October 1, 2026, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem up to 10% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 103.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date; provided that at the time of any such redemption, there shall be no outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (including any amounts drawn under any revolving credit facility or other borrowings outstanding in respect of any term loans) or any replacement Credit Facility in respect thereof that provides for loans; provided, further, that no such redemption shall be made with the proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness. If such redemption or purchase is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, including a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Issuer, or any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Issuer, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the price offered to each other Holder (excluding any early tender or incentive fee) in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

A-7


(g) The Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect thereto may be performed by another Person. Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering. Any redemption or notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the consummation of an acquisition or financing transaction or an Equity Offering, that the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, and that performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

Any redemption of Notes pursuant to this Section 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuer may at any time and from time to time purchase the Notes in the open market or otherwise.

7. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Subject to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, notice of redemption shall be delivered by electronic transmission (for Notes held in book-entry form) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Indenture) to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

8. OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as set forth in Sections 3.03 and 3.07 of the Indenture and Section 5 hereof, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture.

(b) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $100,000,000, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such Indebtedness that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) that may be purchased out of such Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other Pari Passu Indebtedness, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreements governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the agreement governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $100,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuer, in its sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 18-month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $100,000,000 or less.

 

A-8


(c) When the aggregate amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds with respect to the Notes exceeds $100,000,000, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under the Indenture on the Collateral disposed of (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to all holders of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations (a “Collateral Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Notes that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 thereof (in aggregate principal amount) and the maximum aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if less) of such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations that may be purchased out of such Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (or such lesser price with respect to such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations, if any, as may be provided by the terms of the agreement governing such other Indebtedness) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the agreements governing such other First Lien Obligations or other Obligations. The Issuer will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within 20 Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $100,000,000 by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC. The Issuer, in its sole discretion, may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 18-month period (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds of $100,000,000 or less.

9. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder of Notes, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Issuer may require a Holder of Notes to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of (x) any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or (y) any Notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Collateral Asset Sale Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

11. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes or the Security Documents may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

A-9


12. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders of Notes may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of, any of the Notes held by a non-consenting Holder. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required within five (5) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

13. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee.

14. SECURITY. The Notes and the related Guarantees will be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Security Documents. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, in each case pursuant to the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the foreclosure and release of Collateral) and the Intercreditor Agreements, each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture, and authorizes and directs each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on the Issue Date, and the Security Documents and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if any, at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

15. GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THE SECURITY DOCUMENTS, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES.

16. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-10


The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

4830 North Loop 1604W, Suite 111

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Attention: David Sailer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:     
   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint     

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date: _____________________

 

Your Signature:    
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*: __________________________________

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-12


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[ ] Section 4.10    [ ] Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$_______________

 

Date: _____________________

 

Your Signature:    
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:    

 

Signature Guarantee*: __________________________________

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-13


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $__________. The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date
of Exchange

 

Amount of
decrease
in Principal
Amount

 

Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

       

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-14


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

4830 North Loop 1604W, Suite 111

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Attention: David Sailer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Clear Channel Administrator

Re: 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee and Collateral Agent, under which the Notes have been issued. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

_______________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to _______________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS.

 

B-1


The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. [ ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATIONS. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) [ ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


(b) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Dated: _______________________

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a)

[ ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

[ ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [  ]), or

 

  (ii)

[ ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [  ]), or

 

  (b)

[ ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a)

[ ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

[ ] 144A Global Note (CUSIP [  ]), or

 

  (ii)

[ ] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP [  ]), or

 

  (iii)

[ ] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP [  ]); or

 

  (b)

[ ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c)

[ ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

ANNEX A


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

4830 North Loop 1604W, Suite 111

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Attention: David Sailer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Commerce Street, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Clear Channel Administrator

Re: 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, under which the Notes have been issued. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $__________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


(b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


(b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated______________________.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

Dated: _______________________

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of __________, among __________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (the “Issuer”) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of March 18, 2024, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of its direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Security Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

D-1


(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or .pdf attachment to an email or by other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture, and may be used in lieu of original signature pages for all purposes.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(8) Subrogation. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under the Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(9) Benefits Acknowledged. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(10) Successors. All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture or in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

D-3

EX-10.1 3 d777525dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT, dated as of March 18, 2024 (this “Amendment”), to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019, by and among Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., as borrower (the “Borrower”), each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender (as defined below), Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (“Administrative Agent”), and as Collateral Agent and each other Person party thereto (as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2020, the Second Amendment, dated as of May 5, 2021, the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2023, the Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2023 and as may hereafter be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Existing Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(i) of the Existing Credit Agreement, the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent that it intends to make an optional prepayment of Term B Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $835,000,000 (the “2024 Prepayment”);

WHEREAS, the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent that, pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Existing Credit Agreement, the Borrower is requesting Refinancing Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000 (the commitments in respect thereof, the “2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitments”) for Refinancing Term Loans to be funded on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (as defined below) (such Refinancing Term Loans, collectively, and including for the avoidance of doubt, any Existing Term Loans (as defined below) of 2024 Converting Lenders (as defined below) that are converted, exchanged or rolled on a “cashless” basis into or for 2024 Refinancing Term Loans pursuant to this Amendment, the “2024 Refinancing Term Loans”) and is requesting that each financial institution party hereto that is identified as a “2024 Refinancing Term Lender” on the signature pages hereto and on Schedule I hereto (each, a “2024 Refinancing Term Lender” and, collectively, the “2024 Refinancing Term Lenders”) make 2024 Refinancing Term Loans to the Borrower on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto;

WHEREAS, the 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders will comprise, and 2024 Refinancing Term Loans will be made by, (i) in part, Lenders who hold Existing Term Loans and who irrevocably agree to convert, exchange or “cashless roll” all or a part of their Existing Term Loans to or for 2024 Refinancing Term Loans (each, a “2024 Converting Lender”); and (ii) in part, Persons providing new 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, which shall be purchased by assignment from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or its designated affiliate) following the Fifth Amendment Effective Date;

WHEREAS, the Borrower intends to use the net proceeds, which shall include the Existing Term Loans that are converted, exchanged or “cashless rolled” pursuant to clause (i) of the immediately preceding paragraph, of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans to refinance the Term B Loans outstanding immediately prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (but after giving effect to the 2024 Prepayment) (the “Existing Term Loans”) in full, and to pay fees, costs and expenses in connection with the incurrence of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has appointed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunnners and Goldman Sachs Bank USA as an arranger (collectively, in such capacities, the “Arrangers”) in connection with the structuring and syndication of the 2024 Refinancing Term Commitments; WHEREAS, on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below), each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender is willing to provide the 2024 Refinancing Term Commitments and 2024 Refinancing Term Loans to the Borrower on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.


NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in reliance on the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Establishment of Refinancing Facility.

(a) Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each (i) 2024 Converting Lender, severally agrees to convert, exchange or roll its Existing Term Loans into or for 2024 Refinancing Term Loans in an amount equal to its 2024 Refinancing Term Commitment set forth next to such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender’s name in Schedule 1, Part B hereto and (ii) each other 2024 Refinancing Term Lender severally agrees to make 2024 Refinancing Term Loans to the Borrower in Dollars, in each case on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, in an amount equal to its 2024 Refinancing Term Commitment set forth next to such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender’s name in Schedule 1, Part A hereto. The aggregate amount of the 2024 Refinancing Term Commitments on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (prior to the funding or conversion, exchange or roll, as applicable, (the “funding”) of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans on such date) is $425,000,000.

(b) Borrowings. The full amount of the 2024 Refinancing Term Commitments shall be drawn by the Borrower in a single drawing on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date. Immediately after the funding thereof on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date by the applicable 2024 Refinancing Term Lender, the 2024 Refinancing Term Commitments of such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender shall terminate without further action by any Person. Principal amounts of 2024 Refinancing Term Loans repaid or prepaid on or after the date of funding thereof may not be reborrowed.

(c) Treatment under Credit Agreement. (i) This Amendment shall constitute an “Incremental Facility Amendment” pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.14 of the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans shall constitute “Refinancing Term Loans” (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement), (iii) each 2024 Refinancing Term Loan constitutes a “Loan”, a “2024 Refinancing Term Loan” and a “Term Loan” (each, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) for all purposes of the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iv) each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender shall be a “Lender”, a “2024 Refinancing Term Lender” and a “Term Lender” (each, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement), in each case under the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(d) Agreements of 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders. Each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender agrees that (i) effective on and at all times after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender will be bound by all obligations of a Lender under the Amended Credit Agreement, (ii) on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, any such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender with a 2024 Refinancing Term Commitment will fund 2024 Refinancing Term Loans in Dollars to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower in an amount equal to such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender’s 2024 Refinancing Term Commitment and (iii) each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender hereby waives any payment it may be entitled to pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Existing Credit Agreement resulting from the incurrence of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans.

 

2


(e) Notice/Request. Any notice or request required to be provided or delivered under the Existing Credit Agreement (including Sections 2.05 and 2.14 of the Existing Credit Agreement) to the Administrative Agent or existing Lenders has been satisfied or otherwise hereby deemed satisfied or waived.

SECTION 2. Amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement. Subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment and the Existing Credit Agreement, on and effective on and as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended (i) to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example (regardless of color): ) and (ii) to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example (regardless of color): double-underlined text), in each case, as set forth on A hereto (the Existing Credit Agreement, as so amended, including by this Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”).

SECTION 3. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective upon the first date on which each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied (or waived) (such date, the “Fifth Amendment Effective Date”):

3.1 The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from (i) the Borrower and each Loan Party hereto and (ii) each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender either (x) a counterpart of this Amendment signed on behalf of such party or (y) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Amendment) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Amendment;

3.2 The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (a) certifying that the representations and warranties set forth in (x) Section 4 of this Amendment and (y) Article V of the Existing Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are, in each case, true and correct in all material respects (other than any such representation and warranty that is already qualified by materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true in all respects) on and as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date and (b) compliance with the condition set forth in Section 3.5;

3.3 The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary (or equivalent officer) on behalf of each Loan Party dated the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organizational Document for each of the Loan Parties and, with respect to the articles or certificate of incorporation or organization (or similar document) certified (to the extent applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other applicable Governmental Authority) of the state of its organization, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions or other action duly adopted by the Board of Directors and/or equityholders (as applicable) authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such person is a party and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect as of the date of such certificate, (C) as to incumbency certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party, evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Loan Party and (D) attaching a certificate as to the good standing of each Loan Party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State (or other applicable Governmental Authority) of its jurisdiction of organization;

3.4 The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary opinion from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in its capacity as counsel to the Loan Parties addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender;

 

3


3.5 At the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom;

3.6 The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent (i) all fees due and payable on or prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) all expenses due and payable on or prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (including in Section 5 hereof) to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date (or such shorter period reasonably agreed by the Borrower); and

3.7 The Administrative Agent and the 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date all documentation and other information about each Loan Party as has been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date by the Administrative Agent or such 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that (a) the Borrower has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment, (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment (1) are within the Borrower’s corporate or other powers, (2) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and (3) do not contravene the terms of the Borrower’s organizational documents, (c) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and (d) this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

SECTION 5. Costs and Expenses. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its payment obligations set forth in Section 10.04 of the Existing Credit Agreement include the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment and any other documentation contemplated hereby, including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and disbursements of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 6. Ratification. The Existing Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and the other Loan Documents remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and affirmed as of the date hereof. This Amendment shall be limited precisely as written and, except as expressly provided herein, shall not be deemed (i) to be a consent granted pursuant to, or a waiver, modification or forbearance of, any term or condition of the Existing Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the instruments or agreements referred to in any thereof or a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, whether or not known to the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders, or (ii) to prejudice any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders may now have or have in the future against any Person under or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein or any of the transactions contemplated thereby.

SECTION 7. Reaffirmation of the Loan Parties. Each Loan Party party hereto hereby consents to the amendment of the Existing Credit Agreement effected hereby and confirms and agrees as of the date hereof that, notwithstanding the effectiveness of this Amendment, each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is a party is, and the obligations of such Loan Party contained in the Existing Credit Agreement, this Amendment or in any other Loan Document to which it is a party are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed as of the date hereof in all respects, in each case as amended by this Amendment.

 

4


For greater certainty and without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party party hereto hereby confirms that the existing guarantees and/or security interests granted by such Loan Party in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents in the Collateral described therein shall continue to secure the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as and to the extent provided in the Loan Documents.

SECTION 8. Modifications. Neither this Amendment, nor any provision hereof, may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the parties hereto.

SECTION 9. References. Each reference in the Existing Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein,” or words of like import, and each reference in each other Loan Document (and the other documents and instruments delivered pursuant to or in connection therewith) to the “Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof”, “therein” or words of like import, shall mean and be a reference to the Existing Credit Agreement as modified hereby and as each may in the future be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time. This Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Document” for purposes of the Amended Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document.

SECTION 10. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto individually or in combination, in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page by telecopier or electronic mail (in a .pdf format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Amendment shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, 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.

SECTION 11. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 12. Severability. If any provision of this Amendment shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or enforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions of this Amendment in any jurisdiction.

SECTION 13. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN).

SECTION 14. Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Amendment.

[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Borrower
By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name: David Sailer
  Title: Chief Financial Offier
CLEAR CHANNEL ADSHEL, INC.
CLEAR CHANNEL ELECTRICAL SERVICES, LLC
CLEAR CHANNEL IP, LLC
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS
COMPANY CANADA
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, LLC
CLEAR CHANNEL WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, INC.

EXCEPTIONAL OUTDOOR, INC.

GET OUTDOORS FLORIDA, LLC

CLEAR CHANNEL AIRPORTS, INC.

OUTDOOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

UNIVERSAL OUTDOOR, INC.

1567 MEDIA LLC

CCOI HOLDCO III, LLC

CCOI HOLDCO PARENT I, LLC

CCOI HOLDCO PARENT II, LLC

CLEAR CHANNEL METRA, LLC

CLEAR CHANNEL SPECTACOLOR, LLC,

as Guarantors

By:   /s/ David Sailer
  Name: David Sailer
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement]


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

By:   /s/ Philip Tancorra
  Name: Phillip Tancorra
  Title: Director
By:   /s/ Lauren Danbury
  Name: Lauren Danbury
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement]


[Refinancing Term Lender signature pages on file with the Administrative Agent]


ANNEX A

EXHIBIT A

Amended Credit Agreement

See Attached.


 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of August 23, 2019

as amended by that certain

Amendment No. 1 dated as of June 12, 2020

Amendment No. 2 dated as of May 5, 2021

Amendment No. 3 dated as of February 20, 2023

Amendment No. 4 dated as of June 12, 2023

Amendment No. 5 dated as of March 18, 2024

among

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.

as the Borrower,

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

as Syndication Agent,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A

and

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Co-Documentation Agents,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

and

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners for the Term B Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility,

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Bookrunner for the Term B Facility and Manager for the Revolving Credit Facility

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I

  

Definitions and Accounting Terms

  
 

SECTION 1.01

   Defined Terms      1  
 

SECTION 1.02

   Other Interpretive Provisions      99  
 

SECTION 1.03

   Accounting Terms      99  
 

SECTION 1.04

   Rounding      100  
 

SECTION 1.05

   References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.      101  
 

SECTION 1.06

   Times of Day      101  
 

SECTION 1.07

   Timing of Payment or Performance      101  
 

SECTION 1.08

   Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents Generally      101  
 

SECTION 1.09

   Letter of Credit Amounts      103  
 

SECTION 1.10

   Limited Condition Transactions      104  
 

SECTION 1.11

   Leverage Ratios      105  
 

SECTION 1.12

   Cashless Rolls      105  
 

SECTION 1.13

   Certain Calculations and Tests      105  
 

SECTION 1.14

   Additional Alternative Currencies      106  
 

SECTION 1.15

   Change of Currency      106  
 

SECTION 1.16

   Successor Companies      107  
 

SECTION 1.17

   Rates      107  
ARTICLE II   

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

  
 

SECTION 2.01

   The Loans      107  
 

SECTION 2.02

   Borrowings, Conversions and Continuation of Loans      108  
 

SECTION 2.03

   Letters of Credit      111  
 

SECTION 2.04

   Swingline Loans      120  
 

SECTION 2.05

   Prepayments      124  
 

SECTION 2.06

   Termination or Reduction of Commitments      131  
 

SECTION 2.07

   Repayment of Loans      133  
 

SECTION 2.08

   Interest      133  
 

SECTION 2.09

   Fees      134  
 

SECTION 2.10

   Computation of Interest and Fees      134  
 

SECTION 2.11

   Evidence of Indebtedness      135  
 

SECTION 2.12

   Payments Generally      135  
 

SECTION 2.13

   Sharing of Payments      138  
 

SECTION 2.14

   Incremental Credit Extensions      139  
 

SECTION 2.15

   Extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments      143  
 

SECTION 2.16

   Defaulting Lenders      146  
 

SECTION 2.17

   Permitted Exchanges      147  

 

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ARTICLE III   
Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality   
  SECTION 3.01    Taxes      151  
 

SECTION 3.02

   Inability to Determine Rates      155  
 

SECTION 3.03

   Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Loans      157  
 

SECTION 3.04

   Funding Losses      158  
 

SECTION 3.05

   Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation      159  
 

SECTION 3.06

   Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances      160  
 

SECTION 3.07

   Illegality      161  
 

SECTION 3.08

   Survival      162  
 

SECTION 3.09

   Benchmark Replacement Setting      162  
ARTICLE IV   
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions   
 

SECTION 4.01

   Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      165  
 

SECTION 4.02

   Conditions to All Credit Extensions      167  
ARTICLE V   
Representations and Warranties   
 

SECTION 5.01

   Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws      167  
 

SECTION 5.02

   Authorization; No Contravention      168  
 

SECTION 5.03

   Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      168  
 

SECTION 5.04

   Binding Effect      168  
 

SECTION 5.05

   Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      169  
 

SECTION 5.06

   Litigation      169  
 

SECTION 5.07

   Ownership of Property; Liens      169  
 

SECTION 5.08

   Environmental Compliance      170  
 

SECTION 5.09

   Taxes      170  
 

SECTION 5.10

   Compliance with ERISA      170  
 

SECTION 5.11

   Subsidiaries; Equity Interests      171  
 

SECTION 5.12

   Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      171  
 

SECTION 5.13

   Disclosure      171  
 

SECTION 5.14

   Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.      172  
 

SECTION 5.15

   Solvency      172  
 

SECTION 5.16

   Collateral Documents      172  
 

SECTION 5.17

   Use of Proceeds      172  
 

SECTION 5.18

   Patriot Act      172  
 

SECTION 5.19

   Sanctioned Persons      173  
 

SECTION 5.20

   FCPA      173  
ARTICLE VI   
Affirmative Covenants   
 

SECTION 6.01

   Financial Statements      173  
 

SECTION 6.02

   Certificates; Other Information      174  
 

SECTION 6.03

   Notices      176  
 

SECTION 6.04

   Maintenance of Existence      176  
 

SECTION 6.05

   Maintenance of Properties      177  

 

-ii-


  SECTION 6.06    Maintenance of Insurance      177  
 

SECTION 6.07

   Compliance with Laws      177  
 

SECTION 6.08

   Books and Records      177  
 

SECTION 6.09

   Inspection Rights      178  
 

SECTION 6.10

   Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security      178  
 

SECTION 6.11

   Use of Proceeds      180  
 

SECTION 6.12

   Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants      180  
 

SECTION 6.13

   Designation of Subsidiaries      181  
 

SECTION 6.14

   Payment of Taxes      181  
 

SECTION 6.15

   Maintenance of Ratings      181  
 

SECTION 6.16

   Nature of Business      182  
 

SECTION 6.17

   Fiscal Year      182  
 

SECTION 6.18

   Lender Calls      182  
 

SECTION 6.19

   Maintenance of REIT Status      182  
ARTICLE VII   
Negative Covenants   
 

SECTION 7.01

   Liens      183  
 

SECTION 7.02

   Investments      187  
 

SECTION 7.03

   Indebtedness      190  
 

SECTION 7.04

   Fundamental Changes      195  
 

SECTION 7.05

   Dispositions      196  
 

SECTION 7.06

   Restricted Payments      198  
 

SECTION 7.07

   Transactions with Affiliates      202  
 

SECTION 7.08

   Prepayments, Etc., of Indebtedness      204  
 

SECTION 7.09

   Financial Covenants      205  
 

SECTION 7.10

   Amendments or Waivers of Organizational Documents      207  
 

SECTION 7.11

   Restrictions on Subsidiaries’ Distributions      207  
ARTICLE VIII   
Events of Default and Remedies   
 

SECTION 8.01

   Events of Default      207  
 

SECTION 8.02

   Remedies Upon Event of Default      211  
 

SECTION 8.03

   Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries      211  
 

SECTION 8.04

   Application of Funds      212  
 

SECTION 8.05

   Right to Cure      213  
 

SECTION 8.06

   Change of Control      215  
ARTICLE IX   
Administrative Agent and Other Agents   
 

SECTION 9.01

   Appointment and Authorization of Agents      216  
 

SECTION 9.02

   Delegation of Duties      217  
 

SECTION 9.03

   Liability of Agents      218  
 

SECTION 9.04

   Reliance by Agents      219  
 

SECTION 9.05

   Notice of Default      220  
 

SECTION 9.06

   Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents      220  

 

-iii-


  SECTION 9.07    Indemnification of Agents      221  
 

SECTION 9.08

   Agents in their Individual Capacities      221  
 

SECTION 9.09

   Successor Agents      222  
 

SECTION 9.10

   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding      223  
 

SECTION 9.11

   Collateral and Guaranty Matters      224  
 

SECTION 9.12

   Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers      227  
 

SECTION 9.13

   Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents      227  
 

SECTION 9.14

   Withholding Tax      228  
 

SECTION 9.15

   Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements      228  
 

SECTION 9.16

   [Reserved]      229  
 

SECTION 9.17

   Certain ERISA Matters      229  

ARTICLE X

     

Miscellaneous

  
 

SECTION 10.01

   Amendments, Etc.      230  
 

SECTION 10.02

   Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      234  
 

SECTION 10.03

   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      237  
 

SECTION 10.04

   Attorney Costs and Expenses      237  
 

SECTION 10.05

   Indemnification by the Borrower      238  
 

SECTION 10.06

   Payments Set Aside      240  
 

SECTION 10.07

   Successors and Assigns      240  
 

SECTION 10.08

   Confidentiality      248  
 

SECTION 10.09

   Setoff      249  
 

SECTION 10.10

   Counterparts; Electronic Execution      250  
 

SECTION 10.11

   Integration      251  
 

SECTION 10.12

   Survival of Representations and Warranties      251  
 

SECTION 10.13

   Severability      251  
 

SECTION 10.14

   GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS      251  
 

SECTION 10.15

   WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      253  
 

SECTION 10.16

   Binding Effect      253  
 

SECTION 10.17

   [Reserved]      253  
 

SECTION 10.18

   Lender Action      253  
 

SECTION 10.19

   USA PATRIOT Act      253  
 

SECTION 10.20

   Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements      254  
 

SECTION 10.21

   Obligations Absolute      254  
 

SECTION 10.22

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      254  
 

SECTION 10.23

   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      255  
 

SECTION 10.24

   ABL Intercreditor Agreement; First Lien Intercreditor Agreement      255  
 

SECTION 10.25

   Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      256  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES

1.01A       Guarantors
1.01B       Excluded Subsidiaries
1.01C       Unrestricted Subsidiaries
2.01       Commitments
2.03(a)       Existing Letters of Credit
5.06       Litigation
5.07       Material Real Property
5.08       Environmental Compliance
5.11       Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.12       Post-Closing Covenants
7.01(b)       Existing Liens
7.02       Existing Investments
7.03(c)       Surviving Indebtedness
7.07       Transactions with Affiliates
7.11       Restrictions on Subsidiaries’ Distributions
10.02       Administrative Agent’s Office, Principal Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
Form of
A       Assignment and Assumption
B       Committed Loan Notice
C       Compliance Certificate
D-1       First Lien Intercreditor Agreement
D-2       Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement
D-3       ABL Intercreditor Agreement
E       Guaranty
F-1       Revolving Credit Note
F-2       Term Note
F-3       Swingline Note
G       Security Agreement
H       Discounted Prepayment Option Notice
I       Lender Participation Notice
J       Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice
K       United States Tax Compliance Certificates
L       Officer’s Certificate
M       Holdings Covenant
N       Minimum Liquidity Certificate

 

-v-


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of August 23, 2019, among Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (“DBNY”), as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

1. The Borrower intends to (i) repay the principal, accrued and unpaid interest, fees, premium, if any, and other amounts, under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, among Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., as parent borrower, the other borrowers from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified through the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Facility”), and have all security interests and guarantees terminated and (ii) redeem all of (x) the Senior Unsecured Notes and (y) the CCIBV Notes (collectively, the “Refinancing”).

2. The Borrower has, substantially concurrently with the entry into this Agreement, issued and sold the Senior Secured Notes, yielding up to $1,250,000,000 in gross cash proceeds and has entered into that certain ABL Credit Agreement.

3. The proceeds of the Term B Loans will be used, together with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes and cash on hand of the Borrower and its subsidiaries and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to consummate the Refinancing and the other Transactions. The proceeds of Initial Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including Capital Expenditures and the financing of Permitted Acquisitions.

4. The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, and the L/C Issuer has indicated its willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Accounting Terms

Defined Terms

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“2020 CCIBV Note” means the Amended and Restated Loan Note, dated as of May 15, 2020, issued by Clear Channel International B.V.

 

1


“2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal aggregate amount of such Lender’s 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.07. The initial amount of each Lender’s 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of the Lenders’ 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is $115,800,000.

“2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time, with respect to any 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Lender, the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender at such time, (b) the L/C Exposure of such Lender at such time and (c) such Lender’s (including the Swingline Lender’s) Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swingline Loans at such time.

“2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility” means the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and the extension of credit made thereunder.

“2023 Extended Revolving Credit Lender” means a Lender with a 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment or, if the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with a 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure.

“2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b)(y) of Section 2.01 in respect of a 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment.

“2024 Refinancing Term Lender” shall mean a Lender with a 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding 2024 Refinancing Term Loan.

“2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning specified in the Fifth Amendment.

“2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date”has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”

“2024 Refinancing Term Loans” has the meaning specified in the Fifth Amendment. The aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans immediately after giving effect to the Fifth Amendment on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date is $425,000,000.

“2024 Refinancing Term Loan Facility” means the Facility comprised of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans.

“2027 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”

 

2


“2028 Senior Unsecured Notes” means 7.750% senior unsecured notes due 2028 issued by the Borrower, as Issuer, on February 17, 2021.

“2028 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”

“ABL Commitments” means “Commitments” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

“ABL Credit Agreement” means the ABL Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the other borrowers named therein, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent and the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder and under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and any Permitted Refinancing thereof (unless such agreement, instrument or document expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not an ABL Credit Agreement), in each case, to the extent permitted hereunder.

“ABL Event of Default” means “Event of Default” as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement.

“ABL Facility” means the collective reference to the ABL Credit Agreement, any ABL Loan Document, any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any guarantee, security agreement, patent, trademark or copyright security agreements, mortgages, letter of credit applications and other guarantees, pledge agreements, security agreements and collateral documents, and other instruments and documents, executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder and under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (unless such agreement, instrument or document expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not an ABL Facility).

“ABL Facility Administrative Agent” means DBNY, in its capacity as administrative agent under the ABL Credit Agreement or any successor agent under the ABL Loan Documents.

“ABL Financial Covenant” means the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 of the ABL Credit Agreement.

“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D-3 among the Collateral Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent under the Senior Secured Notes, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more other classes of Indebtedness, the Borrower and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

3


“ABL Lenders” means “Lenders” under the ABL Credit Agreement.

“ABL Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) the ABL Credit Agreement and (ii) the security documents, intercreditor agreements (including the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), guarantees, joinders and other agreements or instruments executed in connection with the ABL Facility or such other agreements, in each case, as amended, modified, supplemented, substituted, replaced, restated or refinanced, in whole or in part, from time to time including in connection with Refinancing Indebtedness of the ABL Facility.

“ABL Obligations” means “Obligations” as defined in the ABL Facility.

“Acceptable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).

“Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement” means a customary intercreditor agreement, subordination agreement, collateral trust agreement or other intercreditor arrangement (which may, if applicable, consist of a payment waterfall) in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, which shall be deemed reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders if (a) substantially in the form of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (b) it (or any material changes to any such agreement specified in clause (a) or previously entered into pursuant to clause (b)) is posted to the Platform and (i) is accepted by the Required Lenders and/or (ii) not otherwise objected to by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days of being posted.

“Acceptance Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).

“Accounting Changes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03(d).

“Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

“Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Additional Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 6.10(a).

“Additional Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).

“Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

 

4


“Adjusted Daily Simple RFR” means, for any day (an “RFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to, for any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to Pounds Sterling, the greater of (i) the sum of (A) SONIA for the day (such day, a “Sterling RFR Determination Day”) that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (I) if such RFR Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Rate Day or (II) if such RFR Rate Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such RFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SONIA is published by the SONIA Administrator on the SONIA Administrator’s Website; provided that if by 5:00 p.m. (London time) on the second (2nd) RFR Business Day immediately following any Sterling RFR Determination Day, SONIA in respect of such Sterling RFR Determination Day has not been published on the SONIA Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling has not occurred, then SONIA for such Sterling RFR Determination Day will be SONIA as published in respect of the first preceding RFR Business Day for which such SONIA was published on the SONIA Administrator’s Website; provided further that SONIA as determined pursuant to this proviso shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for no more than three (3) consecutive RFR Rate Days and (B) the SONIA Adjustment and (ii) the Floor. Any change in Adjusted Daily Simple RFR due to a change in the applicable RFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the RFR without notice to the Borrower.

“Adjusted Term SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Term SOFR for such calculation plus (b) the Term SOFR Adjustment; provided that if Adjusted Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Adjusted Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

“Administrative Agent” means, subject to Section 9.13, DBNY, in its capacity as administrative agent under the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

5


“Affiliated Lender” means the Borrower (or any parent entity thereof) and its Subsidiaries.

“After Year-End Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).

“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

“Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, other representatives and attorneys-in-fact and successors and permitted assigns of such Persons and Affiliates.

“Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

“Aggregate Letter of Credit Sublimit” means the sum of (a) the Letter of Credit Sublimit with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and (b) the Letter of Credit Sublimit with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility; provided that in no event shall the Aggregate Letter of Credit Sublimit exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.

“Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments” means (i) the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case, of all the Revolving Credit Lenders. The amount of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments on the Closing Date is $175,000,000. The amount of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is $150,000,000.

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).

“All-In-Rate” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) the higher of (A) the Adjusted Term SOFR (or other applicable similar rate) on such date for a deposit in U.S. Dollars with a maturity of three months and (B) the Floor, if any, with respect thereto as of such date, (ii) the Applicable Rate (or other applicable margin) as of such date for Term Benchmark Loans (or other loans that accrue interest by reference to a similar reference rate and without giving effect to any pricing step-downs) and (iii) the amount of original issue discount and upfront fees thereon (converted to yield assuming a four-year average life and without any present value discount) paid by the Borrower, but excluding the effect of any arrangement, commitment, structuring, underwriting, ticking, unused line, amendment, syndication and/or other fees payable in connection therewith by the Borrower that are, in each case, not shared generally with all lenders or holders of such Indebtedness; provided that the amounts set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above for any term loans that are not incurred under this Agreement shall be based on the applicable stated interest rate for such term loans; provided, further that the interest rate margins shall be calculated after giving effect to the then-applicable pricing “level” in any applicable pricing grid, which pricing “level” shall be determined after giving Pro Forma Effect to any Indebtedness being incurred or repaid on the date of calculation.

 

6


“Alternative Currency” means, with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit, Euros, Canadian Dollars and Pounds Sterling, and other currencies as may be added with the consent of all Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 1.14.

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, with respect to an amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, such amount, and with respect to an amount denominated in Dollars or another Alternative Currency, the equivalent in such Alternative Currency of such amount determined at the Exchange Rate on the applicable Valuation Date.

“Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20.

“Applicable Asset Sale Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

“Applicable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).

“Applicable ECF Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).

“Applicable Lending Office” means for any Lender, such Lender’s office, branch or affiliate designated for Term Benchmark Loans, RFR Loans, Base Rate Loans, L/C Advances or Letters of Credit, as applicable, as notified to the Administrative Agent, any of which offices may be changed by such Lender.

“Applicable Percentage” means, at any time (a) with respect to any Lender with a Commitment of any Class, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Commitment of such Class at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all Commitments of such Class of all Lenders (and with respect to any Letters of Credit issued or participations purchased therein by any Revolving Credit Lender or any participations in any Swingline Loans purchased by any Revolving Credit Lender, as the context requires, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders) (provided that (i) in the case of Section 2.16 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined by disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment under such Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) if the Revolving Credit Commitments under any Revolving Credit Facility have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages of the Lenders under such Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect) and (b) with respect to the Loans of any Class, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Outstanding Amount of the Loans of such Class and the denominator of which is the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans of such Class.

 

7


Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as if the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments constituted a single Class.

“Applicable Rate” means a percentage per annum equal to:

(a) (i) (1) if the public corporate rating of the Borrower then in effect from S&P is B or higher and if the public corporate family rating then in effect of the Borrower from Moody’s is B2 or higher, in each case with a stable outlook or better, then (A) for SOFR Loans that are 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, 3.7 5% and (B) for Base Rate Loans that are 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, 2.75% and (2) at all other times (including if the Borrower does not have a public corporate family rating from either S&P or Moody’s, other than as a result of the second paragraph below), (A) for SOFR Loans that are 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, 4.00 % and (B) for Base Rate Loans that are 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, 3.00%.

Each change in the Applicable Rate for 2024 Refinancing Term Loans resulting from a publicly announced change in the ratings above (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Moody’s) shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof by the rating agency making such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

If either the rating system of S&P or Moody’s shall change in a manner that directly and materially impacts the pricing set forth above, or if both S&P and Moody’s shall cease to be engaged in the business of rating debt, then in either such case the Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend the references to either rating above to reflect such changed rating system or to replace such rating system with an alternative measurement scheme, as applicable, and pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the ratings of such rating agency (or both rating agencies, if applicable) most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation shall be employed in determining the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) solely with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, if the public corporate rating of the Borrower then in effect from S&P is B or higher and if the public corporate family rating then in effect of the Borrower from Moody’s is B2 or higher, in each case with a stable outlook or better, then (A) for Term Benchmark Loans that are 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans, 3.25% (B) for RFR Loans that are 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans, 3.25%, (C) for Base Rate Loans that are 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans, 2.25% and (D) for Letter of Credit fees with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to Section 2.03(g), 3.25% per annum, and (ii) at all other times, in connection with 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit fees, the percentages per annum set forth in the table below, based upon the First Lien Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

8


Applicable Rate for 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans

 

Pricing
Level

   First Lien
Leverage Ratio
     Letter of
Credit
Fees
    Base Rate
Loans
    Term
Benchmark
Loans
    RFR Loans  

I

     > 4.50:1.00        3.50     2.50     3.50     3.50

II

   4.50:1.00        3.25     2.25     3.25     3.25

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate pursuant to clause (b) above resulting from a change in the First Lien Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered within the time frame set forth in Section 6.02(a), the Applicable Rate set forth in “Pricing Level I,” in the applicable table, shall apply commencing with the first Business Day immediately following such date and continuing until the first Business Day immediately following the delivery of such Compliance Certificate.

Each change in the Applicable Rate for 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans resulting from a publicly announced change in the ratings above (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Moody’s) shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof by the rating agency making such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

If either the rating system of S&P or Moody’s shall change in a manner that directly and materially impacts the pricing set forth above, or if both S&P and Moody’s shall cease to be engaged in the business of rating debt, then in either such case the Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend the references to either rating above to reflect such changed rating system or to replace such rating system with an alternative measurement scheme, as applicable, and pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the ratings of such rating agency (or both rating agencies, if applicable) most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation shall be employed in determining the Applicable Rate.

(c) (i) solely with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments, if the public corporate rating of the Borrower then in effect from S&P is B or higher and if the public corporate family rating then in effect of the Borrower from Moody’s is B2 or higher, in each case with a stable outlook or better, then (A) for Term Benchmark Loans that are Initial Revolving Credit Loans, 3.25% (B) for RFR Loans that are Initial Revolving Credit Loans, 3.25%, (C) for Base Rate Loans that are Initial Revolving Credit Loans, 2.25% and (D) for Letter of Credit fees with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to Section 2.03(g), 3.25% per annum, and (ii) at all other times, in connection with Initial Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit fees, the percentages per annum set forth in the table below, based upon the First Lien Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

 

9


Applicable Rate for Initial Revolving Credit Loans

 

Pricing
Level

   First Lien
Leverage Ratio
     Letter of
Credit
Fees
    Base Rate
Loans
    Term
Benchmark
Loans
    RFR Loans  

I

     > 4.50:1.00        3.50     2.50     3.50     3.50

II

   4.50:1.00        3.25     2.25     3.25     3.25

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate pursuant to clause (c) above resulting from a change in the First Lien Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered within the time frame set forth in Section 6.02(a), the Applicable Rate set forth in “Pricing Level I,” in the applicable table, shall apply commencing with the first Business Day immediately following such date and continuing until the first Business Day immediately following the delivery of such Compliance Certificate.

Each change in the Applicable Rate for Initial Revolving Credit Loans resulting from a publicly announced change in the ratings above (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Moody’s) shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof by the rating agency making such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

If either the rating system of S&P or Moody’s shall change in a manner that directly and materially impacts the pricing set forth above, or if both S&P and Moody’s shall cease to be engaged in the business of rating debt, then in either such case the Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend the references to either rating above to reflect such changed rating system or to replace such rating system with an alternative measurement scheme, as applicable, and pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the ratings of such rating agency (or both rating agencies, if applicable) most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation shall be employed in determining the Applicable Rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Rate in respect of any Class of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Offer.

 

10


“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class, (b) with respect to any Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer and (ii) the relevant Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swingline Loans, (i) the Swingline Lender and (ii) the relevant Revolving Credit Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, the Appropriate Lenders shall be determined as if the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments constituted a single Class.

“Approved Bank” means a commercial bank with a consolidated combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000,000.

“Approved Currency” means Dollars and any Alternative Currency.

“Approved Foreign Bank” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Cash Equivalents.”

“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

“Asset Sale Percentage” means, as of any date of determination (a) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.25:1.00, 100%, (b) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25:1.00 and greater than 3.75:1.00, 50%, and (c) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.75:1.00, 0%; provided that, to the extent the Asset Sale Percentage is being calculated in connection with a Disposition that is a REIT Conversion Transaction, if the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.50:1.00, the Asset Sale Percentage shall be 0%; it being understood and agreed that, for purposes of this definition as it applies to the determination of the amount of Net Cash Proceeds required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans under Section 2.05(b) for any fiscal year, the First Lien Leverage Ratio or the Total Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis on the scheduled date of prepayment (after giving effect to any cash pay-down or reductions made after year-end and on or prior to the required prepayment date and the amount of Net Cash Proceeds applied as a prepayment on such date but without netting the cash proceeds of the applicable Asset Sale).

“Assignees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(b)(i).

“Assignment and Assumption” means (a) an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit A and (b) in the case of any assignment of Term Loans in connection with a Permitted Exchange conducted in accordance with Section 2.17, such form of assignment (if any) as may have been requested by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.17(a)(viii) or, in each case, any other form (including electronic documentation generated by Clearpar® or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

 

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“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018.

“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

“Available Amount” means, at any time (the “Available Amount Reference Time”), without duplication, an amount (which shall not be less than zero) equal to the sum of:

(a) the greater of (x) $275,000,000 and (y) 45.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, plus:

(b) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period from the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower during which the Closing Date occurred to and including the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower prior to the Available Amount Reference Time (the amount under this clause (b), the “Growth Amount”); provided that the Growth Amount shall not be less than zero; plus

(c) the amount of any capital contributions (including mergers or consolidations that have a similar effect, with the amount of any non-cash contributions made in connection therewith being determined based on the fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) thereof) or Net Cash Proceeds from any Permitted Equity Issuance (or issuance of debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests) (other than any Cure Amount, “Cure Amount” (as defined in the ABL Facility), or any other capital contributions or equity or debt issuances to the extent utilized in connection with other transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.06 or Section 7.08) received by or made to the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus

(d) the aggregate amount of Retained Declined Proceeds and Specified Asset Sale Proceeds during the period from the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus

 

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(e) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clauses (f), (g), (h) or (i) of this definition or any other provision of Section 7.02, the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Unrestricted Subsidiary, JV Entity or minority Investment during the period from the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus (f) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clauses (e), (g), (h) or (i) of this definition or any other provision of Section 7.02, or (iii) used to prepay Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii), the aggregate amount of all cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with (x) the sale, transfer or other disposition of its direct or indirect ownership interest (including Equity Interests) in any Unrestricted Subsidiary, JV Entity or minority Investment or (y) the sale, transfer or other disposition of any assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, JV Entity or minority Investment, in each case, from the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus

(g) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clauses (e), (f), (h) or (i) of this definition or any other provision of Section 7.02, the aggregate amount of all cash or Cash Equivalent interest, returns of principal, cash repayments and similar payments received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Unrestricted Subsidiary, JV Entity or minority Investment, from the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time in respect of Loans or advances made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Unrestricted Subsidiary, JV Entity or minority Investment; plus

(h) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clauses (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this definition or any other provision of Section 7.02, (1) an amount equal to any returns in cash and Cash Equivalents (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, sale proceeds, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Investments pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that with respect to Investments made under Section 7.02(n), in no case shall such amount exceed the amount of such Investment made using the Available Amount pursuant to Section 7.02(n) and (2) the fair market value of any Unrestricted Subsidiary which is re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or merged, liquidated, consolidated or amalgamated into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, from the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; minus (i) the aggregate amount of (i) any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(n) (net of any return of capital in respect of such Investment or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment, including, without limitation, upon the redesignation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any such Investment), (ii) the initial principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred prior to such time pursuant to Section 7.03(v) (net of any forgiveness of principal of such Indebtedness by the lender thereof), (iii) any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 7.06(k) and (iv) any payments made pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iii)(B), in each case, during the period commencing on the Closing Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time (and, for purposes of this clause (i), without taking account of the intended usage of the Available Amount at such Available Amount Reference Time).

 

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“Available Amount Reference Time” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Available Amount.”

“Availability Period” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Facility, the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date for such Revolving Credit Facility and the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Approved Currency, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 3.10(d).

“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

“Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

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“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

“Barclays” means Barclays Bank PLC.

“Base Rate” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:

(a) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by DBNY as its “prime rate”;

(b) 1⁄2 of 1.00% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate;

(c) 0.00% per annum; and

(d) Adjusted Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.00%. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR, respectively.

The “prime rate” is a rate set by DBNY based upon various factors including DBNY’s costs, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by DBNY shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

“Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

“Benchmark” means, (a) with respect to any Term Loan or Term Borrowing, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.09(a) and (b) with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan, Revolving Credit Commitment or Revolving Credit Borrowing, initially, with respect to any (i) Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or then-current Benchmark for Dollars, then “Benchmark” means, with respect to such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.09(a), (ii) Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Pounds Sterling, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to such Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or the then-current Benchmark for Pounds Sterling, then “Benchmark” means, with respect to such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.09(a) and (iii) Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to Euros or Canadian Dollars, EURIBOR or CDOR Rate, respectively; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to EURIBOR or CDOR Rate, as applicable, or the then-current Benchmark for such currency, then “Benchmark” means, with respect to such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.09(a).

 

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“Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event or Other Benchmark Rate Election, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided, that with respect to a Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in any currency other than Dollars or Canadian Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, the alternative set forth in clause (b) below:

(a) (x) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the sum of (i) Daily Simple SOFR and (ii) 0.26161% and (y) in the case of any Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, the first of the following alternatives that can be determined by the Administrative Agent (A) the sum of (i) Term CORRA and (ii) 0.29547% (29.547 basis points) for an Available Tenor of one-month’s duration, and 0.32138% (32.138 basis points) for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration or (B) the sum of: (i) Daily Compounded CORRA and (ii) 0.32138% (32.138 basis points) for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration; or

(b) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as replacement for such Benchmark giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for such Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Approved Currency at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Approved Currency at such time.

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Approved Currency:

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) have been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date; or

(c) in the case of an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Other Benchmark Rate Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Other Benchmark Rate Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Other Benchmark Rate Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, if such Benchmark is a term rate, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Currency, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such Benchmark:

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof)

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the central bank for the Approved Currency applicable to such Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, if such Benchmark is a term rate, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark for any Approved Currency, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to such Benchmark has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.10 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.09.

“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25(b).

“Billboard” means any outdoor display used to advertise products and services, including all billboards, transit displays, mall displays, parking garage displays, electronic displays and related structures and any ownership or leasehold interests in any of the foregoing.

“Billboard Collateral” means all of the Borrower and any Loan Party’s interest in and to any Billboard, including any such interest which is or becomes so related to any real property that an interest in any such Billboard arises under the real property law of the state in which such Billboard is situated.

“Bona Fide Lending Affiliate” means, with respect to any Competitor, any debt fund, investment vehicle, regulated bank entity or unregulated lending entity (in each case, other than a Person separately identified to the Lead Arrangers in writing on or prior to August 1, 2019) that is (i) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and (ii) managed, sponsored or advised by any Person that is controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Competitor or Affiliate thereof, as applicable, but only to the extent that no personnel involved with the investment in such Competitor or affiliate thereof, as applicable, (x) makes (or has the right to make or participate with others in making) investment decisions on behalf of such debt fund, investment vehicle, regulated bank entity or unregulated lending entity or (y) has access to any information (other than information that is publicly available) relating to the Borrower or any entity that forms a part of its businesses (including any of its Subsidiaries or parent entities).

 

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“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class, Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

“Borrowing Minimum” means (a) with respect to Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Loans, $1,000,000 and (b) with respect to Base Rate Loans, $100,000.

“Borrowing Multiple” means $100,000.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the state where the Administrative Agent’s office is located are authorized or required by law to remain closed, or are in fact closed with respect to obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:

(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan, or any other dealings in dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan, means any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day;

(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan, means a TARGET Day;

(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

(d) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an RFR Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Sterling in respect of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings in Pounds Sterling to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such RFR Loan, means any day that is also a an RFR Business Day.

“Canadian Dollars” means the lawful money of Canada.

 

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“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including Capitalized Research and Development Costs and Capitalized Software Expenditures) by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability in accordance with GAAP; provided that all obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 15, 2018 (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capitalized Lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following December 15, 2018 (or any change in the implementation in GAAP for future periods that are contemplated as of December 15, 2018) that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capitalized Lease.

“Capitalized Research and Development Costs” means research and development costs that are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, capitalized.

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

“Cash Collateral Account” means a deposit account at a commercial bank selected by the Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

“Cash Collateralize or Backstop” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer (as applicable) and the Revolving Credit Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of Revolving Credit Lenders to fund participations in respect thereof, cash or deposit account balances denominated, in the case of collateral for L/C Obligations, in the Approved Currency in which the applicable Letter of Credit was issued, or, if the applicable L/C Issuer benefiting from such collateral agrees in its reasonable discretion, other credit support (including by backstopping with other letters of credit), in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) the applicable L/C Issuer and (c) the Borrower (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).

 

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“Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(1) (a) Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros, or any national currency of any member state of the European Union or (b) any other foreign currency held by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States or Canadian governments, a member state of the European Union or, in each case, any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of such country or such member state is pledged in support thereof), having maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

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

(5) commercial paper rated at least “P-2” by Moody’s or at least “A-2” by S&P, and in each case maturing within twenty-four (24) months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with an Investment Grade Rating from S&P or Moody’s, with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(6) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within twenty-four (24) months after the date of creation or acquisition thereof;

(7) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of twenty-four (24) months or less from the date of acquisition; (8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of twenty-four (24) months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

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(9) Investments with average maturities of twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated within the top three ratings category by S&P or Moody’s;

(10) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business; provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business; provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least “P-1” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank;

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

(12) Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above denominated in Dollars; and

(13) investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (12) above.

“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, netting services, cash pooling arrangements, credit or debit card, purchasing card, electronic funds transfer, foreign exchange facilities and other cash management arrangements.

“Cash Management Obligations” means the obligations owed by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Cash Management Bank under any Cash Management Agreement entered into by and between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Cash Management Bank; provided that in no event shall any Cash Management Agreement constitute a Cash Management Obligation hereunder to the extent that obligations of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary under such Cash Management Agreement constitute ABL Obligations.

 

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“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, is a Lender, Lead Arranger, an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender, Lead Arranger, or an Agent (x) on the Closing Date, with respect to Cash Management Agreements existing on the Closing Date or (y) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement (regardless of whether such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender, Lead Arranger or Agent or an Affiliate of the foregoing).

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

“CDOR Rate” means, with respect to each day during an Interest Period pertaining to a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, the interest rate per annum which is the rate based on the average rate applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers’ acceptances, for a term comparable to such Interest Period, appearing on the applicable Bloomberg screen page at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on the first day of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent), or if such date is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with any rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower; provided, further that in no event shall the CDOR Rate be less than 0.00%.

“CCIBV Notes” means Clear Channel International B.V.’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2021.

“CCOH Preferred Stock” means the 45,000 shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued by the Borrower to the holders thereof.

“CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

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“Change of Control” means, subject to Section 8.06, (i) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all shares of the capital stock of the Borrower entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, (ii) after the consummation of a transaction described in clause (a) of Section 8.06, Holdings ceases to own, directly or indirectly through any one or more wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries, 100% of the voting Equity Interests of the Borrower and (iii) a “Change of Control” (or similar event) shall occur under the Senior Secured Notes, the Stepped Up Notes, the ABL Credit Agreement or any Permitted Refinancings thereof.

“Class” (a) when used with respect to Lenders, refers to whether such Lenders hold a particular Class of Commitments or Loans, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Initial Revolving Credit Commitments, 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, Term B Commitments, 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated as an additional Class of Commitments, Additional Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated as an additional Class of Commitments or commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Initial Revolving Credit Loans, 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans, Term B Loans, 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, Extended Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans and any Loans made pursuant to any other Class of Commitments.

“Closing Date” means the date all of the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

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

“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of an initial Benchmark or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate”, the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S.

 

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Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period”, or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 3.03 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower decide may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower decide that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower determine that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower decide is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents). Without limiting the foregoing, Conforming Changes made in connection with the replacement of CDOR with a Benchmark Replacement may include the implementation of mechanics for borrowing Loans that bear interest by reference to the Benchmark Replacement, to replace the creation or purchase of drafts or bankers’ acceptances.

“Collateral” means all the “Collateral” (or similar term) as defined in the Collateral Documents and all other property of whatever kind and nature pledged, charged or in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted under any Collateral Document, and shall include the Mortgaged Properties; provided that, “Collateral” shall not include any Excluded Property.

“Collateral Agent” means DBNY, in its capacity as collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.

“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) the Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or any time after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.10 or Section 6.12 duly executed by each Loan Party that is a party thereto;

(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, by (i) the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) including as of the Closing Date those that are listed on Schedule 1.01A hereto, (ii) [reserved] and (iii) with respect to (x) all Obligations (other than its own Obligations) and (y) the payment and performance by each Specified Loan Party of its obligations under its Guaranty with respect to all Swap Obligations, the Borrower (each, a “Guarantor”);

 

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(c) (i) the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Collateral Document by a first-priority security interest in all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity) held directly by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens and the Collateral Agent shall have received, to the extent the relevant Equity Interests are certificated, 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 and (ii) all Indebtedness owing to any Loan Party that is evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument with an individual outstanding principal amount in excess of $25,000,000 shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Collateral Documents (provided that any promissory notes issued to employees, officers and directors of any of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to be delivered) together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, and all intercompany loans shall have been pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Collateral Documents;

(d) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured by a perfected security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, United States intellectual property, intercompany receivables, other general intangibles (including contract rights), owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, to the extent, and with the priority, required by the Collateral Documents; provided that security interests in real property (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, Billboard Collateral) shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties;

(e) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens;

(f) the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property that is not Excluded Property required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.10 and/or Section 6.12, as applicable, duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a title insurance policy for such Mortgaged Property (or marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a title insurance policy) (the “Mortgage Policies”) insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first priority Lien on the property described therein, in an amount not less than 100% of the fair market value of the real property covered thereby and free of any other Liens except Permitted Liens, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and to the extent available in each applicable jurisdiction, (iii) a Survey with respect to each Mortgaged Property, provided, however, that a Survey shall not be required to the extent that (A) an existing survey together with an “affidavit of no change” satisfactory to the Title Company is delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Title Company and (B) the Title Company removes the standard survey exception and provides reasonable and customary survey-related endorsements and other coverages in the applicable Mortgage Policy, (iv) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Borrower), (v) [reserved], (vi) an opinion of local counsel addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect to the enforceability and perfection of each Mortgage, and (vii) any existing abstracts and appraisals and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgaged Property; and

 

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(g) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Collateral Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, required by the Collateral Documents or applicable Law to create the Liens on the Collateral intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.

The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of the title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower agree in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:

(A) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower;

(B) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to any Excluded Property; (C) no deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or other control agreements or control arrangements shall be required with respect to any deposit account or securities account;

 

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(D) other than with respect to Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantors (for which actions shall be reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower), no actions in any jurisdiction outside of the United States or required by the Laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the United States, or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the Laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States; and

(E) no stock certificates evidencing Excluded Equity shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent.

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, each of the collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, intellectual property security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.01, as applicable, Section 6.10 or Section 6.12, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien or Guarantee in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

“Commitment” means a Term B Commitment, a 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitment, a Revolving Credit Commitment, an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, an Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, a Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment, a commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans, or a commitment in respect of any Extended Term Loans or any combination thereof, as the context may require.

“Commitment Fee” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(a).

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term Borrowing, (b) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (c) a Swingline Borrowing, (d) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (e) a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as may be reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Compensation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

 

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“Competitor” means a competitor of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees or costs, capitalized expenditures, customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs and contract acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and amortization of favorable or unfavorable lease assets or liabilities, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

(a) increased (without duplication) by the following:

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, state franchise, excise and similar taxes, property taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(ii) (w) consolidated interest expense of such Person for such period, (x) net losses or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate, currency or commodities risk, (y) bank fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iii) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iv) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period including any impairment charges or the impact of purchase accounting, (excluding any such non-cash charge, write-down or item to the extent it represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period) or other items classified by the Borrower as special items less other non-cash items of income increasing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash item of income to the extent it represents a receipt of cash in any future period); plus

(v) without duplication of any amounts added back pursuant to clause (xiii) below, the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; plus

(vi) the amount of pro forma adjustments, including pro forma “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, and other synergies (in each case net of amounts actually realized) related to acquisitions, dispositions and other Specified Transactions, or related to restructuring initiatives, cost savings initiatives, entry into new contracts and other initiatives that are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have either been taken, with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or that are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within twenty-four (24) months after the date of consummation of such acquisition, disposition or other Specified Transaction or the initiation of such restructuring initiative, cost savings initiative or other initiatives (including any entry into new contracts); plus

 

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

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

(ix) realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus

(x) net realized losses from Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus

(xi) the amount of any charges, expenses, costs or other payments in respect of (x) facilities no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (y) abandoned, closed, disposed or discontinued operations and (z) any losses on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations; plus

(xii) any non-cash losses realized in such period in connection with adjustments to any Plan due to changes in actuarial assumptions, valuation or studies; plus

(xiii) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of the initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature; plus

(xiv) costs and expenses associated with the REIT Election or a REIT Conversion Transaction (including, without limitation, planning and advisory costs related to the foregoing); and

(b) decreased (without duplication) by the following:

(i) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or cash reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDA in such prior period; plus

(ii) realized foreign exchange income or gains resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus (iii) any net realized income or gains from any obligations under any Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus

 

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(iv) any amount included in Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period attributable to non-controlling interests pursuant to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810-10-45; plus

(v) any gains on disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations;

(c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460 or any comparable regulation; and

(d) increased or decreased (to the extent not already included in determining Consolidated EBITDA) by any Pro Forma Adjustment.

There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. For purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, there shall be excluded the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA shall be, at any time of determination occurring on or after the Closing Date, $148,399,000, $203,364,000 and $88,874,000 and $166,803,000 for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2018, December 31, 2018, March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively, in each case after giving pro forma effect to the Transactions and any adjustment set forth above.

 

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Any adjustments in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income shall be without duplication of any adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA, and any adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA shall be without duplication of any adjustments to Consolidated Net Income. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Consolidated EBITDA” shall refer to the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Consolidated First Lien Debt” means, as to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that (a) is secured by a Lien on the Collateral, other than Liens that are subordinated or junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of loans under the ABL Facility) and (b) is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the amount payable as cash interest expense (including that attributable to capital lease), net of cash interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including financing and net cash costs (less net cash payments) under any Swap Contract, all commissions, discounts and other cash fees and charges owed with respect to letter of credit and bankers’ acceptance and the cash interest expense of Indebtedness for which the proceeds are held in Escrow (except, excluding the interest expense in respect thereof that is covered by such proceeds held in Escrow), but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) any non-cash interest expense and any capitalized interest, whether paid or accrued, (b) the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of indebtedness at less than par, (c) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (d) any expenses resulting from discounting of indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, (e) penalties or interest related to taxes and any other amounts of non-cash interest resulting from the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting, (f) the accretion or accrual of, or accrued interest on, discounted liabilities (other than Indebtedness) during such period, (g) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments pursuant to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, (h) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (i) any payments with respect to make whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, (j) all non-recurring interest expense consisting of liquidated damages for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (k) expensing of bridge, arrangement, structuring, commitment, amendment or other financing fees.

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

 

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Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Consolidated Interest Expense” shall refer to the Consolidated Interest Expense of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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

(1) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed (or, so long as such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, that (as reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment, subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution or return on investment to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below;

(2) solely for the purpose of determining the Available Amount, any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Borrower or a Guarantor by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders (other than (a) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released and (b) restrictions pursuant to the Loan Documents), except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed or that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained above in this clause (2));

(3) any net gain (or loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net gain (or loss) on disposal of disposed, discontinued or abandoned operations;

(4) any net gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any asset (including pursuant to any sale/leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer or the board of directors of the Borrower); (7) any (i) non-cash compensation charge or expense arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards and any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and (ii) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;

 

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(5) any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or nonrecurring gain, loss, charge or expense (including relating to the Transaction Expenses), or any charges, expenses or reserves in respect of any restructuring, relocation, redundancy or severance expense, new product introductions or one-time compensation charges;

(6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

(8) all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid or other expenses incurred directly in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness and any net gain (loss) from any write-off or forgiveness of Indebtedness;

(9) any unrealized gains or losses in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions, in each case, in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts;

(10) any unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person and any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies;

(11) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(12) any recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting effects including, but not limited to, adjustments to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of any consummated acquisition, or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in process research and development); (14) any effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments;

(13) any impairment charge, write-down or write-off, including impairment charges, write-downs or write-offs relating to goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation;

 

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(15) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve (12) months after the Closing Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions in accordance with GAAP;

(16) any net unrealized gains and losses resulting from Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements;

(17) any non-cash expenses, accruals or reserves related to adjustments to historical tax exposures and any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses arising as a result of the Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowances related to such item;

(18) any unrealized or realized gain or loss due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects, determined in accordance with GAAP,

(19) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks,

(20) the amount of board fees to any director of the Borrower or any parent entity or any Restricted Subsidiary,

(21) the amount of loss or discount on sale of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets and related assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing,

(22) any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition, disposition or recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including (A) such fees, expenses or charges (including rating agency fees and related expenses) related to the offering or incurrence of the Loans and any other credit facilities or the offering or incurrence of any debt securities and any securitization related fees and expenses (including any Securitization Fees) and (B) any amendment or other modification of this Agreement, any Securitization Facility and any other credit facilities or any other debt securities, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income,

 

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(23) (A) the amount of any restructuring charge, accrual or reserve (and adjustments to existing reserves), integration cost or other business optimization expense or cost (including charges directly related to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives) that is deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions or divestitures after the Closing Date, including those related to any severance, retention, signing bonuses, relocation, recruiting and other employee related costs, internal costs in respect of strategic initiatives and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employment benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities), systems development and establishment costs, future lease commitments and costs related to the opening and closure and/or consolidation of facilities and to exiting lines of business and consulting fees incurred with any of the foregoing and (B) fees, costs and expenses associated with acquisition related litigation and settlements thereof,

(24) (x) any costs or expense incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are non-cash costs or expenses and/or otherwise funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or Net Cash Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower and (y) the amount of expenses relating to payments made to option holders of the Borrower in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution, to the extent permitted under this Agreement,

(25) earnout and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments,

(26) costs related to the implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives, and

(27) any costs or expenses associated with the Transactions.

 

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In addition, to the extent not already excluded (or included, as applicable) from the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall, without duplication, (1) be increased by business interruption insurance in an amount representing the earnings for the applicable period that such proceeds are intended to replace (whether or not received so long as such Person in good faith expects to receive the same within the next four fiscal quarters (it being understood that to the extent not actually received within such fiscal quarters, such proceeds shall be deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal quarters)) and (2) not include (i) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder or other contractual reimbursement obligations of a third party, (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, (iii) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period, (iv) any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, (v) any non cash charges resulting from mark to market accounting relating to Equity Interests, (vi) any unrealized net gain or loss resulting from currency translation or unrealized transaction gains or losses impacting net income (including currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) and any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses shall be excluded, including those resulting from intercompany Indebtedness and any unrealized net gains and losses resulting from obligations in respect of any Swap Contracts in accordance with GAAP or any other derivative instrument pursuant to the application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and (vii) any non-cash impairment charges resulting from the application of ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other and the amortization of intangibles including those arising pursuant to ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, and, provided, further that solely for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow and the Available Amount, the income or loss of any Person accrued prior to the date on which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or the date that such other Person’s assets are acquired by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, in each case, shall be excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Consolidated Net Income” shall refer to the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Consolidated Secured Debt” means, as to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that (a) is secured by a Lien on the Collateral and (b) is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the applicable Person at such date.

 

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“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all third party Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Leases and purchase money Indebtedness (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, undrawn letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and/or bank guarantees); provided that “Consolidated Total Debt” shall be calculated (i) net of the Unrestricted Cash Amount, (ii) excluding any obligation, liability or indebtedness of any such Person if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, such Person has irrevocably deposited with the proper Person in trust or escrow the necessary funds (or evidences of indebtedness) for the payment, redemption or satisfaction of such obligation, liability or indebtedness, and thereafter such funds and evidences of such obligation, liability or indebtedness or other security so deposited are not included in the calculation of Unrestricted Cash Amount and (iii) based on the initial stated principal amount of any Indebtedness that is issued at a discount to its initial stated principal amount without giving effect to any such discounts; provided that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include (w) Indebtedness in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing, (x) Letters of Credit (or other letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and bank guarantees), except to the extent of Unreimbursed Amounts (or unreimbursed amounts) thereunder, (y) obligations under Swap Contracts entered into and (z) Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction solely to the extent and for so long as the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an Escrow and are not otherwise made available to the relevant Person (it being understood that in any event, any such proceeds subject to such Escrow shall be deemed to constitute “restricted cash” for purposes of cash netting) (provided that such Escrow is secured only by proceeds of such Indebtedness and the proceeds thereof shall be promptly applied to satisfy and discharge such Indebtedness if the definitive agreement for such transaction is terminated prior to the consummation thereof).

“Consolidated Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of (a) 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 its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at such date, excluding the current portion of current and deferred income taxes over (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 its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such date, but excluding, without duplication, (i) the current portion of any Funded Debt or other long-term liabilities, (ii) all Indebtedness consisting of loans under the ABL Facility, revolving loans and letter of credit obligations to the extent otherwise included therein, (iii) the current portion of interest, (iv) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (v) the current portion of any Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vi) deferred revenue arising from cash receipts that are earmarked for specific projects, (vii) the current portion of deferred acquisition costs and (viii) current accrued costs associated with any restructuring or business optimization (including accrued severance and accrued facility closure costs).

“Contract Consideration” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

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“Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”

“Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“CORRA” means the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average administered and published by the Bank of Canada (or any successor administrator).

“Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25(b).

“Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25(a).

“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

“Cure Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(a).

“Cure Right” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(a).

“Customary Term A Loans” means any term loans that contain provisions customary for “term A loans,” as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, that are syndicated primarily to Persons regulated as banks in the primary syndication thereof and that do not mature prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility then in effect.

“Daily Compounded CORRA” means, for any day, CORRA with interest accruing on a compounded daily basis, with the methodology and conventions for this rate (which will include compounding in arrears with a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the methodology and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded CORRA for business loans; provided that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion; and provided that if the administrator has not provided or published CORRA and a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to CORRA has not occurred, then, in respect of any day for which CORRA is required, references to CORRA will be deemed to be references to the last provided or published CORRA.

“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

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“DBNY” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).

“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default (other than any event or condition that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would become an Event of Default solely as a result of Section 8.01(e)).

“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) with respect to any overdue principal for any Loan, the applicable interest rate for such Loan plus 2.00% per annum (provided that with respect to Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, the determination of the applicable interest rate is subject to Section 2.02(c) to the extent that Term Benchmark Loans may not be converted to, or continued as, Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, pursuant thereto) and (b) with respect to any other overdue amount, including overdue interest, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans that are Term Loans plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

“Default Right” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25(b).

 

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“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(e), any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans required to be funded by it, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loan required to be funded by it or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans), unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, Swingline Lender or any other Lender in writing that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Administrative Agent’s, L/C Issuer’s, the Swingline Lender’s or Lender’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent entity that has, in any such case (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity and/or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that, in the case of clause (d), a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent entity thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Government 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, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(e)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

“Delaware Divided LLC” means a Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

“Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

“Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

“Discount Range” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).

“Discounted Prepayment Option Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).

“Discounted Voluntary Prepayment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i).

 

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“Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(v).

“Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including (a) any Sale Leaseback and any sale of Equity Interests and (b) any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Borrower of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.

“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and/or cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Equity Interests are issued; provided that (x) an Equity Interest in any Person that would constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest but for terms thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to redeem or purchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of an “asset sale,” a “change of control” or similar event shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest if any such requirement becomes operative only after repayment in full of the Loans and all other Loan Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and all outstanding Letters of Credit (or the cash collateralization or backstop thereof in a manner permitted hereunder) and (y) if an Equity Interest in any Person is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of the Subsidiaries, or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interest shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent entity thereof) or any of the Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations of such Person.

 

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“Disqualified Lenders” means (i) such Persons (or related funds of such Persons) that have been specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent prior to August 1, 2019, (ii) Competitors that have been specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time and (iii) in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their Affiliates (other than, in the case of clause (ii), Affiliates that are Bona Fide Lending Affiliates) that are (A) specified by name in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time or (B) reasonably identifiable on the basis of such Affiliate’s name; it being understood, that any subsequent designation of a Disqualified Lender shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any person that has been assigned any Loans or any participation therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

“Dollar Equivalent” means, on any date of determination, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency or any other currency, the equivalent in Dollars of such amount, determined at the Exchange Rate on the applicable Valuation Date. In making the determination of the Dollar Equivalent for purposes of determining the aggregate available Revolving Credit Commitments on any date of any Credit Extension, the Administrative Agent or a relevant L/C Issuer, as applicable, pursuant to Section 1.08 shall use the Exchange Rate in effect at the date on which the Borrower requests the Credit Extension for such date or as otherwise provided pursuant to the provisions of such Section.

“Domestic Foreign Holding Company” means any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that owns no material assets (held directly or indirectly through one or more disregarded entities) other than capital stock (or capital stock and/or debt and/or other instrument treated as equity) of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and/or Domestic Foreign Holding Companies.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, 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 which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

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“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.

“Eligible Assignee” means any Assignee permitted by and consented to in accordance with Section 10.07(b) and/or Section 10.07(l) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.07). For the avoidance of doubt, (x) any Disqualified Lender is subject to Section 10.07(l) and (y) any Affiliated Lender may be an Eligible Assignee, including as a result of non-pro rata open market purchases, subject to compliance with the provisions of Section 10.07.

“Environment” means air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to pollution, the protection of the Environment, the generation, transport, storage, use, treatment, Release or threat of Release of any Hazardous Materials or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and safety.

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage or treatment of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure of any Person to any Hazardous Materials or (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the Environment, including, in each case, any such liability which any Loan Party has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of Law.

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control with any Loan Party and is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

 

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“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or a failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, notification of any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA; (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (h) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303(i)(4)(A) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4)(A) of the Code); (i) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to any Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party which would reasonably be expected to result in liability to any Loan Party; (j) the filing pursuant to Section 431 of the Code or Section 304 of ERISA of an application for the extension of any amortization period; or (k) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan.

“Escrow” means an escrow, trust, collateral or similar account or arrangement holding proceeds of Indebtedness solely for the benefit of an unaffiliated third party.

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

“EURIBOR” means, with respect to any applicable determination date, the euro interbank offered rate, as administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person that takes over the administration of such rate) for the relevant Interest Period, as displayed on the applicable Bloomberg screen (or on any successor or substitute screen or service providing such quotations).

“EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Borrowing denominated in Euros, the rate per annum equal to EURIBOR, as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

“Euro” or “€” means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty on European Union and as referred to in the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states, being in part legislative measures to implement the European and Monetary Union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

 

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“Eurocurrency Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (a) in relation to a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, the CDOR Rate and (b) in relation to a Loan denominated in Euros, EURIBOR.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if the EURIBOR Rate at any date of determination is less than the Floor then such rate shall be deemed to be the Floor.

“Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

“Excess Cash Flow” means, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, an amount equal to the excess of:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such Excess Cash Flow Period;

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income but excluding any non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash charge in any future Excess Cash Flow Period or amortization of a prepaid cash gain that was paid in a prior Excess Cash Flow Period, in each case, for such Excess Cash Flow Period;

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for such applicable period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such Excess Cash Flow Period or the application of purchase accounting);

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Excess Cash Flow Period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; and

(v) cash receipts in respect of Swap Contracts during such Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income; over

(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income in any prior Excess Cash Flow Period);

 

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(ii) without duplication of amounts subtracted pursuant to clause (x) below in prior Excess Cash Flow Periods, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions made in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness); (iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including (A) the principal component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (B) the amount of repayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(a) and any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to such Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other prepayments of Term Loans, (Y) all prepayments under any Revolving Credit Facility and (Z) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except, in the case of clause (Z), to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder) made during such Excess Cash Flow Period in cash, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of other long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness);

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Excess Cash Flow Period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such Excess Cash Flow Period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such Excess Cash Flow Period or the application of purchase accounting);

(vi) cash payments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Excess Cash Flow Period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than long-term Indebtedness (including such Indebtedness specified in clause (b)(iii) above);

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior Excess Cash Flow Periods, the amount of Investments and acquisitions made during such Excess Cash Flow Period in each case in cash pursuant to Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(a), (d), (f) or (n)) except to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness);

(viii) the amount of Restricted Payments paid in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period pursuant to Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(b) and (c)) except to the extent that such Restricted Payments were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness);

(ix) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Excess Cash Flow Period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness except to the extent that such amounts were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness); (x) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such Excess Cash Flow Period and were not financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness);

 

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(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior Excess Cash Flow Periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such Excess Cash Flow Period relating to Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions to be consummated or made during the Excess Cash Flow Period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period except to the extent intended to be financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of other long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving Indebtedness); provided that to the extent the aggregate amount utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions during such Excess Cash Flow Period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall, shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters;

(xii) the amount of cash taxes and Tax Distributions (including penalties and interest) paid or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such Excess Cash Flow Period; and

(xiii) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income.

“Excess Cash Flow Percentage” means, as of any date of determination (a) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.25:1.00, 50%, (b) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25:1.00 and greater than 3.75:1.00, 25%, and (c) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.75:1.00, 0%; it being understood and agreed that, for purposes of this definition as it applies to the determination of the amount of Excess Cash Flow that is required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans under Section 2.05(b)(i) for any fiscal year, the First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis on the scheduled date of prepayment (after giving effect to all voluntary prepayments, Permitted Acquisitions, Investments and Capital Expenditures described in Section 2.05(b)(i)(1), (2), (3) and (4) for such Excess Cash Flow Period and including any such applicable After Year-End Transactions as of the date of such prepayment).

“Excess Cash Flow Period” means each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the first full fiscal year ending after the Closing Date).

“Excess Cash Flow Threshold” means the greater of $50,000,000 and 8.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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“Exchange Rate” means, for a currency, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase (or in the case of such Person being DBNY or any of its Affiliates, the sale) by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided, further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

“Excluded Equity” means Equity Interests (i) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (ii) of a Foreign Subsidiary or a Subsidiary that is a Domestic Foreign Holding Company of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case, other than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting (and 100% of the non-voting) Equity Interests of a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary or any Subsidiary that is a Domestic Foreign Holding Company; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Excluded Equity shall not include any non-voting Equity Interests of any such Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company, (iii) of a Subsidiary of any Person described in clause (ii), (iv) of any Immaterial Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, (v) of any Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have determined in their reasonable judgment and agreed in writing that the costs of providing a pledge of such Equity Interests or perfection thereof is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (vi) Equity Interests in any Person other than the Borrower and wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the extent not permitted to be pledged by the terms of such Person’s Organization Documents, shareholder agreement or joint venture documents after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof; (vii) of any captive insurance companies, not-for-profit Subsidiaries, special purpose entities (including any Securitization Subsidiary used solely to effect a Qualified Securitization Financing), (viii) that constitute margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U), (ix) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, the pledge of which is prohibited by applicable Laws after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and (x) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment subject to assumed secured Indebtedness permitted hereunder not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder if such Equity Interests are pledged as security for such Indebtedness pursuant to a Lien that is a permitted Lien and if and for so long as the terms of such Indebtedness (not entered into in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition of Investment) prohibit the creation of any other Lien on such Equity Interests after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law; provided, however, that Excluded Equity shall not include any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Equity referred to in clauses (i) through (x) (unless such proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Equity referred to in clauses (i) through (x)).

 

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“Excluded Property” means (i) any (x) fee-owned real property other than Material Real Property, (y) fee-owned real property located in a special flood hazard area (as determined by the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender) and (z) all leasehold interests in real property, including the requirement to deliver landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters, but excluding, in the case of this clause (i), all Billboard Collateral or other interests in Billboards, the Lien on which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement in the jurisdiction of organization of the relevant Loan Party, (ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (iii) letter of credit rights to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement, (iv) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $25,000,000, (v) assets for which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by applicable Laws after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable law, (vi) other than to the extent the ABL Facility is outstanding, any cash and cash equivalents, deposit accounts and securities accounts (including securities entitlements and related assets held in a securities account) (it being understood that this exclusion shall not affect the grant of the Lien on proceeds of Collateral and all proceeds of Collateral shall be Collateral), (vii) any lease, license or other agreements, or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangements, in each case to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents, to the extent that a pledge thereof or a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement, purchase money, Capitalized Lease or similar arrangement, or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment clauses of the Uniform Commercial Code and applicable Laws, other than the proceeds and receivables thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under applicable Laws notwithstanding such prohibition, (viii) any assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other than on account of any non-income taxes payable in connection with filings, recordings, registrations, stampings and any similar actions in connection with the creation or perfection of Liens), as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with (but without the consent of) the Administrative Agent, but for the avoidance of doubt, including the assets and properties of any Domestic Foreign Holding Company or any Foreign Subsidiary, (ix) any intent-to-use trademark application in the United States prior to the filing and acceptance of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant, attachment, or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability, or result in the voiding, of such intent-to-use trademark application or any registration issuing therefrom under applicable Federal law, (x) any Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets and/or related assets to the extent Disposed of or pledged in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing, (xi) any segregated funds held in escrow for a the benefit of an unaffiliated third party (including such funds in Escrow), (xii) Excluded Equity and (xiii) those assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof is excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby; provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include any proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property referred to each of the clauses above (unless such proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Property referred to in such clauses).

 

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“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01B hereto, (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or at the time such Subsidiary is acquired and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, as applicable, from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a Guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, or any Subsidiary of the Borrower for which the provision of a guarantee would result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Borrower or its subsidiaries or direct or indirect parent companies (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent), (c) any Foreign Subsidiary, (d) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a CFC, (e) any Domestic Foreign Holding Company, (f) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (g) captive insurance companies, (h) not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (i) special purpose entities, (j) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (k) any non-Wholly-Owned joint venture, (l) any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (m) any Subsidiary of the Borrower acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder that, at the time of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, has assumed secured Indebtedness permitted hereunder not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, and each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness at the time of such Permitted Acquisition, in each case, to the extent such secured Indebtedness prohibits such Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor (provided that such prohibition was not entered into in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or Investment, and each such Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary under this clause (m) if such secured Indebtedness is repaid or becomes unsecured, if such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be an obligor with respect to such secured Indebtedness or such prohibition no longer exists, as applicable) and (n) any other Subsidiary in circumstances where the Borrower and the Administrative Agent reasonably agree that the cost or burden of providing a Guaranty outweighs the benefit afforded thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Excluded Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Excluded Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Credit Agreement and the Senior Secured Notes. For avoidance of doubt, none of the Borrowers (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be an Excluded Subsidiary hereunder.

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and solely 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 pursuant to the Collateral Documents to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal or unlawful 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” (determined after giving effect to any applicable keep well, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all Guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest would otherwise have become effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation but for such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant” at such time.

 

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If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document (each, a “Recipient”), (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, that are Other Connection Taxes or otherwise imposed by any jurisdiction as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office in or maintaining an Applicable Lending Office in such jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof), (b) any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to a Recipient pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Recipient becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 3.06) or changes its Applicable Lending Office; provided that, this clause (b) shall not apply to the extent that (x) the indemnity payments or additional amounts any Recipient would be entitled to receive (without regard to this clause (b)) do not exceed the indemnity payment or additional amounts that the Recipient’s assignor (if any) was entitled to receive immediately prior to the assignment to such Recipient, or that such Recipient was entitled to receive immediately prior to its change in Applicable Lending Office, as applicable, (c) any Tax resulting from a failure of such Recipient to comply with Section 3.01(f) or Section 3.01(g), as applicable, and (d) any withholding Tax imposed pursuant to FATCA.

“Existing Credit Facility” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

“Existing Letters of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i).

“Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a)(i).

“Extended Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a)(ii).

“Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).

“Extension Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).

“Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(f).

“Facility” means a Class of Term Loans or the Revolving Credit Facility, as the context may require.

 

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“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (and any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) or any current or future Treasury regulations with respect thereto or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements (and any related laws, regulations or official administrative guidance) implementing the foregoing.

“FCPA” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20.

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds 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 Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to DBNY on such day on such transactions as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that in no event shall the Federal Funds Rate at any time be less than 0.00% per annum.

“Financial Covenant” means the covenant set forth in Section 7.09(a).

“Fifth Amendment” means that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, among the Administrative Agent, Borrower, the Loan Parties party thereto and the 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders party thereto.

“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” means March 18, 2024.

“First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, among the Administrative Agent, Borrower, the Loan Parties party thereto and the Revolving Credit Lenders party thereto.

“First Amendment Effective Date” means June 12, 2020.

“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2, among the Collateral Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent under the Senior Secured Notes, and the representatives for purposes thereof for holders of one or more other classes of Indebtedness, the Borrower and the other parties thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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“First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

“First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means a Foreign Subsidiary whose Equity Interests are directly owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Fixed Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.13.

“Fixed Incremental Amount” means (i) the greater of $610,000,000 and 100% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period minus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Incremental Facilities, Incremental Equivalent Debt and/or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(r)(ii)(A), in each case incurred or issued in reliance on this definition.

“Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.

“Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to employees outside the United States.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“Fourth Amendment” shall mean the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Administrative Agent, and the Revolving Credit Lenders, L/C Issuers and Swingline Lenders party thereto.

“Fourth Amendment Effective Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Fourth Amendment.

“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

“Fronting Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

“Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

 

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“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided that (A) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that it requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (B) at any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may elect, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided herein), including as to the ability of the Borrower or the Required Lenders to make an election pursuant to clause (A) of this proviso, (C) any election made pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso, once made, shall be irrevocable, (D) any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Borrower’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP and (E) the Borrower may only make an election pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Borrower, including pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), in IFRS.

“Goldman Sachs” Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC.

“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, provincial, country, territorial or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).

“Guarantee Obligations” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).

 

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The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

“Guarantees” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

“Guarantors” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

“Guaranty” means, collectively, (a) the Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.10.

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, and all other chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law due to their hazardous, toxic, dangerous or deleterious characteristics, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, friable asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and toxic mold.

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender, Lead Arranger or Agent or an Affiliate of the foregoing (x) at the time it enters into (including by way of novation) a Swap Contract (regardless of whether such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender, Lead Arranger or Agent or an Affiliate of the foregoing) or (y) as of the Closing Date (regardless of whether such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender, Lead Arranger or Agent or an Affiliate of the foregoing) and that is a party to a Swap Contract in existence on the Closing Date a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, in its capacity as a counterparty to such Swap Contract.

“Holdings” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(a)(ii).

“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

“IBA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(b).

 

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“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted in the European Union.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that has been designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement (and not redesignated as a Material Subsidiary as provided below), provided that (a) for purposes of this Agreement, at the time of such designation the Consolidated Total Assets of all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries) at the last day of the most recent Test Period shall not equal or exceed 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, (b) the Borrower shall not designate any new Immaterial Subsidiary if such designation would not comply with the provisions set forth in clause (a) above, and (c) if the Consolidated Total Assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries so designated by the Borrower as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” (and not redesignated as “Material Subsidiaries”) shall at any time exceed the limits set forth in clause (a) above, then all such Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries unless and until the Borrower shall redesignate one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries, in each case in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, and, as a result thereof, the Consolidated Total Assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries still designated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” do not exceed such limits; and provided, further that the Borrower may designate and re-designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the terms set forth in this definition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Immaterial Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Credit Agreement and the Senior Secured Notes. For avoidance of doubt, none of the Borrowers (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be an Immaterial Subsidiary hereunder.

“Impacted Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a).

“Incremental Cap” means

(a) the Fixed Incremental Amount, plus

 

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(b) (i) the amount of any optional prepayment of any Term Loan in accordance with Section 2.05(a) and/or the amount of any permanent reduction of any Initial Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the amount paid in Cash in respect of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any Term Loan resulting from any assignment of such 2024 Refinancing Term Loans to (and/or purchase of such 2024 Refinancing Term Loans by) the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and/or application of any “yank-a-bank” provisions, so long as, in the case of any such optional prepayment, assignment and/or purchase, the relevant prepayment or assignment and/or purchase was not funded with the proceeds of any long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving indebtedness), plus (c) an unlimited amount so long as, in the case of this clause (c), after giving effect to the relevant Incremental Facility, (i) if such Incremental Facility is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations on a first lien basis, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.00:1.00 (or, to the extent such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.00:1.00 and the First Lien Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period), (ii) if such Incremental Facility is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is junior to the Lien securing the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement) that are secured on a first lien basis, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.25:1.00 (or, to the extent such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.25:1.00 and the Secured Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period) or (iii) if such Incremental Facility is unsecured, either at the Borrower’s option (A) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 8.25:1.00 (or, to the extent such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 8.25:1.00 and the Total Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period) or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio is not less than 2.00:1.00, for the most recently ended Test Period (or, to the extent such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the lesser of 2.00:1.00 and the Interest Coverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period), in each case described in this clause (c), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, including the application of the proceeds thereof (without “netting” the cash proceeds of the applicable Incremental Facility on the consolidated statement of financial position of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries), and in the case of any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, assuming a full drawing of such Incremental Revolving Commitments; provided that:

(x) Incremental Facilities and Incremental Equivalent Debt may be incurred under one or more of clauses (a) through (c) of this definition as selected by the Borrower in its sole discretion,

(y) if Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt are intended to be incurred under clause (c) of this definition and any other clause of this definition in a single transaction or series of related transactions, (A) incurrence of the portion of such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred under clause (c) of this definition shall first be calculated without giving effect to any Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred under all other clauses of this definition, but giving full pro forma effect to the use of proceeds of all such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt and related transactions, and (B) thereafter, incurrence of the portion of such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred under such other applicable clauses of this definition shall be calculated, and (z) any portion of Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred under clauses (a) and (b) of this definition may be reclassified, as the Borrower elects from time to time, as incurred under clause (c) of this definition if such portion of Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt could at such time be incurred under clause (c) of this definition on a pro forma basis; provided, that upon delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01 following the initial incurrence of such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt under clauses (a) and (b) of this definition, if such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt could, based on any such financial statements, have been incurred under clause (c) of this definition, then such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt shall automatically be reclassified as incurred under the applicable provision of clause (c) above.

 

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Once such Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt is reclassified in accordance with the preceding sentence, it shall not further be reclassified as incurred under the original basket pursuant to which such item was originally incurred.

“Incremental Equivalent Debt” means Indebtedness incurred by the Loan Parties in the form of senior secured or unsecured notes or loans or junior secured or unsecured notes or loans and/or commitments in respect of any of the foregoing issued, incurred or implemented in lieu of loans under an Incremental Facility; provided that:

(a) the aggregate outstanding amount thereof shall not exceed the Incremental Cap (as in effect at the time of determination, including giving effect to any reclassification on or prior to such date of determination),

(b) except as otherwise agreed by the lenders or holders providing such notes or loans, no Event of Default exists immediately prior to or after giving effect to such notes or loans,

(c) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity applicable to such notes or loans (other than Inside Maturity Loans) is no shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the then-existing 2024 Refinancing Term Loans (without giving effect to any prepayments thereof),

(d) the final maturity date with respect to such notes or loans (other than Inside Maturity Loans) is no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date on the date of the issuance or incurrence, as applicable, thereof,

(e) subject to clauses (c) and (d), may otherwise have an amortization schedule as determined by the Borrower and the lenders providing such Incremental Equivalent Debt,

(f) in the case of any such Indebtedness in the form of Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (c) of the Incremental Cap, the MFN Provision shall apply,

(g) if such Incremental Equivalent Debt is secured, such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, (h) such Indebtedness shall either (i) be in compliance with Section 2.14(b)(v) as if such Indebtedness were incurred thereunder or (ii) be on then market terms (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), and

 

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(i) no such Indebtedness may be (x) guaranteed by any Person which is not a Loan Party or (y) secured by any assets other than the Collateral (provided that, in the case of any Incremental Equivalent Debt that is funded into Escrow, such Incremental Equivalent Debt may be secured by the applicable funds and related assets held in Escrow (and the proceeds thereof until such Incremental Equivalent Debt is released from Escrow)).

“Incremental Facilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Facility Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e). For the avoidance of doubt, the Fifth Amendment constitutes an Incremental Facility Amendment.

“Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).

“Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

“Incremental Revolving Increase Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(e).

“Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

“Incurrence Based Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.13.

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments to the extent the same would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(b) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

 

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(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract (with the amount of such net obligations being deemed to be the aggregate Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date); (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid within thirty (30) days after becoming due and payable, (iii) any other obligation that appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person, to the extent (A) such Person is indemnified for the payment thereof by a solvent Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (B) amounts to be applied to the payment therefor are in escrow and (iv) liabilities associated with customer prepayments and deposits);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and

(h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

provided that (i) in no event shall any obligations under any Swap Contracts be deemed “Indebtedness” for any calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or any other financial ratio under this Agreement, (ii) the amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith and (iii) the Indebtedness of any person shall, except for purposes of calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio to the extent the interest expense in respect thereof is not covered by proceeds held in Escrow or in connection with any test date of any Limited Condition Transaction or any test related to a subsequent transaction, exclude Indebtedness incurred in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction solely to the extent the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in an Escrow and are not otherwise made available to such person.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company, or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt, (B) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude intercompany liabilities arising from their cash management, tax, and accounting operations and intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (C) exclude (i) deferred or prepaid revenue, (ii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the seller, (iii) Indebtedness of any parent entity appearing on the balance sheet of the Borrower solely by reason of push down accounting under GAAP and (iv) exclude obligations under or in respect of any Qualified Securitization Financing.

 

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“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or in respect of any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise included in (a), Other Taxes.

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

“Initial Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

“Initial Lenders” means the Lead Arrangers and their respective affiliates who are party to this Agreement as Lenders on the Closing Date.

“Initial Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Initial Revolving Credit Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal aggregate amount of such Lender’s Initial Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.07. The initial amount of each Lender’s Initial Revolving Credit Commitment on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of the Lenders’ Initial Revolving Credit Commitments on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is $34,200,000.

“Initial Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, with respect to any Initial Revolving Credit Lender, the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of the Initial Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender at such time, (b) the L/C Exposure of such Lender at such time and (c) such Lender’s (including the Swingline Lender’s) Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swingline Loans at such time.

“Initial Revolving Credit Facility” means the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and the extension of credit made thereunder.

“Initial Revolving Credit Lender” means a Lender with an Initial Revolving Credit Commitment or, if the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with an Initial Revolving Exposure.

“Initial Revolving Credit Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b)(x) of Section 2.01 in respect of an Initial Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

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“Inside Maturity Loans” means (i) any customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term debt into which any customary bridge facility is to be converted satisfies any maturity and weighted average life limitations, (ii) any Customary Term A Loans and/or (iii) other Indebtedness under this clause (iii) in the aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

“Interest Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period then last ended to (ii) the Consolidated Interest Expense (which, solely for purposes of issuances of Disqualified Equity Interests pursuant to Section 7.03(r)(ii)(z), Section 7.03(r)(iii)(z), Section 7.03(aa) or clause (c) of the Incremental Cap as Incremental Equivalent Debt, shall (i) also include the sum of all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) to fund any series of Disqualified Equity Interests of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Test Period and (ii) shall include the dividends on the CCOH Preferred Stock to the extent required to be paid in cash) for such Test Period.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or an RFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan or any RFR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

“Interest Period” means, as to any Term Benchmark Loan, the period commencing on the date of such Term Benchmark Loan or Term Benchmark Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or, other than with respect to Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability thereof), as specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) 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 last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period, (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Commitment Termination Date and (iv) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 3.09(d) shall be available for specification in such Committed Loan Notice. For purposes hereof, the date of a Term Benchmark Loan or Term Benchmark Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Term Benchmark Loan or Term Benchmark Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loan or Borrowing.

 

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“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee Obligation with respect to any Obligation of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business) or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment, but in each case, without duplication of any adjustments to the amount of Investments permitted under Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(y)), net of any return in respect thereof, including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by S&P, or an equivalent rating by Fitch, Inc.

“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14.

“ISDA CDS Definitions” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

“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).

“JPMorgan” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

“Junior Debt” means any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness) that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 8.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period. For the avoidance of doubt, Junior Debt shall not include the ABL Facility and/or the Stepped Up Notes.

“Junior Debt Documents” means the agreements governing any Junior Debt.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).

“JV Entity” means any joint venture of either the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Subsidiary.

 

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“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Credit Facility, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any relevant L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facilities; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, all L/C Borrowings shall be made on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage.

“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

“L/C Commitment” means, as to any L/C Issuer, its commitment to issue Letters of Credit under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, pursuant to Section 2.03, in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed (a) in the case of any L/C Issuer party hereto as of the Closing Date, the amount set forth opposite such L/C Issuer’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the heading “Letter of Credit Commitments” and (b) in the case of any Revolving Lender that becomes a L/C Issuer hereunder thereafter, that amount which shall be set forth in the written agreement by which such Lender shall become an L/C Issuer, in each case as the maximum outstanding amount of Letters of Credit to be issued by such L/C Issuer under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, as such commitment may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof or with the agreement in writing of such Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and, in the event such commitment is decreased, the other L/C Issuers. The aggregate L/C Commitments of all the L/C Issuers under each Revolving Credit Facility shall be less than or equal to the Letter of Credit Sublimit for such Revolving Credit Facility at all times.

“L/C Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the undrawn portion of the Outstanding Amount of all Letters of Credit at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Borrowings in respect of Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The L/C Exposure of (i) any L/C Issuer under any applicable Revolving Credit Facility shall be the aggregate L/C Exposure in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by that L/C Issuer under such Revolving Credit Facility (other than for purposes of determining such aggregate L/C Exposure for purposes of determining such L/C Issuer’s unused L/C Commitment, net of any participations by other Revolving Credit Lenders in such Letters of Credit) and (ii) any Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Credit Facility at any time shall be the aggregate amount of all participations by that Lender in the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time which shall be in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time.

 

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“L/C Issuer” means, initially, (i) with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, Barclays and Wells Fargo and (ii) with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility, DBNY, MS, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder and each other Revolving Credit Lender reasonably acceptable to each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that has entered into a letter of credit issuer agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, together with their respective permitted successors and assigns in such capacity. Each L/C Issuer may arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such L/C Issuer, in which case the L/C Issuer shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. In the event that there is more than one L/C Issuer at any time, references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the L/C Issuer shall be deemed to refer to the L/C Issuer in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all L/C Issuers, as the context requires.

“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate maximum amount then available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts in respect of Letters of Credit, including all L/C Borrowings in respect thereof. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. For all purposes under 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 3.14 of the ISP, article 29 of the UCP, or any similar provision under the applicable law or the express terms of the Letter of Credit, the “Outstanding Amount” of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

“Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Term Loan or Incremental Term Loan, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state, provincial and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

“LCT Election” has the meaning specified in Section 1.10(a).

“LCT Provisions” means the provisions of Section 1.10.

“LCT Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.10(a).

 

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“Lead Arrangers” means Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, each in its capacity as Lead Arranger under this Agreement and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacity as a manager under the Revolving Credit Facility, and each of the forgoing, in its capacity as a joint bookrunner under this Agreement.

“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires (including, without limitation, for purposes of Sections 3.03 and 10.22), includes any L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender, and its successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender.”

“Lender Participation Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder (including, in the case of any Existing Letter of Credit, deemed to be issued hereunder). Each Letter of Credit shall be a standby letter of credit.

“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the relevant L/C Issuer.

“Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date” means, for Letters of Credit under a Revolving Credit Facility, the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for such Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means, (A) with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $28,500,000 and (b) the aggregate Initial Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Initial Revolving Credit Lenders and (B) with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $96,500,000 and (b) the aggregate 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, each applicable Revolving Credit Facility.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, assignment (by way of security or otherwise), deemed trust, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

“Limited Condition Acquisition” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by one or more of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person, the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party acquisition financing.

 

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“Limited Condition Transaction” means (i) a Limited Condition Acquisition or (ii) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.

“Liquidity” means, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Unrestricted Cash Amount of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date plus (ii) the excess of Revolving Credit Commitments over Revolving Credit Exposure on such date plus (iii) Excess Availability (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) on such date; provided that the amounts in clauses (ii) and (iii) shall be added only if the conditions precedent to borrowing (other than the delivery of a borrowing notice) shall be satisfied on such date.

“Liquidity Covenant” means the covenant set forth in Section 7.09(b)(i).

“Liquidity Covenant Trigger Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(d).

“Liquidity Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(d).

“Liquidity Testing Period” means the period commencing on the first date of the Relief Period and ending on the date of delivery of the Compliance Certificate with respect to the period ended March 31, 2022.

“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan (including any Incremental Term Loans, any Extended Term Loans, loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) or a Swingline Loan.

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) each Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents and (v) any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement that is entered into, in each case as amended.

“Loan Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party or other Subsidiary arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest, fees and other amounts that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees and other amounts are allowed or allowable in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Loan Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts, in each case, payable by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Agent or Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

 

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“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Local Time” means local time in New York City.

“Losses” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the Borrower or its direct or indirect parent on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock or common equity interests on the principal securities exchange on which such common stock or common equity interests are traded for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

“Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the (a) ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under any Loan Document to which any of the Loan Parties is a party or (b) rights and remedies of the Agents (acting on behalf of the Lenders) under any Loan Document.

“Material Intellectual Property” means any intellectual property owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

“Material Real Property” means any fee owned real property of a Loan Party as of the Closing Date and/or acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date and located in the United States with a book value in excess of $25,000,000 (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith as of the Closing Date or, if acquired thereafter, as of the date of such acquisition, as applicable).

“Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary (but including, in any case, any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Material Subsidiary as provided in, or has been designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary in a manner that does not comply with, the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary”).

 

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“Maturity Date” means (a)(x) with respect to each Revolving Credit Facility, the applicable Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date, and (y) with respect to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, the maturity date applicable to such Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with the terms hereof and (b)(x) with respect to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, August 23, 2028 (the “2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date”); provided that (i) if on May 15, 2027 (the “2027 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date”) there are Senior Secured Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $250,000,000 that mature prior to November 21, 2028, the 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date shall be the 2027 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date or (ii) if on January 15, 2028 (the “2028 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date”) there are 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $199,000,000 that mature prior to November 21, 2028, the 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date shall be the 2028 Springing 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Maturity Date or (y) with respect to any (i) Extended Term Loan, the maturity date applicable to such Extended Term Loan in accordance with the terms hereof or (ii) Incremental Term Loan, the maturity date applicable to such Incremental Term Loan in accordance with the terms hereof; provided, in each case, that if any such day is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately preceding such day.

“Maximum Tender Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(b).

“MFN Provision” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(b).

“Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).

“Minimum Liquidity Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(b)(ii).

“Minimum Tender Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(b).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Mortgage” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds of hypothecation, security deeds, and mortgages creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.10 and/or Section 6.12, as applicable.

“Mortgage Policies” has the meaning specified in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

“Mortgaged Property” means each real property owned by any Loan Party, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered pursuant to Section 6.10 and/or Section 6.12, as applicable.

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the immediately preceding six (6) years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

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“MS” means Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.

“Net Cash Proceeds” means:

(a) with respect to the Disposition of any asset by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Casualty Event, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received and, with respect to any Casualty Event, any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of such Casualty Event actually received by or paid to or for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding any business interruption insurance proceeds)) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and that is required to be repaid (and is timely repaid) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and Indebtedness that is secured by Liens ranking junior to or pari passu with the Liens securing Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees) actually incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event, (C) taxes and Tax Distributions paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable in connection therewith (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other taxes payable as a result of the distribution of such proceeds to the Borrower), (D) [reserved] and (E) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (x) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP and (y) any liabilities associated with such asset or assets and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or with respect to any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the Disposition of any non-cash consideration by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Disposition and (ii) upon the reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in clause (E) above or if such liabilities have not been satisfied in cash and such reserve is not reversed within 365 days after such Disposition or Casualty Event, the amount of such reserve; provided that no net cash proceeds calculated in accordance with the foregoing realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause (a) unless such net cash proceeds shall exceed the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 4.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period for such individual transaction until the aggregate amount of all such net cash proceeds in such fiscal year that are excluded shall exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 8.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause (a)); and

 

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(b) (i) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of (x) the sum of the cash received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over (y) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts, commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (or, in the case of taxes, any member thereof) in connection with such incurrence or issuance and, in the case of Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower, deductions in respect of withholding taxes that are or would otherwise be payable in cash if such funds were repatriated to the United States and (ii) with respect to any Permitted Equity Issuance by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, the amount of cash from such Permitted Equity Issuance contributed to the capital of the Borrower.

“Net Short Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(d).

“Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(d).

“Non-Loan Party” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party.

“Non-extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

“Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 6.10(a)(i).

“Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(f).

“Note” means a Term Note, a Revolving Credit Note or Swingline Note as the context may require.

“Obligations” means all (x) Loan Obligations, (y) obligations of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement and (z) Cash Management Obligations; provided that the “Obligations” shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations.

“OFAC” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19.

“Offered Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).

 

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“Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation or company, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the memorandum and articles of association, any certificates of change of name and/or the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and any agreement, declaration, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

“Other Benchmark Rate Election” means the occurrence of:

(a) a notification by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed), in lieu of a SOFR-based rate, an alternative benchmark rate as a benchmark rate, and

(b) the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and the Borrower jointly elect to trigger a fallback from the then-current Benchmark and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Borrower and the Lenders.

“Other Pari Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes and any other property, intangible, recording or similar Taxes which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, excluding, in each case, any such Tax that is an Other Connection Tax resulting from an Assignment and Assumption or transfer or assignment (other than an assignment pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 3.06).

 

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“Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to any Loan on any date, the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments thereof (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit or L/C Borrowings as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, Unreimbursed Amount, L/C Borrowing or L/C Obligations on any date, the outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any related L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit or related L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under related Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of DBNY in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).

“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six (6) years.

“Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

“Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(j).

“Permitted Exchange” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

“Permitted Exchange Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

“Permitted Exchange Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).

 

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“Permitted Equity Issuance” means any sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests.

“Permitted Liens” means any Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification (other than a release of such Person), refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, and as otherwise permitted under Section 7.03, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(f), such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (other than any Inside Maturity Loans) has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (c) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is secured by a Lien on the Collateral, (i) the Lien securing such Indebtedness as modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended shall not be senior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended unless such Lien is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.01 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.01) and/or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement is entered into and (ii) shall not be secured by any additional assets that do not constitute Collateral unless such additional assets substantially concurrently become Collateral or a Lien on such assets is otherwise permitted under any basket or exception under Section 7.01 (with such amounts constituting utilization of the applicable basket or exception under Section 7.01), (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is guaranteed by a Guarantee, such Indebtedness as modified, refinanced, renewed or extended shall not have any additional guarantees unless such additional guarantees are substantially simultaneously provided in respect of the Loans and Commitments under this Agreement and (e) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c), (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (ii) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, call protection, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Loans being refinanced) shall be either, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders providing such Indebtedness, in their capacity as such or be on market terms at the time of the establishment of such Indebtedness (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Borrower) (except for (x) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the relevant Loans being refinanced or (y) to the extent any more restrictive covenant or provision is added for the benefit of (A) with respect to any such Indebtedness incurred as term B loans, such covenant or provision is also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness or (B) with respect to any revolving facility or Customary Term A Loans, such covenant or provision (except to the extent only applicable after the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility) is also added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility to the extent it remains outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant or provision); provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees) and (iii) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is incurred by a Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.

 

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“Permitted Sale Leaseback” means any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date for an aggregate amount for all such Sale Leasebacks not to exceed the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided that any such Sale Leaseback not between (x) a Loan Party and another Loan Party or (y) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be, in each case, consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback).

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) other than a Foreign Plan, established or maintained by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

“Plan of Reorganization” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(l)(iii).

 

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“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

“Pounds Sterling” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

“Prepayment Asset Sale” means a Disposition under Sections 7.05(l), 7.05(m) and/or 7.05(v).

“Principal Office” means, for each of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each L/C Issuer, such Person’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as such Person may from time to time notify in writing to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the L/C Issuers.

“Proceeding” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

“Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA, (a) the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that is expected to have a continuing impact and (b) additional good faith pro forma adjustments arising out of cost savings initiatives attributable to such transaction and additional costs associated with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case being given pro forma effect, which actions (i) have been taken or (ii) will be taken or implemented within the succeeding twenty-four (24) months following such transaction and, in each case, including, but not limited to, (w) reduction in personnel expenses, (x) reduction of costs related to administrative functions, (y) reductions of costs related to leased or owned properties and (z) reductions from the consolidation of operations and streamlining of corporate overhead) taking into account, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of the Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, assuming such Permitted Acquisition or conversion, and all other Permitted Acquisitions or conversions that have been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities repaid in connection therewith had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Indebtedness to be incurred bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, so long as such actions are initiated during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period; provided, further that at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $25,000,000.

 

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“Pro Forma Basis” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder for an applicable period of measurement, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith that have been made during the applicable period of measurement or, except for determining the Applicable Rate and for determining actual compliance with the Financial Covenant, subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement (as of the last date in the case of a balance sheet item) in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, (1) without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” and give effect to events (including cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of “Pro Forma Adjustment” and (2) in connection with any Specified Transaction that is the incurrence of Indebtedness in respect of which compliance with any specified leverage ratio test is by the terms of this Agreement required to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, (I) the proceeds of such Indebtedness shall not be netted from Indebtedness in the calculation of the applicable leverage ratio test and (II) subject to Section 1.11, if such Indebtedness is a revolving facility, (other than in respect of actual compliance with the Financial Covenant) the incurrence or repayment of any indebtedness in respect of such revolving facility (including the Revolving Credit Facility) included in such financial covenant ratio or incurrence test calculation immediately prior to or simultaneously with the incurrence of such indebtedness for which the pro forma calculation of such ratio or test is being made and/or any drawing under any revolving facilities used to finance working capital needs of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), shall be disregarded but, for avoidance of doubt, shall thereafter be included in any future calculations after giving effect to any prepayments or other Specified Transactions with respect thereto.

 

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“Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).

“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

“Public Company Costs” means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, costs associated with, or in anticipation of, or preparation for, compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and costs relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act or any other comparable body of laws, rules or regulations, as companies with listed equity, directors’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, costs relating to investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees, in each case to the extent arising by virtue of the listing of the Borrower’s or its direct or indirect parent’s equity or issuance by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries of public debt securities.

“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Public Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 1.10(a)(ii).

“QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25(b).

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25.

“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests of the Borrower that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that is non-recourse to the Borrower or any Subsidiaries (other than Standard Securitization Undertakings) other than a Securitization Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of $175 million and 30% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period that meets the following conditions: (i) the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

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“Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iv).

“Qualifying Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iv).

“Qualifying Term Loans” means term loans that are (i) effective prior to the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) denominated in Dollars in the form of syndicated term loans (other than customary bridge loans or Customary Term A Loans), secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term B Loans in right of payment and with respect to security, (iii) the maturity of which is prior to the date one year after the Term B Loan Maturity Date and (iv) is in an aggregate original principal amount for all term loans incurred with respect to the applicable provision, in excess of the greater of (x) $100,000,000 and (y) 16.5% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

“Refinancing” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

“Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments” means Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as “Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence.

“Refinancing Term Loans” means Incremental Term Loans that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as “Refinancing Term Loans” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence.

“Refunded Swingline Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).

“Regulated Bank” means an Approved Bank that is (i) a U.S. depository institution the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (ii) a corporation organized under section 25A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act of 1913; (iii) a branch, agency or commercial lending company of a foreign bank operating pursuant to approval by and under the supervision of the Board under 12 CFR part 211; (iv) a non-U.S. branch of a foreign bank managed and controlled by a U.S. branch referred to in clause (iii); or (v) any other U.S. or non-U.S. depository institution or any branch, agency or similar office thereof supervised by a bank regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.

“REIT” means a “real estate investment trust” as defined under Sections 856–860 of the Code.

“REIT Conversion Transaction” means any of the following transactions entered into in connection with, or in contemplation of, a REIT Election: (i) a Disposition in accordance with Section 7.05(v), (ii) the payment of any dividends or distributions in accordance with Section 7.06(g)(viii) and (iii) any other transaction consummated in connection with, or in contemplation of, a REIT Election.

 

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“REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement” means, after giving effect to the relevant REIT Conversion Transaction, (a) there is no Default or Event of Default and (b) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.50:1.00, as calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

“REIT Election” means an election by the Borrower (or its applicable parent entity) to be treated as a REIT; provided that, (x) the Borrower (or its applicable parent entity) has publicly announced its intention to become a REIT and (y) as of such election, on a Pro Forma Basis, after giving effect to all related REIT Conversion Transactions the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement is satisfied.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means (a) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto and (b) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, any Alternative Currency, (1) the central bank for the Alternative Currency in which such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (2) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (A) the central bank for the Alternative Currency in which such Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, (B) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (i) such Benchmark Replacement or (ii) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (C) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (D) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

“Rejection Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching of Hazardous Materials into or through the Environment or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.

“Relief Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.

“Relief Period Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.

“Reorganization” means any reorganization of any of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries implemented in order to optimize the tax position of such entities or any parent thereof (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith) so long as such reorganization does not materially impair any Guarantee or security interests of the Lenders and is otherwise not materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacity as such, taken as a whole, and after giving effect to such restructuring, the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise comply with the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and Section 6.10.

 

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“Replacement CCOH Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 7.06(s).

“Reportable Event” means, with respect to any Pension Plan, any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

“Repricing Event” means (a) with respect to the Term B Loans (i) any prepayment or repayment of Term B Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of Term B Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans secured on a pari passu basis with the Term B Loans that is broadly syndicated bearing interest with an All-In-Rate less than the All-In-Rate applicable to the Term B Loans prepaid, repaid or replaced and (ii) any amendment (including pursuant to a replacement term loan as contemplated by Section 10.01 and any assignment of Term B Loans pursuant to Section 3.06) to the Term B Loans which reduces the All-In-Rate applicable to any Term B Loans and (b) with respect to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans (i) any prepayment or repayment of 2024 Refinancing Term Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of 2024 Refinancing Term Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans secured on a pari passu basis with the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans that is broadly syndicated bearing interest with an All-In-Rate less than the All-In-Rate applicable to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans prepaid, repaid or replaced and (ii) any amendment (including pursuant to a replacement term loan as contemplated by Section 10.01 and any assignment of 2024 Refinancing Term Loans pursuant to Section 3.06) to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans which reduces the All-In-Rate applicable to any 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, but in each case of clauses (a)(i), (a)(ii), (b)(i) and (b)(ii), excluding in connection with (x) a Transformative Transaction or (y) a Change of Control; provided that in the cases of clauses (a)(i), (a)(ii), (b)(i) and (b)(ii), the primary purpose of such prepayment, repayment or amendment is to reduce the All-In Rate.

“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application and (c) with respect to a Swingline Loan, a Committed Loan Notice.

“Required Debt Terms” shall mean in respect of any Indebtedness, (a) other than in the case of Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties, either (i) compliance with Section 2.14(b)(v) or (ii) incurrence on then current market terms (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith), (b) other than in the case of Inside Maturity Loans, compliance with Sections 2.14(b)(iii) and (iv), in each case, as if such Indebtedness were incurred thereunder and (c) solely in the case of Qualifying Term Loans and only to the extent incurred in reliance on clause (c) of the Incremental Cap, Section 7.03(r)(ii)(B)(x) or Section 7.03(r)(iii)(x), compliance with the MFN Provisions.

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate Outstanding Amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

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“Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50.0% in the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments plus after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments under any Revolving Credit Facility, the Revolving Credit Exposure under such Revolving Credit Facility of all Lenders; provided that the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or other similar officer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on a Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

“Restricted Casualty Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

“Restricted Disposition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

“Restricted Group” means, collectively, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest in the Borrower, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary; it being agreed that, unless otherwise specified, “Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower.

“Retained Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).

 

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“Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Class, Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

“Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Initial Revolving Credit Commitment or the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, of such Lender.

“Revolving Credit Commitment Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time for any Lender, (a) the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender and (b) the Initial Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender.

“Revolving Credit Facilities” means (a) the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility and (b) the Initial Revolving Credit Facility collectively and “Revolving Credit Facility” shall refer to any one of them individually as the context requires.

“Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, August 23, 2026 (the “Extended Maturity Date”); provided that if on May 24, 2026 (the “Springing Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date”) there are Term B Loans (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $190,000,000 that mature prior to November 22, 2026, the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date shall be the Springing Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date and (b) with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments, August 23, 2024.

“Revolving Credit Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

“Revolving Credit Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

“Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit F-1 hereto with appropriate insertions, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility.

“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

“RFR Business Day” means, for any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to Pounds Sterling, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which banks are closed for general business in London.

 

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“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary S&P Global Inc.

“Sale Leaseback” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed.

“Sanctions” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

“Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof and of this Agreement, and which shall also include any replacement intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted hereunder that is entered into by and between (a) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person that merges into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, and (b) any Hedge Bank; provided that (a) a single notice of a specified Master Agreement shall be deemed to designate all swaps under such Master Agreement as a “Secured Hedge Agreement” and (b) any such designation of a Secured Hedge Agreement shall be irrevocable unless the relevant Hedge Bank consents in writing to such revocation; provided, further that in no event shall any Swap Contract constitute a Secured Hedge Agreement hereunder to the extent that obligations of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary under such Swap Contract constitute ABL Obligations.

“Secured Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Lenders, L/C Issuers, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.01(c).

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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“Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, mortgage receivables, loan receivables, receivables or loans relating to the financing of insurance premiums, royalty, patent or other revenue streams and other rights to payment or related assets and the proceeds thereof and any properties, assets (including Billboards) and revenue streams associated with the Americas Outdoor Advertising segment of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) all collateral securing such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such receivable or asset, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such account or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted) together with accounts or assets in connection with a securitization, factoring or receivable sale transaction.

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

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

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

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

“Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Security Agreement executed by the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent on the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit G, as supplemented by any Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.10.

“Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

 

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“Senior Secured Notes” means 5.125% senior secured notes due 2027 issued by the Borrower, as Issuer, on the Closing Date.

“Senior Unsecured Notes” means (i) those certain 6.50% Series A Notes due 2022 issued by Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc. on November 19, 2012 pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2012, by and among Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and (ii) those certain Series B Notes due 2022 issued by Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc. on November 19, 2012 pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2012, by and among Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

“Step-Down Date” means September 30, 2022; provided that if a Specified Event shall have occurred, the Step-Down Date shall be the later of (x) June 30, 2021 and (y) the last day of the fiscal quarter ended after the date on which such Specified Event shall have occurred.

“Stepped Up Notes” means those certain 9.25% Notes due 2024 issued in an aggregate principal amount of $2,235,000,000 pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of February 12, 2019, by and among Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., the Borrower, Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

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

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

“SOFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the SOFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

“SOFR Loan” means any Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (ii)(d) of the definition of “Base Rate”.

“SONIA” means a rate equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average as administered by the SONIA Administrator.

 

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“SONIA Adjustment” means a percentage equal to 0.1193% (11.93 basis points) per annum.

“SONIA Administrator” means the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).

“SONIA Administrator’s Website” means the Bank of England’s website, currently at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk, or any successor source for the Sterling Overnight Index Average identified as such by the SONIA Administrator from time to time.

“Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”

“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of debts and liabilities, contingent, subordinated or otherwise, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as they become absolute and matured and (iv) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital; provided that the amount of contingent liabilities 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.

“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).

“Specified Asset Sale Proceeds” means the Net Cash Proceeds of any Prepayment Asset Sale not required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans, which Net Cash Proceeds have not otherwise been reinvested in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii) or used to prepay any Other Pari Indebtedness (excluding any Net Cash Proceeds of Prepayment Asset Sales that constitute Specified Asset Sale Proceeds solely as a result of compliance with a Total Leverage Ratio of 5.50:1.00 as specified in the proviso to the definition of Asset Sale Percentage).

“Specified Event” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.

“Specified Event of Default” means any Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(g).

“Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(d).

“Specified Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is not an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to any applicable keep well, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all Guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties).

 

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“Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition (including any Disposition that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or, any asset sale of a business unit, line of business or division), incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Term Loan or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”.

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

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, company, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or, the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Guarantors.

“Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).

“Supplemental Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 9.13(a) and “Supplemental Administrative Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.

“Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25.

 

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“Survey” means a survey of any Mortgaged Property (and all improvements thereon) which is (a) (i) prepared by a surveyor or engineer licensed to perform surveys in the jurisdiction where such Mortgaged Property is located, (ii) dated (or redated) not earlier than six months prior to the date of delivery thereof unless there shall have occurred within six months prior to such date of delivery any exterior construction on the site of such Mortgaged Property or any easement, right of way or other interest in the Mortgaged Property has been granted or become effective through operation of law or otherwise with respect to such Mortgaged Property which, in either case, can be depicted on a survey, in which events, as applicable, such survey shall be dated (or redated) after the completion of such construction or if such construction shall not have been completed as of such date of delivery, not earlier than 20 days prior to such date of delivery, or after the grant or effectiveness of any such easement, right of way or other interest in the Mortgaged Property, (iii) certified by the surveyor (in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Title Company, (iv) complying in all respects with the minimum detail requirements of the American Land Title Association as such requirements are in effect on the date of preparation of such survey, (v) sufficient for the Title Company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the Mortgage Policy relating to such Mortgaged Property and issue the endorsements of the type required by paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and (vi) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark to market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined by the Hedge Bank (or the Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract) in accordance with the terms thereof and in accordance with customary methods for calculating mark-to-market values under similar arrangements by the Hedge Bank (or the Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract).

 

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“Swingline Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan.

“Swingline Commitment” means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the heading “Swingline Commitments” as the maximum outstanding principal amount of Swingline Loans to be made by the Swingline Lender, as such commitment may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof or with the agreement in writing of the Swingline Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. The Swingline Commitment of the Swingline Lender shall be less than or equal to the Swingline Sublimit at all times.

“Swingline Lender” means DBNY, in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder or any successor swingline lender hereunder.

“Swingline Loan” means a loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.04(b).

“Swingline Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the Swingline Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit F-3 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Swingline Lender resulting from the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender from time to time.

“Swingline Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swingline Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facilities.

“T2” means the real time gross settlement system operated by the Eurosystem, or any successor system.

“TARGET Day” means any day on which T2 is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

“Tax Distributions” mean the Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 7.06(g)(i).

“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto.

“Term Benchmark”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Term Benchmark Rate. Term Benchmark Loans may be denominated in Dollars, Canadian Dollars or Euros.

“Term Benchmark Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the Loans bearing interest at a rate based on the Term Benchmark Rate comprising such Borrowing.

 

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“Term Benchmark Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing:

(a) denominated in Dollars, Adjusted Term SOFR;

(b) denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the CDOR Rate; or

(c) denominated in Euros, the rate per annum equal to the EURIBOR Rate.

provided that if any such rate shall be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Term B Loan Maturity Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date.”means August 23, 2026.

“Term B Commitments” means, as to each Term B Lender, its obligation to make a Term B Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term B Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term B Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The initial aggregate amount of the Term B Commitments is $2,000,000,000.

“Term B Facility” means the Term B Commitments and the extension of credit made thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Term B Facility was refinanced in full on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

“Term B Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term B Commitment or a Term B Loan at such time.

“Term B Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a). For the avoidance of doubt, all Term B Loans were refinanced in full on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

“Term Borrowing” means a Borrowing in respect of a Class of Term Loans.

“Term Commitments” means a 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitment or a commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or any combination thereof, as the context may require.

“Term CORRA” means, for the applicable corresponding tenor, the forward-looking term rate based on CORRA that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, and that is published by an authorized benchmark administrator and is displayed on a screen or other information service, as identified or selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion at approximately a time and as of a date prior to the commencement of an Interest Period determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion in a manner substantially consistent with market practice.

 

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“Term CORRA Notice” means the notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders of the applicable Class and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term CORRA Transition Event.

“Term CORRA Transition Date” means, in the case of a Term CORRA Transition Event, the date that is set forth in the Term CORRA Notice provided to the Lenders of the applicable Class and the Borrower, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the Benchmark Replacement described in clause (a)(y)(A) of such definition, which date shall be at least thirty (30) Business Days from the date of the Term CORRA Notice.

“Term CORRA Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term CORRA has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, and is determinable for any Available Tenor, (b) the administration of Term CORRA is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Replacement, other than Term CORRA, has replaced CDOR in accordance with Section 3.09(a)(ii)(A).

“Term Lenders” means the 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders, the Lenders with Incremental Term Loans and the Lenders with Extended Term Loans.

“Term Loans” means the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, the Incremental Term Loans and the Extended Term Loans.

“Term Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit F-2 hereto with appropriate insertions, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term Lender resulting from any Class of Term Loans made by such Term Lender.

“Term SOFR” means,

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S.

 

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Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and (b) for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate SOFR Determination Day.

“Term SOFR Adjustment” means:

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan that is a Term Loan, a percentage per annum as set forth below for the applicable Interest Period therefor:

 

Interest Period

   Percentage  

One month

     0.11448 

Three months

     0.26161

Six months

     0.42826

(b) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan that is a Revolving Credit Loan, 0.10%.

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

“Test Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b).

“Third Amendment” shall mean the Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2019, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.

 

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“Third Amendment Effective Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Third Amendment.

“Threshold Amount” means $100,000,000.

“Title Company” means any title insurance company as shall be retained by Borrower to issue the Mortgage Policies and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

“Total Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period.

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

“Total Revolving Outstandings” means, as at any date of determination, the Dollar Equivalent, as applicable, of the sum of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations.

“Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in connection therewith.

“Trade Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(l).

“Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the funding of the Term B Loans and, if applicable, the deemed issuance of the Existing Letters of Credit on the Closing Date, (b) the Refinancing, (c) any Credit Extension made on the Closing Date under the Revolving Credit Facility, (d) borrowings under the ABL Facility on the Closing Date, (e) the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, (f) the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing and (g) the payment of Transaction Expenses.

“Transformative Transaction” means any acquisition, disposition or investment by the Restricted Group that either (a) is not permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or (b) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, would not provide the Restricted Group with adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Borrower acting in good faith.

“Type” means, with respect to a Loan denominated in Dollars, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan and with respect to a Loan in an Alternative Currency, its character as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, a Term Benchmark Loan or an RFR Loan.

 

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“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).

“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Unaudited Financial Statements” means unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019.

“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

“United States Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

“Unrestricted Cash Amount” means, as to any Person on any date of determination, the amount of (a) unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person whether or not held in an account pledged to the Collateral Agent and (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also include Cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Collateral along with the Facilities), in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP; it being understood and agreed that proceeds subject to Escrow shall be deemed to constitute “restricted cash” for purposes of the Unrestricted Cash Amount.

 

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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01C, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13 subsequent to the date hereof and (iii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary is an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under (and as defined in) the ABL Credit Agreement and Senior Secured Notes. For avoidance of doubt, none of the Borrowers (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 10.25.

“USA PATRIOT Act” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.

“Valuation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in any Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of such Loan, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (iii) each date of any payment by a L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (iv) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Closing Date, and (v) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or a L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

“Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

“Wholly-Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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“Withdrawal Liability” means the liability to a Multiemployer Plan, as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write- down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

SECTION 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

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  (b)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transactions occur or, other than for determining the Applicable Rate or for determining actual compliance with the Financial Covenant, subsequent to such period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation is made, the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and Consolidated EBITDA and any other financial calculation (other than the calculation of Excess Cash Flow) shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transactions on a Pro Forma Basis and shall be calculated for the applicable period of measurement (which may, at the Borrower’s election, be the most recently ended twelve months) for which quarterly or fiscal year-end financial statements are internally available, as determined by the Borrower, immediately preceding the date of such event.

 

  (c)

Where reference is made to “the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

  (d)

In the event that the Borrower (or any parent entity) elects to prepare its financial statements in accordance with IFRS and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the Total Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio and the First Lien Leverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with GAAP (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred.

SECTION 1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

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SECTION 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

SECTION 1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of “Interest Period”) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 1.08 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents Generally.

 

  (a)

The Administrative Agent or each relevant L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Exchange Rates as of each Valuation Date to be used for calculating Alternative Currency Equivalent and Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and amounts outstanding hereunder denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Exchange Rates shall become effective as of such Valuation Date and shall be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Valuation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such currency as so determined by the Administrative Agent (or, where applicable, each relevant L/C Issuer) at the Exchange Rate as of any Valuation Date.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Administrative Agent and each relevant L/C Issuer may at periodic intervals (no more frequently than monthly (for both the Administrative Agent and such relevant L/C Issuer), or more frequently during the continuance of an Event of Default) recalculate the aggregate exposure under such Loans and Letters of Credit to account for fluctuations in the Exchange Rate affecting the Alternative Currency in which any such Loans and/or Letters of Credit are denominated. If, as a result of such recalculation (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed an amount equal to 105% of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, the Borrower will prepay Revolving Credit

 

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  Loans and, if necessary, Cash Collateralize or Backstop the outstanding amount of Letters of Credit in the amount necessary to eliminate the excess over the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect or (ii) the aggregate L/C Obligations exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Borrower will repay Revolving Credit Loans and, if necessary, Cash Collateralize or Backstop the outstanding amount of Letters of Credit in the amount necessary to eliminate such excess over the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

  (c)

Whenever in this Agreement in connection with a borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such borrowing, Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 or a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or each relevant L/C issuer, as the case may be.

 

  (d)

For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of a Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, except as expressly provided herein, all interest and fees shall accrue and be payable thereon based on the actual amount outstanding in such Alternative Currency (without any translation into the Dollar Equivalent thereof).

 

  (e)

If at any time on or following the Closing Date all of the Participating Member States that had adopted the Euro as their lawful currency on or prior to the Closing Date cease to have the Euro as their lawful national currency unit, then the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders will negotiate in good faith to amend the Loan Documents to (a) follow any generally accepted conventions and market practice with respect to redenomination of obligations originally denominated in Euro and (b) otherwise appropriately reflect the change in currency.

 

  (f)

If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be the Exchange Rate. The obligation of each Loan Party in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from such Loan Party in the Agreement Currency, such Loan Party each agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the

 

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  Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Loan Party (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

  (g)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 7.03 with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Lien, Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.

 

  (h)

For purposes of determining compliance under the covenants herein, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating net income in the Borrower’s annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to apply to the determination of whether Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred hereunder (which shall be subject to clause (i) below).

 

  (i)

For purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar Equivalent of the principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased plus accrued amounts, and any costs, fees and premiums paid in connection therewith.

SECTION 1.09 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Application related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of 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 at such times.

 

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SECTION 1.10 Limited Condition Transactions.

(a) In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of (i) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or any other financial ratio; or (ii) testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA, if any), in each case, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination of whether any such transaction is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”), (x) the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into (or, in respect of any transaction described in clause (ii) of the definition of “Limited Condition Transaction,” delivery of irrevocable notice, declaration of dividend or similar event), and not at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or (y) solely in connection with an acquisition to which the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers applies (or similar law in another jurisdiction), the date on which a “Rule 2.7 announcement” of a firm intention to make an offer (or equivalent announcement in another jurisdiction) (a “Public Offer”) in respect of a target of such acquisition, and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness 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, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA on a consolidated basis or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of Restricted Payments, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires (or, if applicable, the irrevocable notice, declaration of dividend or similar event is terminated or expires or, as applicable, the offer in respect of a Public Offer for, such acquisition is terminated) without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be tested by calculating the availability under such ratio or basket on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith have been consummated (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and any associated Lien and the use of proceeds thereof; provided that Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of the Interest Coverage Ratio will be calculated using an assumed interest rate based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith).

 

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(c) In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default, Event of Default or Specified Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such condition shall, at the option of the Borrower, be deemed satisfied, so long as no Default, Event of Default or Specified Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has exercised its option under this Section 1.10, and any Default, Event of Default or Specified Event of Default occurs following the date the definitive agreements for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction were entered into and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder.

SECTION 1.11 Leverage Ratios. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of calculating any leverage ratio herein in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness, (a) there shall be no netting of the cash proceeds proposed to be received in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (b) to the extent the Indebtedness to be incurred is revolving Indebtedness, such incurred revolving Indebtedness (or if applicable, the portion (and only such portion) of the increased commitments thereunder) shall be treated as fully drawn.

SECTION 1.12 Cashless Rolls. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Term Loans, any Extended Term Loans, loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars,” “in immediately available funds,” “in cash” or any other similar requirement.

SECTION 1.13 Certain Calculations and Tests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, pro forma compliance with Section 7.09(a) hereof (but not actual compliance therewith), any Interest Coverage Ratio, any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Secured Leverage Ratio test and/or any Total Leverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of the same section of any Loan Document that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Fixed Amounts under such section and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence.

 

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SECTION 1.14 Additional Alternative Currencies.

(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that Revolving Credit Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency;” provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars). In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers.

(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, each L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Revolving Credit Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each L/C Issuer thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Revolving Credit Loans) or each L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Revolving Credit Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

(c) Any failure by a Revolving Credit Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Revolving Credit Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Revolving Credit Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Revolving Credit Lenders consent to making Revolving Credit Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans; and if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.14, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower.

SECTION 1.15 Change of Currency. Each obligation of the Borrower to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption. If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

 

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Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro. Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

SECTION 1.16 Successor Companies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any reference herein to the Borrower, such reference shall automatically be deemed to refer to any Successor Company that assumes the obligations of such Person in accordance with this Agreement.

SECTION 1.17 Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (a) the continuation of, the administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Base Rate, SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR, SONIA, EURIBOR Rate, or CDOR Rate) or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including any Benchmark Replacement), including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.09, will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate (or component thereof) used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Base Rate, SONIA, EURIBOR Rate or CDOR Rate or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

SECTION 2.01 The Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:

(a) The Term B Borrowings. Each Term B Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower (including by way of conversion) a single loan denominated in Dollars in a principal amount equal to such Term B Lender’s Term B Commitment on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term B Loans may be Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans, as further provided herein.

 

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(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, on and after the Closing Date, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) (x) Initial Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the applicable Availability Period for the Initial Revolving Credit Facility in Dollars or in an Approved Currency in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Initial Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Initial Revolving Credit Commitment and (y) 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the applicable Availability Period for the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility in Dollars or in an Approved Currency in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, all Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated ratably between the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility; provided, further, that after giving effect to the making of any Revolving Credit Loans, in no event shall (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, (ii) the Initial Revolving Exposure exceed the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect and (iii) the 2023 Extended Revolving Exposure exceed the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Term Benchmark Loans, RFR Loans, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(c) The 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Borrowings. The 2024 Refinancing Term Loans were funded in accordance with the Fifth Amendment as a new Class of Loans for all purposes hereunder. The 2024 Refinancing Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans, as further provided herein. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(c) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuation of Loans.

(a) Each Term Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice (which notice may be telephonic if promptly followed by a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer), to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 12:00 noon Local Time (A) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Dollar-denominated Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans, or any conversion of Term Benchmark Loans to Base Rate Loans (provided that, if such Dollar-denominated Borrowing is an initial Credit Extension of Term B Loans to be made on the Closing Date, notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon Local Time one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date) and (B) four (4) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency and (ii) 12:00 noon Local Time on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(c), each Borrowing of, or conversion to, Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, (ii) in the case of any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Approved Currency for the requested Borrowing, (iii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the Class, currency and principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (v) in the case of Loans in Dollars, the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vii) the account of the Borrower to be credited with the proceeds of such Borrowing. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Borrowing in Dollars or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation with respect to a Borrowing in Dollars, then the applicable Loans shall be made or continued as, or converted to SOFR Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month (subject to the definition of “Interest Period”). Any such automatic conversion or continuation shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term Benchmark Loans. If the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing in an Alternative Currency, then it will be deemed to have requested a conversion or continuation for an Interest Period of one (1) month. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower and Lenders acknowledge and agree that any conversion or continuation of an existing Loan shall be deemed to be a continuation of that Loan with a converted interest rate methodology and not a new Loan.

 

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(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Appropriate Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Principal Office not later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time for Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Loans, and 3:00 p.m. Local Time for Base Rate Loans on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.01 and in the case of a Credit Extension after the Closing Date, Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, to the Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, Term Benchmark Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loan unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.04 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require that (i) no Loans may be converted to or continued as Term Benchmark Loans and (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for ☐Term Benchmark Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Term Benchmark Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(e) Anything in clauses (a) through (d) above to the contrary notwithstanding, after giving effect to all Term Borrowings and Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to another, and all continuations of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than twenty (20) Interest Periods in effect at any time for all Borrowings of Term Benchmark Loans plus up to three (3) additional Interest Periods in respect of each Incremental Facility.

 

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(f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, no conversion or continuation of any Loan pursuant to this Section shall affect the currency in which such Loan is denominated prior to any such conversion or continuation and each such Loan shall remain outstanding denominated in the currency originally issued.

SECTION 2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitments.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (1) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders under the relevant Revolving Credit Facilities set forth in this Section 2.03, (x) from time to time on any Business Day following the Closing Date during the Availability Period for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower (provided that any Letter of Credit may be for the account of any Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, further that the Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries, and the Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees to be bound jointly and severally to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for amounts drawn on any Letter of Credit issued for the account of any Subsidiary) and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (y) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (2) the Revolving Credit Lenders under each Revolving Credit Facility severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit of any Revolving Credit Facility issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit and no Revolving Credit Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if immediately after giving effect to such L/C Credit Extension, (w) the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, (x) (A) the Initial Revolving Credit Exposure of such Revolving Credit Lender would exceed its Initial Revolving Credit Commitments or (B) the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure of such Revolving Credit Lender would exceed its 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, (y) the aggregate L/C Exposure would exceed the Aggregate Letter of Credit Sublimit or (z) the Aggregate L/C Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment. Letters of Credit shall constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitments under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that each of the letters of credit described on Schedule 2.03(a) (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall constitute a “Letter of Credit” for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be deemed issued under this Agreement on the Closing Date.

 

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(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the relevant L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, unless the relevant L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date (it being understood that the participations of the Revolving Credit Lenders under the relevant Revolving Credit Facility in any undrawn Letter of Credit shall in any event terminate on the Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date with respect to the applicable Revolving Credit Facility);

(D) in the case of Letters of Credit, if such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Approved Currency; or

(E) any Revolving Credit Lender of the applicable Class (it being understood that solely for the purposes of this Section 2.03(a)(ii)(E), the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility shall be considered as a single Class) is at such time a Defaulting Lender, nor shall any L/C Issuer be under any obligation to extend or amend existing Letters of Credit, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including reallocation of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the applicable outstanding L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 2.16 or the delivery of Cash Collateral, with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential L/C Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16) with respect to such Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or such Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential L/C Exposure; or

(F) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer or one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit in general;

(G) such Letter of Credit is not a standby letter of credit; or

(H) such Letter of Credit is in an initial amount less than $10,000.

(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

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(iv) The aggregate L/C Commitments of all the L/C Issuers shall be less than or equal to the Aggregate Letter of Credit Sublimit at all times.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower hand delivered or facsimiled (or transmitted by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the L/C Issuer) to the L/C Issuer in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount thereof in Dollars and, in the case of Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Approved Currency thereof; (c) the expiry date thereof; (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (e) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (f) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (g) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. If requested by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with a copy of any Letter of Credit Application. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, acquire from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Revolving Credit Facility times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.

 

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(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any compliant drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. On the Business Day immediately following the Business Day on which the Borrower shall have received notice of any payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (or, if the Borrower shall have received such notice later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time on any Business Day, on the second succeeding Business Day) (such date of payment, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing (which reimbursement, in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, shall be in such Alternative Currency). If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer on the Honor Date (or if any such reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason), then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer and each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In the event that the Borrower does not reimburse the L/C Issuer on the Business Day following the date it receives notice of the Honor Date (or, if the Borrower shall have received such notice later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time on any Business Day, on the second succeeding Business Day), the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested, for the account of the Borrower, a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (in the case of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars), RFR Loans (in the case of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in Pounds Sterling) or Term Benchmark Loans with a period of one month (in the case of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency which Term Benchmark Loans shall be in the same Alternative Currency in which the relevant Letter of Credit is denominated), which requested Revolving Credit Borrowings shall be deemed to have been allocated ratably between the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility, to be disbursed on such date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, RFR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, as applicable, nor the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the relevant Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of the applicable Revolving Credit Facility. For the avoidance of doubt, if any drawing occurs under a Letter of Credit and such drawing is not reimbursed on the same day as the day on which it is paid, such drawing shall, without duplication, accrue interest at the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans, RFR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, as applicable, under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility until the date of reimbursement.

(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender of the applicable Class (including any such Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) (it being understood that solely for the purposes of this Section 2.03(c)(ii), prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility shall be considered as a single Class) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Principal Office for payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a relevant Letter of Credit not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan (or, in the case of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, either an RFR Loan (in the case of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in Pounds Sterling) or a Term Benchmark Loan with an interest period of one month denominated in such Alternative Currency) to the Borrower in such amount under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer in accordance with the instructions provided to the Administrative Agent by such L/C Issuer (which instructions may include standing payment instructions, which may be updated from time to time by such L/C Issuer, provided that, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree, any such update shall not take effect until the Business Day immediately following the date on which such update is provided to the Administrative Agent).

 

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(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing for any reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in Dollars (with respect to a Dollar-denominated Letter of Credit) or in Alternative Currency (with respective to an Alternative Currency denominated Letter of Credit), in each case in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, RFR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans with an interest period of one month under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment under the Revolving Credit Facility to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender under each Revolving Credit Facility funds its Revolving Credit Loan under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility or relevant L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any relevant Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or relevant L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under relevant Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, and shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement. No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any relevant Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Credit Facility fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at the Overnight Rate. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Credit Facility (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

(vii) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Credit Facility such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with this Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to each Revolving Credit Lender under each Revolving Credit Facility its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

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(viii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender of the applicable Class (it being understood that solely for the purposes of this Section 2.03(c)(viii), prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility shall be considered as a single Class) shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.

(d) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a document that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Loan Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit; or

(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;

provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

 

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(e) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable decision); or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby 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 L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.03(e); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of documents strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit (in each case, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable decision). In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

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(f) Cash Collateral. In addition to any other provision under this Agreement requiring Cash Collateral to be provided, (i) if the relevant L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing for reasons other than the failure of a Revolving Credit Lender to fulfill its obligations under clause (c)(ii) above, (ii) if, as of the applicable Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation with respect to the relevant Revolving Credit Facility for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) if any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, require the Borrower to Cash Collateralize or Backstop the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02(c) or (iv) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) or (g) occurs and is continuing, then the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize or Backstop the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount plus any accrued or unpaid fees thereon determined as of the date such Cash Collateral is provided).

The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders under each Revolving Credit Facility, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts, Cash Collateral Account and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing that secure any of its L/C Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account for the benefit of the Borrower. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in accounts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facilities and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents at its sole discretion. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the L/C Exposure, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts specified by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such L/C Exposure over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the L/C Exposure plus costs incidental thereto and so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. If such Event of Default is cured or waived and no other Event of Default is then occurring and continuing, the amount of any Cash Collateral (including any accrued interest thereon) shall be refunded to the Borrower.

(g) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a relevant Letter of Credit fee for each relevant Letter of Credit issued on its behalf pursuant to this Agreement equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate for relevant Letter of Credit fees under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.

 

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Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the applicable Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate for such Revolving Credit Facility during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate with respect to the applicable Revolving Credit Facility was in effect.

(h) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (a “Fronting Fee”) in Dollars with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer in an amount to be agreed between the Borrower and such L/C Issuer (but in any case, not to exceed 0.125% per annum) of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such Fronting Fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Fronting Fees shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the applicable Letter of Credit Facility Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(i) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Letter of Credit Application, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

(j) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender (or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates) under any Revolving Credit Facility may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(k) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit) the rules of the ISP shall be stated therein and apply to each Letter of Credit.

 

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(l) Indemnification of L/C Issuers. To the extent not indemnified by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to Section 10.05, the Revolving Credit Lenders under each Revolving Credit Facility hereby agree to indemnify each L/C Issuer for all Indemnified Liabilities, subject to the terms and limitations set forth in Section 10.05. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no L/C Issuer shall be responsible to the Borrower for, and no L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall be impaired by, any action or inaction of such L/C Issuer 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 the applicable L/C Issuer 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.

SECTION 2.04 Swingline Loans.

(a) The Swingline. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such Swingline Lender’s Swingline Commitment; provided that, after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, (i) in no event shall the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, (ii) (A) in no event shall the Initial Revolving Credit Exposure of such Revolving Credit Lender exceed its Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and (B) in no event shall the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Exposure of such Revolving Credit Lender exceed its 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, and (iii) the Outstanding Amount of all Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Swingline Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans without premium or penalty. The Swingline Lender’s Swingline Commitment shall expire on the Maturity Date for the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility. All Swingline Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Swingline Loans shall be paid in full on the earlier of the earliest Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date then in effect and ten (10) Business Days after the date of such borrowing.

(b) Borrowing Procedures for Swingline Loans. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice (which notice may be telephonic if promptly followed by a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer) to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent. Each such notice shall be in the form of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, and must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time on the date of the requested Swingline Borrowing, and such notice shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be in a minimum of $500,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000 and (ii) the date of such Swingline Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day). Promptly after receipt by a Swingline Lender of such notice, such Swingline Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent that the Administrative Agent has also received such notice and, if not, the Swingline Lender will notify the Administrative Agent of the contents thereof.

 

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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower, by wire transfer thereof in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) such Swingline Lender, not later than 3:00 p.m. Local Time on the requested date of such Swingline Loan (which instructions may include standing payment instructions, which may be updated from time to time by the Borrower, provided that, unless the Swingline Lender shall otherwise agree, any such update shall not take effect until the Business Day immediately following the date on which such update is provided to the Swingline Lender). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Swingline Lender shall be obligated to make any Swingline Loans (A) if it has elected not to do so after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, (B) it does not in good faith believe that all conditions under Section 4.02 to the making of such Swingline Loan have been satisfied or waived by the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or (C) at a time when any Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender as set forth in Section 2.16 and the amount of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Swingline Loans has not been reallocated to non-Defaulting Lenders or Cash Collateralized or Backstopped in full.

(c) Refinancing of Swingline Loans.

(i) With respect to any Swingline Loans which have not been voluntarily prepaid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(ii) or repaid pursuant to clause (a) above, the Swingline Lender may at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, deliver to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Lenders) with a copy to the Borrower, no later than 11:00 a.m. at least one (1) Business Day in advance of the proposed Credit Extension, a notice (which shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice given by the Borrower) requesting that each Revolving Credit Lender make Revolving Credit Loans under the Initial Revolving Credit Facility and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Facility on a pro rata basis that are Base Rate Loans to the Borrower on the date of such Credit Extension in an amount equal to the amount of such Swingline Loans (the “Refunded Swingline Loans”) outstanding on the date such notice is given which the Swingline Lender requests Lenders to prepay. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (1) the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lenders other than the Swingline Lender shall be immediately delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender (and not to the Borrower) and applied to repay a corresponding portion of the applicable Refunded Swingline Loans and (2) on the day such Revolving Credit Loans are made, the Swingline Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Refunded Swingline Loans shall be deemed to be paid with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower, and such portion of the Swingline Loans deemed to be so paid shall no longer be outstanding as Swingline Loans but shall instead constitute part of the Swingline Lender’s outstanding Revolving Credit Loans. If any portion of any such amount paid (or deemed to be paid) to the Swingline Lender should be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy, by assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all Revolving Credit Lenders in the manner contemplated by Section 2.13.

 

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(ii) If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) in an amount sufficient to repay any amounts owed to the Swingline Lender in respect of any outstanding Swingline Loans on or before the third Business Day after demand for payment thereof by the Swingline Lender, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have purchased, and hereby agrees to purchase, a participation in such outstanding Swingline Loans in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the applicable unpaid amount together with accrued interest thereon. Upon one (1) Business Days’ notice from the Swingline Lender, each Revolving Credit Lender shall deliver to the Swingline Lender an amount equal to its respective participation in the applicable unpaid amount in same day funds at the Principal Office of the Swingline Lender. In order to evidence such participation, each such Revolving Credit Lender agrees to enter into a participation agreement at the request of the Swingline Lender in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Swingline Lender.

(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(ii), the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Swingline Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Credit Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan included in the relevant Revolving Credit Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swingline Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of a Swingline Lender submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or (C) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Loan Party; (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto; or (E) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. No such funding of participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swingline Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a participation in a Swingline Loan, if the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of such Swingline Loan, such Swingline Lender will promptly remit such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such payment to the Administrative Agent (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation was funded) in like funds as received by the Swingline Lender, and any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent will be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders that shall have funded their participations pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(ii) to the extent of their interests therein.

 

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(ii) If any payment received by the Swingline Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swingline Loan is required to be returned by such Swingline Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swingline Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to such Swingline Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swingline Lender. The obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders under this clause (ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Payments Directly to Swingline Lenders. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the Swingline Lender at its Principal Office.

 

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(f) Provisions Related to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. If the Maturity Date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments, Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (such expiring tranche, the “Expiring Credit Commitment”) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments, Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments available in Dollars is or are in effect with a longer Maturity Date (each, a “Non-Expiring Credit Commitment” and collectively, the “Non-Expiring Credit Commitments”), then with respect to each outstanding Swingline Loan, if consented to by the Swingline Lender, on the earliest occurring Maturity Date such Swingline Loan shall be deemed reallocated to the tranche or tranches of the Non-Expiring Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis; provided that (x) to the extent that the amount of such reallocation would cause the aggregate credit exposure to exceed the aggregate amount of such Non-Expiring Credit Commitments, immediately prior to such reallocation the amount of Swingline Loans to be reallocated equal to such excess shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized or Backstopped and (y) notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default has occurred and is continuing, the applicable Borrower shall still be obligated to pay Swingline Loans allocated to the Revolving Credit Lenders holding the Expiring Credit Commitments at the Maturity Date of the Expiring Credit Commitment or if the Loans have been accelerated prior to the Maturity Date of the Expiring Credit Commitment. On the Maturity Date of any Expiring Credit Commitment, the sublimit for Swingline Loans shall be agreed solely with the Swingline Lender.

SECTION 2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Optional Prepayments.

(i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Borrowing of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except as set forth in Section 2.05(a)(iii)); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans, (2) any prepayment of Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof or, in each case, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding and (3) prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, any prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied to the Initial Revolving Credit Loans and 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Loans on a pro rata basis. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan or an RFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04.

 

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(ii) The Borrower may, upon delivery of a notice to the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swingline Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time on the date of the prepayment, and (2) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, unless rescinded, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the Facilities, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(iv) (I) In the event that, on or prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date, the Borrower (A) makes any prepayment of Term B Loans in connection with any Repricing Event or (B) effects any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Event, the Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Term B Lenders, (x) in the case of clause (A), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the amount of the Term B Loans being prepaid and (y) in the case of clause (B), an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate amount of the applicable Term B Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendmentand (II) in the event that, on or prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower (A) makes any prepayment of 2024 Refinancing Term Loans in connection with any Repricing Event or (B) effects any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Event, the Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable 2024 Refinancing Term Lenders, (x) in the case of clause (A), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the amount of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans being prepaid and (y) in the case of clause (B), an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate amount of the applicable 2024 Refinancing Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments.

(i) Prior to a REIT Election, within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for the relevant Excess Cash Flow Period, the Borrower shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to (A) the Excess Cash Flow Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the Excess Cash Flow Period covered by such financial statements, minus (B) the sum of

(1) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (b)(iii) or (b)(ix) of the definition of Excess Cash Flow, all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and any other prepayments of Incremental Equivalent Debt and/or other Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis or senior basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans (including in connection with debt buybacks made by the Borrower in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.05(d), Section 10.07 and/or otherwise, and/or application of any “yank-a-bank” provisions), plus

(2) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (b)(iii) or (b)(ix) of the definition of Excess Cash Flow, all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans to the extent the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments or any voluntary prepayments, of revolving loans or other revolving Indebtedness constituting Incremental Equivalent Debt or an Additional Revolving Credit Commitment secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis or senior basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Revolving Credit Loans to the extent the applicable commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, plus

(3) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clauses (b)(ii) or (b)(x) of the definition of Excess Cash Flow, the amount of cash consideration paid by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with Capital Expenditures, plus (4) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clauses (b)(vii) or (b)(xi) of the definition of Excess Cash Flow, the amount of cash consideration paid by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with Investments permitted by Section 7.02 (other than pursuant to Section 7.02(a), (d) or (f)), plus

 

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in each case of this Clause (B), during such Excess Cash Flow Period or after the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period and prior to the prepayment date in clause (b)(i) (any such transaction made following the fiscal year end but prior to the making of such prepayment date, an “After Year-End Transaction”), and to the extent such prepayments, expenditures, Investments, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions are not funded with the proceeds of Indebtedness constituting long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than revolving indebtedness), any Cure Amount or “Cure Amount” (as defined in the ABL Facility) (such amount, as may be further reduced by applicable of clause (x) of the proviso hereto, the “Applicable ECF Proceeds”); provided that (x) to the extent the voluntary prepayments pursuant to clause (B) would reduce the Applicable ECF Proceeds to an amount less than $0, such excess voluntary prepayments may be credited against the Excess Cash Flow Percentage of Excess Cash Flow dollar-for-dollar for the immediately subsequent Excess Cash Flow Period, when taken together with the amounts of any other prepayments required for such Excess Cash Flow Period, (y) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower is required to offer to repurchase any Indebtedness outstanding at such time that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Lien securing the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans (such Indebtedness, “Other Pari Indebtedness”) pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the Excess Cash Flow, then the Borrower, at its election, may apply the Applicable ECF Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Pari Indebtedness at such time) and the remaining Excess Cash Flow to the prepayment of such Other Pari Indebtedness and (z) prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall only be required if the Applicable ECF Proceeds are in excess of the Excess Cash Flow Threshold and solely to the amount of such Applicable ECF Proceeds in excess thereof; provided that to the extent so elected by the Borrower, following the consummation of any After Year-End Transaction, (1) the First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be recalculated giving Pro Forma Effect to such After Year-End Transaction as if the transaction was consummated during the fiscal year of the applicable Excess Cash Flow prepayment and the Excess Cash Flow Percentage for purposes of making such Excess Cash Flow prepayment shall be determined by reference to such recalculated First Lien Leverage Ratio and (2) such After Year-End Transaction shall not be applied to the calculation of the First Lien Leverage Ratio in connection with the determination of the Excess Cash Flow Percentage for purposes of any subsequent Excess Cash Flow prepayment.

(ii) (A) Subject to Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B), if following the Closing Date (x) the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Prepayment Asset Sale, or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which in the aggregate results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrower shall make a prepayment, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(C), of an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to the Asset Sale Percentage of such excess Net Cash Proceeds realized or received (the “Applicable Asset Sale Proceeds”); provided that (1) no such prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A) with respect to such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that the Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date, given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to utilize in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B) and (2) if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower is required to offer to repurchase any Other Pari Indebtedness, then the Borrower, at its election, may apply the Applicable Asset Sale Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Pari Indebtedness at such time) and the remaining Net Cash Proceeds so received to the prepayment of such Other Pari Indebtedness.

(B) With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Prepayment Asset Sale or any Casualty Event, at the option of the Borrower, the Borrower may reinvest an amount equal to all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for its business and in Permitted Acquisitions and other similar Investments not prohibited hereunder and capital expenditures, in each case, within (x)

 

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twelve (12) months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or (y) if the Borrower enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for its business within twelve (12) months following receipt thereof, one hundred eighty (180) days after the twelve (12) month period that follows receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided that (I) any Net Cash Proceeds may be applied to replenish cash that was not funded from long-term indebtedness (other than revolving indebtedness) that had been utilized by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any reinvestments or other utilization contemplated in this clause (B) during the six (6) month period prior to the receipt of the relevant Net Cash Proceeds (or repay revolving indebtedness used to fund such reinvestment) and (II) if any Net Cash Proceeds are not so reinvested by the deadline specified in clause (x) or (y) above, as applicable, or if any such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested, any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(C), to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05.

(C) On each occasion that the Borrower must make a prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii), the Borrower shall, within five (5) Business Days after the date of realization or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds in the minimum amount specified above (or, in the case of prepayments required pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B), within five (5) Business Days of the deadline specified in clause (x) or (y) thereof, as applicable, or of the date the Borrower reasonably determines that such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested, as the case may be), make a prepayment, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(v) below, of the principal amount of Term Loans to the extent required by, and subject to the qualifications of, Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A).

(iii) If the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs or issues any (A) Refinancing Term Loans, (B) Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(w) incurred to repay Term Loans or (C) Indebtedness not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03, the Borrower shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds. If the Borrower obtains any (A) Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments or (B) Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(w) incurred to replace Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall, concurrently with the receipt thereof, terminate Revolving Credit Commitments in an equivalent amount pursuant to Section 2.06.

(iv) [Reserved.]

(v) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.05(b) prior to 1:00 p.m. Local Time at least five (5) Business Days on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the prepayment with respect to any Class of Term Loans. Each Appropriate Lender may reject all or a portion of its Applicable Percentage of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.05(b) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. Local Time three (3) Business Days after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. Each Rejection Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory prepayment of Term Loans to be rejected by such Lender.

 

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If a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory repayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds shall be retained by the Borrower (“Retained Declined Proceeds”).

(vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.05(b), (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary otherwise giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) (a “Restricted Disposition”), the Net Cash Proceeds of any Casualty Event of a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Restricted Casualty Event”), or Excess Cash Flow, in each case would be prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the realization or receipt of the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be used to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.05(b)(i) (after determining the amount of Excess Cash Flow required to be used to prepay Term Loans, assuming such amounts are included in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow), or the Borrower shall not be required to make a prepayment at the time provided in Section 2.05(b)(ii) (after determining the amount of Net Cash Proceeds are available from Dispositions), as the case may be, for so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all commercially reasonable actions available under the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow permitted to be repatriated (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) will be promptly (and in any event not later than three (3) Business Days after such repatriation is permitted) taken into account in measuring the Borrower’s obligation to repay the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) to the extent provided herein and (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith (as set forth in a written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent) that repatriation of any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Restricted Disposition or any Restricted Casualty Event or Excess Cash Flow could reasonably be expected to have an adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit received in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected shall not be taken into account in measuring the Borrower’s obligation to repay Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b); provided that, to the extent the situations specified in clauses (i) and/or (ii) are in effect for a period of more than 365 days, the Borrower’s obligations to repay any Term Loans pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) and 2.05(b)(ii) shall expire and no longer be in effect after the expiration of such 365-day period.

(vii) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders under any Revolving Credit Facility at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility then in effect, the Borrower shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans under such Revolving Credit Facility and/or Cash Collateralize or Backstop the L/C Obligations under such Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize or Backstop the L/C Obligations under such Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(vii) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans under such Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures under such Revolving Credit Facility exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility.

(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon in the currency in which such Loan is denominated, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Term Benchmark Loan pursuant to Section 3.04.

 

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Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans are required to be made under this Section 2.05, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.05 in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit with the Administrative Agent in the currency in which such Loan is denominated the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account hereunder until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05. Such deposit shall constitute cash collateral for the Term Benchmark Loans to be so prepaid, provided that the Borrower may at any time direct that such deposit be applied to make the applicable payment required pursuant to this Section 2.05.

(d) Discounted Voluntary Prepayments.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement (including Section 2.13) or any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay one or more Classes of Term Loans to the Lenders at a discount to the par value of such Loans and on a non-pro rata basis (each, a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment”) pursuant to the procedures described in this Section 2.05(d); provided that (A) no proceeds from Revolving Credit Loans shall be used to consummate any such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, (B) any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be offered to all Term Lenders of such Class on a pro rata basis, and (C) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, together with each Discounted Prepayment Option Notice, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (1) stating that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, (2) stating that each of the conditions to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment contained in this Section 2.05(d) has been satisfied and (3) specifying the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of any Class offered to be prepaid pursuant to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment.

(ii) To the extent the Borrower seeks to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, the Borrower will provide written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto (each, a “Discounted Prepayment Option Notice”) that the Borrower desires to prepay Term Loans of one or more specified Classes in an aggregate principal amount specified therein by the Borrower (each, a “Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount”), in each case at a discount to the par value of such Loans as specified below. The Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of any Loans shall not be less than $5,000,000. The Discounted Prepayment Option Notice shall further specify with respect to the proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment (A) the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount for Loans to be prepaid, (B) a discount range (which may be a single percentage) selected by the Borrower with respect to such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment equal to a percentage of par of the principal amount of the Loans to be prepaid (the “Discount Range”), and (C) the date by which Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which shall be at least five (5) Business Days from and including the date of the Discounted Prepayment Option Notice (the “Acceptance Date”).

(iii) Upon receipt of a Discounted Prepayment Option Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender thereof. On or prior to the Acceptance Date, each such Lender may specify by written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (each, a “Lender Participation Notice”) to the Administrative Agent (A) a maximum discount to par (the “Acceptable Discount”) within the Discount Range (for example, a Lender specifying a discount to par of 20% would accept a purchase price of 80% of the par value of the Loans to be prepaid) and (B) a maximum principal amount (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent) of the Term Loans to be prepaid held by such Lender with respect to which such Lender is willing to permit a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment at the Acceptable Discount (“Offered Loans”).

 

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Based on the Acceptable Discounts and principal amounts of the Term Loans to be prepaid specified by the Lenders in the applicable Lender Participation Notice, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, shall determine the applicable discount for such Term Loans to be prepaid (the “Applicable Discount”), which Applicable Discount shall be (A) the percentage specified by the Borrower if the Borrower has selected a single percentage pursuant to Section 2.05(d)(ii)) for the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (B) otherwise, the highest Acceptable Discount at which the Borrower can pay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount in full (determined by adding the Outstanding Amount of Offered Loans commencing with the Offered Loans with the highest Acceptable Discount); provided, however, that in the event that such Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount cannot be repaid in full at any Acceptable Discount, the Applicable Discount shall be the lowest Acceptable Discount specified by the Lenders that is within the Discount Range. The Applicable Discount shall be applicable for all Lenders who have offered to participate in the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and have Qualifying Loans. Any Lender with outstanding Term Loans to be prepaid whose Lender Participation Notice is not received by the Administrative Agent by the Acceptance Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment of any of its Loans at any discount to their par value within the Applicable Discount.

(iv) The Borrower shall make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment by prepaying those Term Loans to be prepaid (or the respective portions thereof) offered by the Lenders (“Qualifying Lenders”) that specify an Acceptable Discount that is equal to or greater than the Applicable Discount (“Qualifying Loans”) at the Applicable Discount, provided that if the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would exceed the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrower shall prepay such Qualifying Loans ratably among the Qualifying Lenders based on their respective principal amounts of such Qualifying Loans (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent). If the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would be less than the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrower shall prepay all Qualifying Loans.

(v) Each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be made within five (5) Business Days of the Acceptance Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree, given the time required to calculate the Applicable Discount and determine the amount and holders of Qualifying Loans), without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 3.04), upon irrevocable notice substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto (each a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice”), delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which notice shall specify the date and amount of the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and the Applicable Discount determined by the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt of any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable to the applicable Lenders, subject to the Applicable Discount on the applicable Loans, on the date specified therein together with accrued interest (on the par principal amount) to but not including such date on the amount prepaid.

(vi) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures (including as to timing, rounding, minimum amounts, Type and Interest Periods and calculation of Applicable Discount in accordance with Section 2.05(d)(ii) above) established by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, each acting reasonably.

(vii) Prior to the delivery of a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, (A) upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may withdraw or modify its offer to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Discounted Prepayment Option Notice and (B) no Lender may withdraw its offer to participate in a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Lender Participation Notice unless the terms of such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment have been modified by the Borrower after the date of such Lender Participation Notice.

(viii) Nothing in this Section 2.05(d) shall require the Borrower to undertake any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment.

 

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(ix) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to act as manager for any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and to the extent the Administrative Agent shall choose not to act as manager for any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, each reference in this Section 2.05(d) to “Administrative Agent” shall be deemed to mean and be a reference to the Person that has been appointed by the Borrower and has agreed to act as the manager for such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment.

(e) Application of Payments. Each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 and the reduction in the face amount of the Term Loans as a result of any open market purchase thereof by an Affiliated Lender pursuant to Section 10.07 shall be, unless otherwise specified by the Borrower, applied to the installments thereof in direct order of maturity. Any voluntary prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be applied between Classes of Term Loans as directed by the Borrower or, if the Borrower does not so direct any voluntary prepayment to a specific Class of Term Loans at the time of such prepayment, such prepayment shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans on a pro rata basis across Classes. Any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05 shall be applied to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans on a pro rata basis in accordance with the terms hereof and, except to the extent required pursuant to the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Offer with respect to any applicable Class of Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, any prepayment of any Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 may be applied to any Class of Term Loans as directed by the Borrower, which prepayment may not be directed towards a later maturing Class of Term Loans without at least a pro rata repayment of any earlier maturity Class of Term Loans. Each prepayment of any Class of Term Loans shall be paid to the Lenders of such Class in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages subject to clause (v) of Section 2.05(b).

SECTION 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class (provided that, prior to the Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date with respect to the Initial Revolving Credit Facility, any reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis as between the Initial Revolving Credit Commitments and the 2023 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments); provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce, (A) the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments or if the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Class would exceeding any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class, (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit with respect to any Revolving Credit Facility if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations with respect to such Revolving Credit Facility would exceed the applicable Letter of Credit Sublimit or (C) the Swingline Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of all Swingline Loans would exceed the Swingline Sublimit; provided, further that upon any such partial reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit, unless the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, otherwise agree, the commitment of each L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender to issue Letters of Credit or extend Swingline Loans, as applicable, will be reduced proportionately by the amount of such reduction.

 

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The amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit unless, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swingline Sublimit, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facilities, in which case such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.

(b) Mandatory. The Term B Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(a). The 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Commitment of each 2024 Refinancing Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such 2024 Refinancing Term Lender’s 2024 Refinancing Term Loans pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. The Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the applicable Maturity Date therefor. The Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the respective maturity dates applicable thereto.

(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.06). All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

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SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Term Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the relevant Term Lenders holding 2024 Refinancing Term Loans in Dollars (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur for the first full fiscal quarter after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the initial aggregate principal amount of all 2024 Refinancing Term Loans made on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all 2024 Refinancing Term Loans outstanding on such date; provided that payments required by Section 2.07(a)(i) above shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.05. In the event any Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the definitive documentation with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.

(b) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the Maturity Date for each Revolving Credit Facility the principal amount of each of its Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date under such Revolving Credit Facility.

(c) Swingline Loans. The Borrower shall repay the aggregate principal amount of all of its Swingline Loans outstanding on the earlier of the earliest Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Date for each then in effect Revolving Credit Facility and ten (10) Business Days after the date of such borrowing.

SECTION 2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate (ii) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans, (iii) each Term Benchmark Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Term Benchmark Rate therefor plus the Applicable Rate and (iv) each RFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR Rate therefor plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) The Borrower shall pay interest on past due amounts under this Agreement at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand to the fullest extent permitted by and subject to applicable Laws, including in relation to any required additional agreements.

 

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(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

SECTION 2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(g) and (h):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under each Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) in Dollars equal to (i) 0.50% per annum, to the extent the First Lien Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.50:1.00 as of the last day of the most recent Test Period or (ii) 0.375% per annum, to the extent the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.50:1.00 as of the last day of the most recent Test Period (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), with the First Lien Leverage Ratio determined as of the date of the delivery of the Compliance Certificate for such relevant Test Period) on the average daily amount by which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender under such Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender under such Revolving Credit Facility (it being understood and agreed that the Outstanding Amount of all Swingline Loans shall not be deemed to be a component of such Revolving Credit Exposure for purposes of calculating the Commitment Fee). The Commitment Fee for each Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for such Revolving Credit Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur for the first full fiscal quarter after the Closing Date, and on the applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date for each Revolving Credit Facility. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears.

(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).

SECTION 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days or three hundred sixty-six (366) days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed, or, in the case of Pounds Sterling, on the basis of a three hundred and sixty-five day year. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which such Loan is made, and shall not accrue on such Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which such Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any such Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day.

 

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Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) and disclosure thereunder, whenever any interest or any fee to be paid hereunder or in connection herewith is to be calculated on the basis of a 360-day or 365-day year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate used in such calculation is equivalent is the rate so used multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by 360 or 365, as applicable. The rates of interest under this Agreement are nominal rates, and not effective rates or yields. The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any interest calculation under this Agreement.

SECTION 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by one or more entries in the Register. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loan Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender or its registered assigns, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit. In the event of any conflict between the Register and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error.

SECTION 2.12 Payments Generally.

(a) All payments by the Borrower of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made (i) with respect to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans and Swingline Loans, in Dollars, and (ii) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, in the applicable Approved Currency in which such Obligations are denominated, without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date specified herein.

 

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The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m., Local Time, shall (in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent) be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Other than as specified herein, all payments under each Loan Document of principal or interest in respect of any Loan (or of any breakage indemnity in respect of any Loan) shall be made in Dollars.

(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Term Benchmark Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then

 

  (i)

if the Borrower failed to make such payment, then each of the applicable Lenders severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lenders in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lenders to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (x) in the case of Revolving Credit Loans, at the Overnight Rate and (y) in the case of Term Loans, at the Federal Funds Rate, in each case, plus, to the extent reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent, any administrative, processing or similar fees to the extent customarily charged by such Administrative Agent to generally similarly situated borrowers (but not necessarily all such borrowers) in connection with the foregoing; it being understood that nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder; and

 

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  (ii)

if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) (x) in the case of Revolving Credit Loans, at the Overnight Rate and (y) in the case of Term Loans, at the Federal Funds Rate, in each case, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing plus, to the extent reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent, any administrative, processing or similar fees to the extent customarily charged by such Administrative Agent to generally similarly situated borrowers (but not necessarily all such borrowers) in connection with the foregoing. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at the interest rate applicable to such Loan. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make its payment under Section 9.07 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.07.

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

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(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Loan Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Loan Obligations then owing to such Lender.

SECTION 2.13 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or its participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that (x) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon and (y) the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant or the application of Cash Collateral pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of this Agreement. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of demonstrable error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments.

 

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Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Loan Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Loan Obligations purchased.

SECTION 2.14 Incremental Credit Extensions.

(a) At any time and from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Loan Parties may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request to increase the amount of Term Loans of any Class or add one or more additional tranches of term loans (any such Term Loans or additional tranche of term loans, the “Incremental Term Loans”) and/or one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility (a “Revolving Credit Commitment Increase”) and/or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (an “Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together with any Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments”; together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Facilities”). Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of all Incremental Facilities (other than Refinancing Term Loans and Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments) (determined at the time of incurrence), together with the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt and Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 7.03(r)(ii)(A), shall not exceed the Incremental Cap. Each Incremental Facility shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000 in case of Incremental Term Loans or $5,000,000 in case of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, provided that such amount may be less than the applicable minimum amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability hereunder as set forth above. Each Incremental Facility shall have the same guarantees as, and to the extent secured, shall be secured only by (and on an equal or junior priority basis with) the Collateral securing, all of the other Loan Obligations under this Agreement (provided that, in the case of any Incremental Facility that is funded into Escrow, such Incremental Facility may be secured by the applicable funds and related assets held in Escrow (and the proceeds thereof) until such Incremental Facility is released from Escrow) and shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(b) Any Incremental Term Loans (i) for purposes of prepayments, shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, (ii) shall have interest rate margins and (subject to clauses (iii) and (iv) amortization schedules as determined by the Borrower and the lenders thereunder (provided that, except in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, if such Incremental Term Loans are Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (c) of the Incremental Cap, the All-In-Rate applicable thereto will not be more than 0.50% per annum higher than the All-In-Rate in respect of the Term B Loans unless the Applicable Rate (and/or, as provided in the proviso below, the Base Rate floor or Floor) with respect to the Term B Loans is adjusted to be equal to the All-In-Rate applicable to such Indebtedness, minus 0.50% per annum (it being agreed that, (x) the relative rate differentials in any pricing grid specified in the Applicable Rate shall continue to be maintained and (y) to the extent the Incremental Term Loans include a pricing grid, the Applicable Rate for the Term B Loans may be amended to include a pricing grid to maintain the greater of (I) the 0.50% per annum differential and (II) the Applicable Rate of such Term B Loans immediately prior to giving effect to such Incremental Term Loans), provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower in its sole discretion, any increase in All-In-Rate to any Term B Loan due to the application or imposition of a Base Rate floor or Floor on any such Indebtedness shall be effected solely through an increase in (or implementation of, as applicable) any Base Rate floor or Floor applicable to such Term B Loans (this proviso to this clause (b)(ii), the “MFN Provision”)), (iii) any Incremental Term Loan (other than Inside Maturity Loans) shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans, (iv) any Incremental Term Loan (other than Inside Maturity Loans) shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loansand (v) shall be, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders providing such Incremental Facility, in their capacity as such (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) (excluding (x) pricing, rate floors, original issue discounts or call protection, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption terms and (y) (I) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the applicable Facility or (II) any more restrictive covenant, to the extent that (A) if such more restrictive covenant is added for the benefit of any Incremental Facility consisting of term loans other than Customary Term A Loans, such covenant (except to the extent only applicable after the maturity date of the 2024 Refinancing Term Loans) is also added for the benefit of all of the Facilities or (B) if such more restrictive covenant is added for the benefit of any Incremental Facility consisting of a revolving facility or Customary Term A Loans, such covenant (except to the extent only applicable after the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility) is also added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility; it being understood and agreed that in each such case of clauses (A) and (B), no consent of any Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant).

(c) Any Revolving Credit Commitment Increase shall (i) have the same maturity date as the Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility that is being increased, (ii) require no scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the final maturity of the Revolving Credit Commitments and (iii) be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Credit Facility that is being increased (it being understood that, if required to consummate a Revolving Credit Commitment Increase, the pricing, interest margin, rate floors and commitment fees shall be increased so long as such increases apply to the entire Revolving Credit Facility (provided that additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the Lenders participating in the Revolving Credit Commitment Increase without any requirement to pay such amounts to Lenders holding existing Revolving Credit Commitments)).

 

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Any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments (i) shall have interest rate margins and, subject to clause (ii), have amortization schedules as determined by the Borrower and the lenders thereunder but shall not require scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reductions prior to the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) other than Inside Maturity Loans, mature no earlier than, and will require no mandatory commitment reduction prior to, the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments, (iii) which are Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced thereby and (iv) shall have the same terms as the Revolving Credit Commitments or such terms as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being understood that no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent for terms and conditions that are more restrictive than the existing Revolving Credit Commitments to the extent that they apply to periods after the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments or are otherwise added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders hereunder (which shall not require the consent of any Revolving Credit Lender or any Agent); provided that to the extent any covenant that is more restrictive than the Financial Covenant is added for the benefit of any Additional Revolving Commitments, such covenant (except to the extent only applicable after the maturity date of each Revolving Credit Facility) is also added for the benefit of each Revolving Credit Facility; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of any Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.14(c), (1) the borrowing and repayment (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Additional Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the maturity date of the applicable Revolving Credit Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (3) below)) of Revolving Credit Loans with respect to Additional Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a no less than pro rata basis (with respect to borrowings) and a no greater than pro rata basis (with respect to repayments) with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, (2) all Letters of Credit may be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments, (3) the permanent repayment of commitments with respect to, and termination of, Additional Revolving Credit Commitments prior to the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments at the time of incurrence of such Additional Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Revolving Credit Commitments, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class and (4) assignments and participations of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments (and Revolving Credit Loans made thereunder) shall be governed by the same or equivalent assignment and participation provisions applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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(d) [Reserved].

(e) Each notice from the applicable Loan Party pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. Any additional bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person that elects to extend Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (any such bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person being called an “Additional Lender”) and, if not already a Lender, shall become a Lender under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Facility Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower and such Additional Lender, and, in the case of any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, each L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, no L/C Issuer is required to act as such for any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments unless they so consent. No Incremental Facility Amendment shall require the consent of any Lenders other than the Additional Lenders with respect to such Incremental Facility Amendment. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless it so agrees. Commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may become Commitments under this Agreement. An Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment shall, unless otherwise agreed to by the Additional Lenders, be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (each, an “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (it being understood that (i) all references to “the date of such Credit Extension” in Section 4.02 shall be deemed to refer to the Incremental Facility Closing Date and (ii) if the proceeds of such Incremental Facility are to be used, in whole or in part, to (x) finance a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, such incurrence shall be subject to the LCT Provisions or (y) for any other purpose, no Event of Default shall exist on the Incremental Facility Closing Date). The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans will be used for general corporate purposes and any other use not prohibited hereunder.

 

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Upon each increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments under any Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to this Section 2.14 that is in the form of a Revolving Credit Commitment Increase, each Revolving Credit Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Lender providing a portion of the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment (each, an “Incremental Revolving Increase Lender”) in respect of such Revolving Credit Commitment Increase, and each such Incremental Revolving Increase Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in Letters of Credit held by each Revolving Credit Lender (including each such Incremental Revolving Increase Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Commitment Increase. Additionally, if any Revolving Credit Loans are outstanding under a Revolving Credit Facility at the time any Revolving Credit Commitment Increase is implemented under such Revolving Credit Facility, the Revolving Credit Lenders immediately after effectiveness of such Revolving Credit Commitment Increase shall purchase and assign at par such amounts of the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under such Revolving Credit Facility at such time as the Administrative Agent may require such that each Revolving Credit Lender holds its Applicable Percentage of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under such Revolving Credit Facility immediately after giving effect to all such assignments. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.14.

SECTION 2.15 Extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “Extension Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders of any Class of Term Loans or any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class) and on the same terms to each such Lender, the Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate from time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the maturity date of each such Lender’s Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class and otherwise modify the terms of such Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including, without limitation, by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), modifying the amortization schedule in respect of such Lender’s Term Loans and/or modifying any prepayment premium or call protection in respect of such Lender’s Term Loans) (each, an “Extension,” and each group of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, in each case as so extended, as well as the original Term Loans and the original Revolving Credit Commitments (in each case not so extended), being a separate Class of Term Loans from the Class of Term Loans from which they were converted, and any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (as defined below) shall constitute a separate Class of Revolving Credit Commitments from the Class of Revolving Credit Commitments from which they were converted, it being understood that an Extension may be in the form of an increase in the amount of any outstanding Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments otherwise satisfying the criteria set forth below), so long as the following terms are satisfied:

 

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  (i)

except as to interest rates, fees and final and extended maturity (which shall be determined by the Borrower and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Revolving Credit Commitment extended pursuant to an Extension (an “Extended Revolving Credit Commitment”), and the related outstandings, shall be a Revolving Credit Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) with the same terms as the original Class of Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings); provided that at no time shall there be Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder (including Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any original Revolving Credit Commitments) which have more than three different maturity dates;

 

  (ii)

except as to interest rates, fees, amortization, final maturity date, premium, required prepayment dates and participation in prepayments (which shall, subject to immediately succeeding clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), be determined by the Borrower and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Term Loans of any Term Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Term Loans extended pursuant to any Extension (“Extended Term Loans”) shall have the same terms as the Class of Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer;

 

  (iii)

the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans extended thereby, and the maturity of any Extended Term Loans shall not be shorter than the maturity of the Term Loans extended thereby;

 

  (iv)

any Extended Term Loans may participate (x) on a pro rata basis, greater than pro rata or a less than pro rata basis in any voluntary repayments or prepayments hereunder and (y) on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Extension Offer;

 

  (v)

if the aggregate principal amount of the Class of Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) or Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, in respect of which Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class, as the case may be, offered to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class, as the case may be, of such Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, have accepted such Extension Offer;

 

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  (vi)

all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing; and

 

  (vii)

any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied unless waived by the Borrower and no Lender shall be obligated to extend its Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments unless it so agrees.

(b) With respect to all Extensions consummated by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15, (i) such Extensions shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.05 and (ii) no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment, provided that the Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to consummating any such Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Offer in the Borrower’s sole discretion and may be waived by the Borrower) of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable Classes be tendered. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.15 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on the such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Sections 2.05, 2.12 and 2.13) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.15.

(c) No consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than (A) the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments (or a portion thereof) and (B) with respect to any Extension of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, the consent of the relevant L/C Issuer (if such L/C Issuer is being requested to issue letters of credit with respect to the Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments). All Extended Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Loan Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Loan Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Borrower as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes in respect of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.15 (and to the extent any such amendment is consistent with the terms of this Section 2.15 (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have consented to such amendment, and no such consent of the Administrative Agent shall be necessary to have such amendment become effective).

 

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(d) In connection with any Extension, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including, without limitation, regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.15; provided that, failure to give such notice shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any amendment entered into to effectuate such Extension in accordance with this Section 2.15.

SECTION 2.16 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) the Commitment Fee shall cease to accrue on any of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(a);

(b) the Commitment, Outstanding Amount of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Required Lenders or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.01); provided that any waiver, amendment or modification of a type described in clause (a), (b) or (c) of the first proviso in Section 10.01 that would apply to the Commitments or Loan Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender with respect to the effectiveness of such waiver, amendment or modification with respect to the Commitments or Loan Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender;

(c) if any L/C Exposure or Swingline Loans exists at the time a Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i) all or any part of the L/C Exposure and Revolving Credit Exposure in respect of Swingline Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure and Revolving Credit Exposure in respect of Swingline Loans does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ relevant Commitments;

(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within three (3) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent, (A) Cash Collateralize or Backstop for the benefit of the L/C Issuer only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure and (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(f) for so long as such L/C Exposure is outstanding and (B) repay the Swingline Loans in an amount of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure in respect of Swingline Loans;

(iii) if the Borrower Cash Collateralizes or Backstops any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(h) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is Cash Collateralized or Backstopped; (iv) if the L/C Exposures of the non-Defaulting Lenders are increased pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.09(a) and 2.03(h) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages;

 

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(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is neither reallocated nor Cash Collateralized or Backstopped pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the L/C Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.03(h) with respect to such portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure shall be payable to the L/C Issuer until and to the extent that such L/C Exposure is reallocated and/or Cash Collateralized or Backstopped; and

(vi) subject to Section 10.23, no reallocation pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, (A) the relevant L/C Issuer shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it has received assurances satisfactory to it that non-Defaulting Lenders will cover the related exposure and/or Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.16(c), and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.16(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein) and (B) such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it has received assurances satisfactory to it that non-Defaulting Lenders will cover the related exposure, and participating interests in any newly issued Swingline Loans shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.16(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

(e) In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the relevant L/C Issuer each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the relevant L/C Exposures shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Credit Loans of the other Revolving Credit Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

SECTION 2.17 Permitted Exchanges.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, a “Permitted Exchange Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders (other than, with respect to any Permitted Exchange Offer that constitutes an offering of securities, any Lender that, if requested by the Borrower, is unable to certify that it is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (ii) an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) or (iii) not a “U.S.

 

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person” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act)) with outstanding Term Loans of a particular Class, the Borrower may from time to time consummate one or more exchanges of such Term Loans for Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or term loans) or Qualified Equity Interests (such Indebtedness or Qualified Equity Interests, “Permitted Exchange Securities” and each such exchange, a “Permitted Exchange”), so long as the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  (i)

each such Permitted Exchange Offer shall be made on a pro rata basis to the Term Lenders (other than, (x) with respect to any Permitted Exchange Offer that constitutes an offering of securities, any Lender that, if requested by the Borrower, is unable to certify that it is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (ii) an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) or (iii) not a “U.S. person” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) or (y) any Lender that, if requested by the Borrower, is unable to certify that it can receive the type of Permitted Exchange Securities being offered in connection with such Permitted Exchange) of each applicable Class based on their respective aggregate principal amounts of outstanding Term Loans under each such Class;

 

  (ii)

the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of such Permitted Exchange Securities shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans so refinanced, except by an amount equal to any fees, expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts and premiums payable in connection with such Permitted Exchange;

 

  (iii)

the stated final maturity of such Permitted Exchange Securities is not earlier than the latest Maturity Date for the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged, and such stated final maturity is not subject to any conditions that could result in such stated final maturity occurring on a date that precedes such latest maturity date (it being understood that acceleration or mandatory repayment, prepayment, redemption or repurchase of such Permitted Exchange Securities upon the occurrence of an event of default, a change in control, an event of loss or an asset disposition shall not be deemed to constitute a change in the stated final maturity thereof);

 

  (iv)

such Permitted Exchange Securities are not required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of an event of default, a change in control, an event of loss or an asset disposition) prior to the latest Maturity Date for the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, scheduled amortization payments (however denominated, including scheduled offers to repurchase) of such Permitted Exchange Securities shall be permitted so long as the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness shall be longer than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged;

 

  (v)

no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is or substantially concurrently becomes a Loan Party;

 

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  (vi)

if such Permitted Exchange Securities are secured, such Permitted Exchange Securities are secured on a pari passu basis or junior priority basis to the Obligations and (A) such Permitted Exchange Securities are not secured by any assets not securing the Obligations unless such assets substantially concurrently secure the Obligations and (B) the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent or trustee on their behalf) shall have become party to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement with the Collateral Agent;

 

  (vii)

the terms and conditions of such Permitted Exchange Securities (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance (as reasonably determined by the Borrower); provided that if such Permitted Exchange Securities contain any financial maintenance covenants, such covenants shall not be more restrictive than (or in addition to) those contained in this Agreement (unless such covenants are also added for the benefit of the Lenders under this Agreement, which amendment to add such covenants to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any Lender or Agent hereunder);

 

  (viii)

all Term Loans exchanged under each applicable Class by the Borrower pursuant to any Permitted Exchange shall automatically be canceled and retired by the Borrower on date of the settlement thereof (and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, any applicable exchanging Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, or such other form as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in respect thereof pursuant to which the respective Lender assigns its interest in the Term Loans being exchanged pursuant to the Permitted Exchange to the Borrower for immediate cancellation), and accrued and unpaid interest on such Term Loans shall be paid to the exchanging Lenders on the date of consummation of such Permitted Exchange, or, if agreed to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date with respect to such Term Loans (with such interest accruing until the date of consummation of such Permitted Exchange);

 

  (ix)

if the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) of a given Class tendered by Lenders in respect of the relevant Permitted Exchange Offer (with no Lender being permitted to tender a principal amount of Term Loans which exceeds the principal amount thereof of the applicable Class actually held by it) shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of such Class offered to be exchanged by the Borrower pursuant to such Permitted Exchange Offer, then the Borrower shall exchange Term Loans under the relevant Class tendered by such Lenders ratably up to such maximum based on the respective principal amounts so tendered, or, if such Permitted Exchange Offer shall have been made with respect to multiple Classes without specifying a maximum aggregate principal amount offered to be exchanged for each Class, and the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Classes tendered by Lenders in respect of the relevant Permitted Exchange Offer (with no Lender being permitted to tender a principal amount of Term Loans which exceeds the principal amount thereof actually held by it) shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of all relevant Classes offered to be exchanged by the Borrower pursuant to such Permitted Exchange Offer, then the Borrower shall exchange Term Loans across all Classes subject to such Permitted Exchange Offer tendered by such Lenders ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts so tendered;

 

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  (x)

all documentation in respect of such Permitted Exchange shall be consistent with the foregoing, and all written communications generally directed to the Lenders in connection therewith shall be in form and substance consistent with the foregoing and made in consultation with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; and

 

  (xi)

any applicable Minimum Tender Condition or Maximum Tender Condition, as the case may be, shall be satisfied or waived by the Borrower.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Loans or Commitments exchanged pursuant to any Permitted Exchange Offer.

(b) With respect to all Permitted Exchanges effected by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Permitted Exchange Offer shall be made for not less than $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Term Loans, provided that subject to the foregoing the Borrower may at its election specify (A) as a condition (a “Minimum Tender Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Exchange that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Permitted Exchange Offer in the Borrower’s discretion) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes be tendered and/or (B) as a condition (a “Maximum Tender Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Exchange that no more than a maximum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Permitted Exchange Offer in the Borrower’s discretion) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes will be accepted for exchange. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby acknowledge and agree that the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.06 and 2.13 do not apply to the Permitted Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by this Section 2.17 and hereby agree not to assert any Default or Event of Default in connection with the implementation of any such Permitted Exchange or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.17.

(c) In connection with each Permitted Exchange, (i) the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof; provided that, failure to give such notice shall in no way affect the effectiveness of any Permitted Exchange consummated in accordance with this Section 2.17 and (ii) the Borrower, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably, shall establish such procedures as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.17; provided that the terms of any Permitted Exchange Offer shall provide that the date by which the relevant Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such Permitted Exchange shall be not less than five (5) Business Days following the date on which the Permitted Exchange Offer is made. The Borrower shall provide the final results of such Permitted Exchange to the Administrative Agent no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed date of effectiveness for such Permitted Exchange (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such results.

 

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(d) The Borrower shall be responsible for compliance with, and hereby agrees to comply with, all applicable securities and other laws in connection with each Permitted Exchange, it being understood and agreed that (i) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender assumes any responsibility in connection with the Borrower’s compliance with such laws in connection with any Permitted Exchange and (ii) each Lender shall be solely responsible for its compliance with any applicable “insider trading” laws and regulations to which such Lender may be subject under the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE III

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

SECTION 3.01 Taxes.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable withholding agent). If any applicable withholding agent shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document, (i) if such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), the applicable Lender or Agent (or, in the case of payments made to the Administrative Agent for its own account, the Administrative Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the applicable withholding agent shall make such withholding or deductions, (iii) the applicable withholding agent shall pay or remit the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) as soon as practicable after the date of any such payment by any Loan Party, such Loan Party (or the Borrower) shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing payment thereof, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) In addition, and without duplication of any obligation set forth in Section 3.01(a), the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, or at the option of the Administrative Agent reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c) Without duplication of any amounts paid pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or Section 3.01(b), the Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify each Agent and each Lender within ten (10) days of receipt of a written demand thereof for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction in respect of amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Agent and such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or Agent, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) If any party determines, in its reasonable and good faith discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit an amount equal to such refund as soon as practicable after it is determined that such refund pertains to Indemnified Taxes (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Loan Parties under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund) to the Borrower, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly return an amount equal to such refund (plus any applicable interest, additions to tax or penalties) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority. Such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant Governmental Authority (provided that such Lender or Agent may delete any information therein that such Lender or Agent deems confidential). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(d), in no event will any Lender or Agent be required to pay any amount to any Loan Party pursuant to this Section 3.01(d) the payment of which would place such Lender or Agent in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification or additional amounts and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender or Agent to arrange its Tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender or Agent to claim any refund or to make available its Tax returns or disclose any information relating to its Tax affairs (or any other information that it deems confidential) or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender or Agent to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other refunds, credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.

(e) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes or Section 3.03 with respect to increased costs, in each cash with respect to such Lender it will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to legal and regulatory restrictions), at the Borrower’s expense, to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event if doing so would reduce or eliminate amounts payable under Section 3.01(a) or (c) or Section 3.03; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender, and provided, further that nothing in this Section 3.01(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c).

(f) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws, or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Loan Document. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such documentation (including any documentation specifically referenced below) expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, deliver promptly to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the applicable withholding agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

  (i)

Each Lender that is a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;

 

  (ii)

Each Lender that is not a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by applicable Laws or upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), two properly completed and duly signed original copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms), claiming eligibility for benefits of (i.e., reduction of or exemption from Tax) an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(B) Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8ECI (or any successor forms),

(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) or the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit K (any such certificate a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”), or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, to the effect that such Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no interest payments under any Loan Documents are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, and (y) Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or Forms W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms),

(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership, or is a Lender that has granted a participation), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, a United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, Form W-8IMY (or other successor forms) or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or

(E) any other form prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents, together with such supplemental documentation as may be prescribed by applicable laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

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  (iii)

If a payment made to a Recipient under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Laws (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their FATCA obligations, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s FATCA obligations and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01(f), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01(f).

(a) The Administrative Agent (or any successor thereto) shall provide the Borrower with, (i) if it is a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), on or prior to the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement, a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding (along with any other tax forms reasonably requested by the Borrower), or (ii) if it is not a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), (1) with respect to amounts payable to the Administrative Agent for its own account, a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (along with any other tax forms reasonably requested by the Borrower), together with any required accompanying documentation), and (2) with respect to amounts payable to the Administrative Agent on behalf of a Lender, a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (together with any required accompanying documentation) and shall update such forms periodically upon the reasonable request of the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (g), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver any form that such Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 3.01, include any L/C Issuer.

(c) Each parties’ obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

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SECTION 3.02 Inability to Determine Rates.

(1) With respect to the Term Loans and any Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars:

Subject to Section 3.09, if, on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any SOFR Loan:

(a) the Administrative Agent reasonably determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Adjusted Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof, or

(b) Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of the applicable Class determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a SOFR Loan or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof that Adjusted Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making and maintaining such Loan, and Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of the applicable Class have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent,

then, in each case, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.

Upon written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (b), at the instruction of the Lenders comprising Required Lenders of the applicable Class) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such written notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.03. Subject to Section 3.09, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Adjusted Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on any given day, the interest rate on Base Rate Loans shall be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (d) of the definition of “Base Rate” until the Administrative Agent revokes such determination.

 

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(2) With respect to any Revolving Credit Loan denominated in any Alternative Currency:

Subject to Section 3.09, if:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that:

(i) (A) if Adjusted Daily Simple RFR is utilized in any calculations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, “Adjusted Daily Simple RFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof or (B) if Eurocurrency Rate is utilized in any calculations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, “Eurocurrency Rate”, as applicable, cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period; or

(ii) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to such Alternative Currency (including changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls);

(b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan or any request therefor or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof, the Required Lenders determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable Alternative Currency, amount or Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, and the Required Lenders of the applicable Class have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent; or

(c) the Required Lenders of the applicable Class determine that for any reason in connection with any request for such Loan or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof that (i) if Adjusted Daily Simple RFR is utilized in any calculations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans or (ii) if Eurocurrency Rate is utilized in any calculations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts, Eurocurrency Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loan during the applicable Interest Period, and, in the case of (i) or (ii), the Required Lenders of such Class have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent,

then, in each case, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each applicable Lender. Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make RFR Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as applicable, in each such Alternative Currency, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Loan in each such Alternative Currency to or continue any Loan as an RFR Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, as applicable, in each such Alternative Currency, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected RFR Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (b) or (c), at the instruction of the Required Lenders of such Class) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of RFR Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans in each such affected Alternative Currency (to the extent of the affected RFR Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, then such request shall be ineffective and (B) any outstanding affected Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, at the Borrower’s election, shall either (i) be converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency) immediately or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period or (ii) be prepaid in full immediately or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period; provided that if no election is made by the Borrower by the date that is the earlier of (x) three Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice or (y) with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of the current Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (i) above.

 

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Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest (except with respect to any prepayment or conversion of a Daily Simple RFR Loan) on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.03

SECTION 3.03 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Loans.

 

(a)

If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law (including with respect to Taxes), or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Loan or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.03(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes indemnifiable under Section 3.01, (ii) Excluded Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes,” (iii) Excluded Taxes described in clause (a) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes” to the extent such Taxes are imposed on or measured by such Lender’s net income or profits (or are franchise Taxes imposed in lieu thereof ☐or are branch profit taxes) or (iv) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.03(c)), then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction; provided that in the case of any Change in Law only applicable as a result of the proviso set forth in the definition thereof, such Lender will only be compensated for such amounts that would have otherwise been imposed under the applicable increased cost provisions and only to the extent the applicable Lender is imposing such charges on other generally similarly situated borrowers (but not necessarily all such borrowers) under comparable syndicated credit facilities.

 

(b)

If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements, or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the date hereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements, and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

 

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(c)

The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, or funds or deposits bearing interest with reference to the applicable Benchmark, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, as applicable, equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice.

 

(d)

Subject to Section 3.05(b), failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

 

(e)

If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.03, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage; and provided, further that nothing in this Section 3.03(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.03(a), (b), (c) or (d).

SECTION 3.04 Funding Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan or SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan (other than a Base Rate Loan) on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.04, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any Incremental Term Loans, parties thereto shall endeavor to adjust Interest Periods thereon to minimize amounts payable under this Section 3.04 with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.05 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.

 

  (a)

Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

 

  (b)

With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.03, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term Benchmark Loans from one Interest Period to another, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Term Benchmark Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.05(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

 

  (c)

If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Term Benchmark Loan from one Interest Period to another, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Term Benchmark Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.05(b) hereof, such Lender’s Term Benchmark Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Term Benchmark Loans, as applicable (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.03 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

 

  (i)

to the extent that such Lender’s SOFR Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s SOFR Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

 

  (ii)

all Loans denominated in Dollars that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as SOFR Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into SOFR Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

 

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  (d)

If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.03 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s SOFR Loans pursuant to this Section 3.05 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when SOFR Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted to SOFR Loans, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding SOFR Loans, as applicable, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding SOFR Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments.

SECTION 3.06 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

 

  (a)

If at any time (i) any Lender requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.03 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.03, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, (iv) any Lender becomes a Non-Extending Lender and/or, (v) any suspension or cancellation of any obligation of any Lender to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Borrowing pursuant to Section 3.07, then the Borrower may, at its election and its sole expense and effort, on prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, to the extent not in conflict with applicable Laws in any material respect, either (x) replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (iii) above, all of its rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of the related consent, waiver or amendment) (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.03 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents or (y) repay the Loans and terminate the Commitments held by any such Lender notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (including, without limitation, Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07 or Section 2.13), on a non-pro rata basis so long as any accrued and unpaid interest and required fees are paid any such Non-Consenting Lender or Non-Extending Lender.

 

  (b)

Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.06(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans (provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register) and (ii) deliver Notes, if any, evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans, (B) all obligations of the Loan Parties owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loan Documents and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender or the Loan Parties (as applicable) to such assigning Lender concurrently with such assignment and

 

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  assumption, any amounts owing to the assigning Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) under Section 3.04 as a consequence of such assignment and, in the case of an assignment of Term Loans in connection with a Repricing Event, the premium, if any, that would have been payable by the Borrower on such date pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iii) if such Lender’s Term Loans subject to such assignment had been prepaid on such date shall have been paid by the Borrower to the assigning Lender and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, the assignor Lender shall deliver to the assignee Lender the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer, or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral Account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.

 

  (d)

In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent have requested that the Lenders (A) consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or (B) agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) solely with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.” In the event that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to an extension of the Maturity Date of any Class of Loans as permitted by Section 2.15, then any Lender who does not agree to such extension shall be deemed a “Non-Extending Lender.”

SECTION 3.07 Illegality. If (a) in any applicable jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender, as applicable, to (i) perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (ii) to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan or (iii) issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any Borrowing to any Loan Party who is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, a State thereof or the District of Columbia (including, as a result of any illegality due to any economic or financial sanctions administered or enforced by any sanctions authority) or (b) any Lender is advised in writing by a sanctions authority that penalties will be imposed by a sanctions authority as a result of such Lender’s participation in the Agreement or any other business or financial relationship with the Borrower, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), such Person shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, then, upon the Administrative Agent notifying the Borrower, and until such notice by such Person is revoked, any obligation of such Person to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Borrowing shall be suspended, and to the extent required by applicable Law, canceled.

 

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Upon receipt of such notice, the Loan Parties shall, (A) repay that Person’s participation in the Loans or other applicable Obligations on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan or other Obligation occurring after the Administrative Agent has notified the Borrower or, if earlier, the date specified by such Person in the notice delivered to the Administrative Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by applicable Law) and (B) take all reasonable actions requested by such Person to mitigate or avoid such illegality.

SECTION 3.08 Survival. Each Party’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Loan Obligations hereunder and any assignment of rights by or replacement of a Lender or L/C Issuer.

SECTION 3.09 Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(a) Benchmark Replacement.

(i) With respect to any Loans denominated in any Approved Currency other than Canadian Dollars, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders of the applicable Class without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of such Class. If the Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.

(ii) With respect to any Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars:

(A) On May 16, 2022 Refinitiv Benchmark Services (UK) Limited (“RBSL”), the administrator of CDOR, announced in a public statement that the calculation and publication of all tenors of CDOR will permanently cease immediately following a final publication on Friday, June 28, 2024. On the date that all Available Tenors of CDOR have either permanently or indefinitely ceased to be provided by RBSL (the “CDOR Cessation Date”), if the then-current Benchmark is CDOR, the Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any setting of such Benchmark on such day and all subsequent settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If the Benchmark Replacement is Daily Compounded CORRA, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.

 

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(B) Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to any Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders of the applicable Class without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of such Class. At any time that the administrator of the then-current Benchmark has permanently or indefinitely ceased to provide such Benchmark or such Benchmark has been announced by the administrator or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark pursuant to public statement or publication of information to be no longer representative of the underlying market and economic reality that such Benchmark is intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored, the Borrower may revoke any request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Loans to be made, converted or continued that would bear interest by reference to such Benchmark until the Borrower’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark, and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans.

(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this clause, if a Term CORRA Transition Event and its related Term CORRA Transition Date have occurred, then on and after such Term CORRA Transition Date (i) the Benchmark Replacement described in clause (a)(y)(A) of such definition will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of any setting of such Benchmark on such day and all subsequent settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) each Loan outstanding on the Term CORRA Transition Date bearing interest based on the then-current Benchmark shall convert, on the last day of the then-current interest payment period, into a Loan bearing interest at the Benchmark Replacement described in clause (a)(y)(A) of such definition for the respective Available Tenor as selected by the Borrower as is available for the then-current Benchmark; provided that, this clause (C) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders of the applicable Class and the Borrower a Term CORRA Notice, and so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the Term CORRA Notice, written notice of objection to such conversion to Term CORRA from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders of such Class or the Borrower.

(iii) No Secured Hedge Agreement shall constitute a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 3.09).

(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the occurrence of an Other Benchmark Election and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) any occurrence of a Term CORRA Transition Event, (iii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (iv) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.09(d) and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period.

 

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Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to this Section 3.09, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.09.

(d) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if any then-current Benchmark with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or Term Benchmark Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate, EURIBOR, the CDOR Rate or Term CORRA) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (in consultation with the Borrower) or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings with respect to such Loans or Borrowing, at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(e) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to the rate applicable to such Loan, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Term Benchmark or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, or a Term Benchmark or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, in each case, to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period denominated Dollars or in the applicable Alternative Currency and, failing that, (A) in the case of any request for any affected Term SOFR Borrowing, if applicable, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Base Rate Borrowing or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (B) in the case of any request for any affected Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, in each case, in an Alternative Currency, if applicable, then such request shall be ineffective and (ii)(A) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans, if applicable, will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period and (B) any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, in each case, denominated in an Alternative Currency, at the Borrower’s election, shall either (I) be converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency) immediately or, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period or (II) be prepaid in full immediately or, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, at the end of the applicable Interest Period; provided that, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, if no election is made by the Borrower by the earlier of (x) the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice and (y) the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Term Benchmark Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (I) above provided, further that, with respect to any RFR Loan, if no election is made by the Borrower by the date that is three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (I) above. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any Benchmark or at any time that a tenor for any then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark that is the subject of such Benchmark Unavailability Period or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate.

 

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(f) Prior to implementing a Benchmark Replacement and/or any Conforming Changes, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts (exercised in good faith) to implement such Benchmark Replacement and/or any Conforming Changes in a manner that is intended to comply with the terms of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.1001-6 (or any successor or similar Treasury Regulations) such that the Benchmark Replacement and/or Conforming Changes do not constitute a “significant modification” for purposes of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.1001-3 (including, but not limited to, using commercially reasonable efforts to implement a Benchmark Replacement that is a “qualified rate”, as defined in the United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.1001-6).

ARTICLE IV

Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

SECTION 4.01 Conditions to Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Initial Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.01 and the paragraph immediately succeeding Section 4.01(h)) of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, facsimiles or other electronic copies (in each case, followed promptly by originals if requested) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Initial Lenders:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Guaranty, the Security Agreement (and intellectual property security agreements required thereunder), and each of the other Loan Documents to be entered into on the Closing Date and prior to any such initial Credit Extension, in any case, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.01 and together with (except as provided in the Collateral Documents and/or the provisions of this Section 4.01):

(A) certificates, if any, representing the pledged equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and (if applicable) instruments evidencing the pledged debt referred to therein endorsed in blank, and

(B) evidence that that all other actions, recordings and filings (UCC financing statements (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, local fixture filings in respect of the Billboard Collateral) and intellectual property security agreements) that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Initial Lender that has requested a Note at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date;

(iii) such certificates (including a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L), copies of Organization Documents of the Loan Parties, resolutions or other action and incumbency certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party, evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date; (iv) (iv) an opinion from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in its capacity as counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender;

 

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(v) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, from the Borrower’s chief financial officer or other officer with equivalent duties;

(vi) a Committed Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, relating to the initial Credit Extension and an associated letter of direction;

(vii) copies of recent customary state level UCC lien, tax and judgment searches prior to the Closing Date with respect to the Loan Parties located in the United States; and

(viii) if available in the relevant jurisdiction, good standing certificates or certificates of status, as applicable and bring down telegrams or facsimiles, for each Loan Party.

(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date hereunder or pursuant to any agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, as applicable, to the extent, with respect to expenses, invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, shall have been paid in full in cash or will be paid on the Closing Date out of the initial Credit Extension of Loans.

(c) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with such initial Credit Extension of Loans, the Refinancing shall have been consummated.

(d) The Lead Arrangers shall have received (i) the Audited Financial Statements and (ii) the Unaudited Financial Statements.

(e) The Administrative Agent and the Initial Lenders shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties as has been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date by the Administrative Agent or such Initial Lenders that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act.

(f) Since December 31, 2018, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 4.01(f) and (g) and Section 4.02.

The making of the initial Credit Extensions by the applicable Initial Lenders hereunder shall conclusively be deemed to constitute an acknowledgement by the Administrative Agent and each such Initial Lender that each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01 shall have been satisfied in accordance with its respective terms or shall have been irrevocably waived by such Person.

 

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SECTION 4.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility (or any other facility as set forth in this Agreement) and any requests for Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments which are established, but not drawn on the date of the effectiveness of such facility (other than (x) a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to another Type, or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loan, or (y) a Credit Extension under any Incremental Facility in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, which are subject to the LCT Provisions) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.

(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than (i) a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to another Type or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans, or (ii) a Credit Extension in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment which are subject to the LCT Provisions) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the applicable conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party (a) is a Person duly incorporated, organized or formed, and validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs, injunctions and orders and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower), (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and (b) do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or require any payment to be made under (A) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than under the Loan Documents and Liens subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement) or (iv) violate any material Law; except (in the case of clauses (b)(ii) and (b)(iv)), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, payment or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (a)

The Audited Financial Statements, the Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and its results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date.

 

  (b)

Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation thereof, and that such restatements will not result in a Default under the Loan Documents.

SECTION 5.06 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or by or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07 Ownership of Property; Liens.

(a) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good and valid title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes, Permitted Liens and any Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law and, in each case, except where the failure to have such title or other interest would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) On the Closing Date, the Borrower is in compliance with the insurance procedures and policies in Section 6.06 hereof, except where the failure to so be in compliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) As of the Closing Date, there are no Material Real Properties other than those listed on Schedule 5.07 hereof.

 

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SECTION 5.08 Environmental Compliance. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.08 or as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions, suits, notices of violation, notices of potential responsibility or proceedings by or against any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries alleging potential liability under, or responsibility for violation of, any Environmental Law.

(b) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws;

(c) no Loan Party nor any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries is currently undertaking, either individually or together with other persons, any investigation or response action relating to any actual or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any location pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law;

(d) all Hazardous Materials transported by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries for off-site disposal have been disposed of in compliance with any Environmental Laws; and

(e) the Loan Parties and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, operations and properties are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws and have obtained, maintained and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or approvals required under Environmental Laws for their operations.

SECTION 5.09 Taxes. The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed all federal, provincial, state, municipal, non-U.S. and other Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have timely paid all federal, provincial, state, municipal, non-U.S. and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) those Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, or (b) failures to file or pay as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Tax audits, deficiencies, assessments or other claims with respect to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.10 Compliance with ERISA.

(a) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan and Foreign Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws and applicable foreign laws, respectively.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event or similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 et seq.

 

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of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.10(b), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The Borrower represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that it is not and will not be (1) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, (2) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code; or (3) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plans or accounts for purposes of ERISA or the Code.

SECTION 5.11 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and, in the case of Equity Interests representing corporate interests, nonassessable and, on the Closing Date, all Equity Interests owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower or any other Loan Party are owned free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.11 (a) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of each Subsidiary of a Loan Party, (b) sets forth the ownership interest of the Borrower and any of the Loan Parties in each of their Subsidiaries, including the percentage of such ownership and (c) identifies each Person the Equity Interests of which are required to be pledged on the Closing Date pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

SECTION 5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) No Loan Party is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings and no Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U or Regulation X of the FRB.

(b) None of the Loan Parties is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 5.13 Disclosure. On the Closing Date, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent, any Lead Arranger or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains when furnished any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

 

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SECTION 5.14 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Each of the Loan Parties and the other Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are used in or reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, without violation of the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failures to own, license or possess or violations, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any such IP Rights is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party or its Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.15 Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on or prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent. For the purposes hereof, 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.

SECTION 5.16 Collateral Documents . The Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties legal, valid and enforceable Liens on and security interests in, the Collateral described therein and to the extent intended to be created thereby, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, and (i) when all appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable Laws (which filings or recordings shall be made to the extent required by any Collateral Document) and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent required by any Collateral Document), the Liens created by such Collateral Documents will constitute so far as possible under relevant Law fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral, with the priority set forth in the applicable intercreditor agreement, in each case subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.

SECTION 5.17 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term B Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit shall be used in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

SECTION 5.18 Patriot Act. (i) Neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party is in material violation of any applicable laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 23, 2001 and the USA PATRIOT Act. (ii) The use of proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit will not violate in any material respect the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended or any of the foreign asset control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter V).

 

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SECTION 5.19 Sanctioned Persons. None of the Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries, or, any director, officer, or employee, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a person that is, or is 50% or more owned by one or more persons that are, (i) currently the target of any economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Treasury Department or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any member state thereof, or His Majesty’s Treasury, the government of Canada or any other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (ii) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of comprehensive Sanctions (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and non-government controlled areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine). The Borrower will not, directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person that is the subject of Sanctions or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of comprehensive Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any person.

SECTION 5.20 FCPA. No part of the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used, directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, 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 the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (“FCPA”), or any other similar applicable anti-corruption law (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”). The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

ARTICLE VI

Affirmative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Loan Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or Backstopped or as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer have been made), the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02 and Section 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:

SECTION 6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year and including a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” qualification (other than an emphasis of matter or explanatory or like paragraph) (other than (x) with respect to, or resulting from, a current debt maturity and/or (y) any potential default or event of default of any financial covenant under this Agreement and/or any other Indebtedness;

 

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(b) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower beginning with the first fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related (i) consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (ii) consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year and including a customary management discussion and analysis of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b) above, the Borrower shall provide the related unaudited consolidating financial information in reasonable detail necessary to eliminate the accounts of any parent entity or Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower by furnishing the Borrower’s or a parent entity’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion by an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which statements, report and opinion may be subject to the same exceptions and qualifications as contemplated in Section 6.01(a) (including the proviso thereto).

SECTION 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the required deadline for delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; (c) together with the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) a list of Subsidiaries that identifies each Subsidiary as a Material Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary for the Test Period covered by such Compliance Certificate or a confirmation that there is no change for such period in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list and (ii) such other information required by the Compliance Certificate; and

 

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(d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.02(d), none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (x) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (y) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) would be in breach of any confidentiality obligations, fiduciary duty or Law or (z) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided, further that in the event that the Borrower does not provide information in reliance on the exclusions in this sentence, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to communicate, to the extent permitted, the applicable information in a way that would not violate such restrictions.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b) or Section 6.02(a) may be delivered (1) electronically or (2) to the extent that such are publicly available via EDGAR or another publicly available reporting system, by the Borrower advising the Administrative Agent of the filing thereof, and if so delivered pursuant to clause (1), shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) or pursuant to clause (2), shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date the Borrower advises the Administrative Agent of the filing thereof; provided that with respect to clause (1): (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. 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 any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (A) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on SyndTrak, IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (B) certain of the Lenders (“Public Lenders”) may be “Public-Side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that (or have personnel that) do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws; (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.” The Borrower agrees that any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) and Compliance Certificate delivered under Section 6.02(a) will be deemed to be “PUBLIC” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.

SECTION 6.03 Notices.

(a) Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(i) of the occurrence of any Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;

(ii) of any litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without limitation, pursuant to any Environmental Laws) pending against the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event or similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan that would result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(iv) of any other event that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) [reserved].

SECTION 6.04 Maintenance of Existence. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except (i) in each case of clauses (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower) and (b), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) in each case, pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05.

 

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SECTION 6.05 Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice.

SECTION 6.06 Maintenance of Insurance.

(a) Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

(b) With respect to Loan Parties organized in the United States, (i) such Loan Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to procure that such insurance shall provide that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least ten (10) days (or, to the extent reasonably available, thirty (30) days) after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (the Borrower shall deliver a copy of the policy (and to the extent any such policy is canceled or renewed, a renewal or replacement policy) or other evidence thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or insurance certificate with respect thereto) and (ii) such insurance shall name the Collateral Agent as lender loss payee (in the case of property insurance) or additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability insurance), as applicable.

SECTION 6.07 Compliance with Laws. (i) Comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and (ii) comply in all respects with all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, decrees and judgments applicable to it or to its business or property (including without limitation, Environmental Laws and ERISA), except as to clause (ii) if the failure to comply therewith would not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.08 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; it being agreed that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall only be required to provide such books of record and account in accordance with and to the extent required by the standards set forth in Section 6.09.

 

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SECTION 6.09 Inspection Rights. With respect to any Loan Party, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, managers, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections as contemplated by the next proviso, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.09 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one (1) time during any calendar year absent the existence of a Specified Event of Default and such inspection shall be at the Borrower’s sole expense; provided, further that to the extent (A) any Specified Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may, and (B) to the extent any Event of Default under Section 8.01(b) (solely with respect to the Financial Covenant and the Liquidity Covenant) exists, the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may, in each case of clauses (A) and (B), do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.09, none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) would be in breach of any confidentiality obligations, fiduciary duty or Law or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided that in the event that the Borrower does not provide information in reliance on the exclusions in this sentence, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to communicate, to the extent permitted, the applicable information in a way that would not violate such restrictions.

SECTION 6.10 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security. At the Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(a) upon (x)(A) the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, (B) the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of any existing direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (C) any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary or (D) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party merging or amalgamating with a Loan Party in accordance with the proviso in Section 7.04(a) or (y) the designation by the Borrower, at its election, of any Excluded Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor (each, an “Additional Guarantor”)

(i) within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition, designation or occurrence or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion; provided that (I) solely in the case of any such designation of a non-U.S. Excluded Subsidiary as an Additional Guarantor (a “Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor”), consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required prior to the addition of any Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned (it being understood that such consent may be withheld if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such Non-U.S.

 

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Discretionary Guarantor is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction (i) where the amount and enforceability of the contemplated guarantee that may be entered into by a Person organized in the relevant jurisdiction is materially and adversely limited by applicable law or contractual limitations, (ii) where the security interests (and the enforceability thereof) that may be granted with respect to assets (or various classes of assets) located in the relevant jurisdiction are materially and adversely limited by applicable law or (iii) that is not a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or is the target of any Sanctions; provided that no such consent shall be required for the addition of any Additional Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and (II) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to such Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor becoming an Additional Guarantor all documentation and other information in respect of such Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor as has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in writing that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act (and, upon any request made by a Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent will provide the Lenders with all such information made available to it in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement):

(A) cause each such Additional Guarantor to furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of the Material Real Properties that are not Excluded Property owned by such Restricted Subsidiary in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(B) cause each such Additional Guarantor to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) Mortgages, pledges, guarantees, assignments, Security Agreement Supplements and other security agreements and documents or joinders or supplements thereto (including without limitation, with respect to Mortgages, the documents listed in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (consistent with the Mortgages, Security Agreement and other Collateral Documents in effect on the Closing Date or required, as of the Closing Date to be delivered in accordance with Section 6.12), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(C) cause each such Additional Guarantor to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank and (if applicable) instruments evidencing the Indebtedness held by such Restricted Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents, indorsed in blank to the Collateral Agent;

(D) take and cause such Additional Guarantor and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of financing statements and intellectual property security agreements and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with the Lien priority permitted under the Loan Documents, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); (E) to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, cause each such Restricted Subsidiary to deliver customary board resolutions and officers certificates; and

 

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(ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Collateral Agent and to the extent in the Borrower’s possession, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Material Real Property that is not Excluded Property, any existing title reports, title insurance policies and surveys or environmental assessment reports to the extent reasonably available; and

 

(b)

upon the acquisition of any Material Real Property after the Closing Date that is not Excluded Property by any Loan Party, if such Material Real Property shall not already be subject to a perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) under the Collateral Documents pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and is required to be, the Borrower shall within ninety (90) days after such the acquisition of such Material Real Property (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) provide the Administrative Agent written notice thereof, and cause such real property to be subjected to a Lien to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and will take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, including, as applicable, the actions referred to in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”; provided that the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Secured Parties that such Material Real Property shall become subject to a Lien at least forty-five (45) days prior to the granting of the Lien over such Material Real Property. If any Lender determines, acting reasonably, that any applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender to hold or benefit from a Lien over real property pursuant to any Law of the United States or any State thereof, such Lender may notify the Administrative Agent and disclaim any benefit of such Lien to the extent of such illegality; provided that, (x) such determination or disclaimer shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such Lien for the benefit of any other Secured Party and (y) if any such determination or disclaimer shall reduce any recovery, or deemed amount of recovery, from any such Lien, then notwithstanding any sharing of payment or similar provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including any provision of Section 2.13 and/or Section 8.04, such reduction shall be borne solely by the Lender or Lenders making such determination or disclaimer.

SECTION 6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.

SECTION 6.12 Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants.

(a) Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

 

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(b) Within the time periods specified on Schedule 6.12 hereto (as each may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), complete such undertakings as are set forth on Schedule 6.12 hereto.

SECTION 6.13 Designation of Subsidiaries.

(a) Subject to Section 6.13(b) below, the Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that at no time may any Subsidiary be an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder if it is a “restricted Subsidiary” (or term of similar import) for the purpose of the ABL Facility, the Senior Secured Notes, the Stepped Up Notes or any Junior Debt. The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Borrower’s investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.

(b) The Borrower may not (x) designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (y) designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case unless no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if, on the date of and after giving effect to such designation, such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or any Subsidiary thereof) would own (or hold an exclusive license with respect to) any Material Intellectual Property (and no Material Intellectual Property may be transferred (including by way of an exclusive license) to an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such transfer is in connection with transition services agreements or non-exclusive licenses, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and (y) no Unrestricted Subsidiary may, at any time, own (or hold an exclusive license with respect to) Material Intellectual Property.

SECTION 6.14 Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will pay and discharge promptly, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, in each case on a timely basis, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, may reasonably be expected to become a lien or charge upon any properties of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Agreement; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Tax or claim which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, or which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.15 Maintenance of Ratings. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (i) a public corporate credit rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s, in each case in respect of the Borrower (or, its applicable public parent entity), and (ii) a public rating (but not any specific rating) in respect of each of the Term Facility from each of S&P and Moody’s.

 

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SECTION 6.16 Nature of Business. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will engage only in material lines of business substantially similar to those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto.

SECTION 6.17 Fiscal Year. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date, and in such case only to the extent necessary to conform to the fiscal year of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) to, change its methodology of determining its fiscal year-end from such methodology in effect on the Closing Date; provided that, the Borrower may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year-end to another date reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting, which adjustments shall become effective when the Administrative Agent posts the amendment reflecting such changes to the Platform, and the Required Lenders have not objected to such amendment within five (5) Business Days.

SECTION 6.18 Lender Calls. Following the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable, the Borrower shall host a conference call with the Lenders, at a time to be mutually agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, to review the financial results of operation and the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; it being understood and agreed that this Section 6.18 shall be satisfied by any quarterly earnings call held by the Borrower or any parent entity thereof to investors of its public equity securities.

SECTION 6.19 Maintenance of REIT Status. Following the REIT Election, the Borrower (or applicable parent entity) will, at all times, conduct its affairs in a manner so as to continue to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes until such time as the board of directors of the Borrower (or applicable parent entity) deems it in the best interests of the Borrower and its stockholders not to remain qualified as a REIT.

ARTICLE VII

Negative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Loan Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or Backstopped or as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer have been made), the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

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SECTION 7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) (i) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document, (ii) Liens securing the Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b)(i); provided that, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent or trustee on their behalf) shall have become party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) Liens securing the Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b)(iii); provided that, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent or trustee on their behalf) shall have become party to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or other Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof securing Indebtedness or other obligations (x) with an individual value not in excess of $5,000,000 or (y) listed on Schedule 7.01(b) and in each case of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), any modifications, replacements, refinancings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof and (ii) the modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens (if such obligations constitute Indebtedness) is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges (i) which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days, (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP or (iii) with respect to which the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (i) which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or if more than sixty (60) days overdue, are unfiled (or if filed have been discharged or stayed) and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien, (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP or (iii) with respect to which the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) (i) pledges, deposits or Liens arising as a matter of law in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, general liability or property insurance and/or other social security legislation; and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(f) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantee or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same; (g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and any exception on the Mortgage Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Property;

 

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(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within two hundred seventy (270) days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, replacements thereof and additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits, and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for additions and accessions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(j) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business (and Liens on the property covered thereby), which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

(k) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Liens (i) of a collection bank (including those arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code) on the items in the course of collection, (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution or entities and/or electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of setoff) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry and (iii) arising by the terms of documents of banks or other financial institutions in relation to the maintenance or administration of deposit accounts, securities accounts or cash management arrangements;

(m) Liens (i) on cash advances or escrow deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or otherwise in connection with any escrow arrangements with respect to any such Investment or any Disposition permitted under Section 7.05 and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(n) [reserved];

(o) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13), in each case after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), and (iii) any Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03(f) and/or Section 7.03(r)(i);

 

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(p) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under leases or subleases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(q) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings or any equivalent filings in respect of any leases;

(t) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(u) 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;

(v) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit issued for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

(w) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (b), (i) and (o) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03;

(x) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

(y) Liens (i) on property of a Non-Loan Party securing Indebtedness that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 and (ii) on property of a Foreign Subsidiary securing obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary that are not Indebtedness;

(z) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(aa) Liens securing obligations that arise in the ordinary or normal course of business and that do not constitute Indebtedness and that are not otherwise expressly contemplated by this Section 7.03; (bb) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(m);

 

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(cc) other Liens; provided that at the time of incurrence of the obligations secured thereby, the aggregate outstanding face amount of obligations secured by Liens existing in reliance on this clause shall not exceed the greater of (x) $215,000,000 and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(dd) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations, provided that at the time of incurrence of the Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby, in the case of (x) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.00:1.00 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.00:1.00 and the First Lien Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period), (y) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on the Collateral that are junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.25:1.00 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.25:1.00 and the Secured Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period) and (z) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations on assets that are not Collateral, the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 8.25:1.00 (or, to the extent incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 8.25:1.00 and the Total Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period), in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, including the application of the proceeds thereof, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(ee) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(r), Section 7.03(s), 7.03(t), Section 7.03(w) and Section 7.03(y), in each case, to the extent contemplated by, and subject to the limitations set forth in such provisions; provided that, to the extent such Lien is on the Collateral, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent or trustee on their behalf) shall have become party to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof;

(ff) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, other Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law;

(gg) [reserved];

(hh) [reserved];

(ii) Liens created or deemed to exist by the establishment of trusts for the purpose of satisfying government reimbursement program costs and other actions or claims pertaining to the same or related matters or other medical reimbursement programs;

(jj) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that, such satisfaction or discharge is permitted hereunder;

(kk) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof;

(ll) Liens on cash or permitted Investments securing Swap Contracts in the ordinary course of business submitted for clearing in accordance with applicable requirements of Law and Liens on receivables and related assets arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(mm) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business; (nn) Liens on Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(oo) Liens arising as a result of a Permitted Sale Leaseback or other sale-leaseback permitted by Section 7.05; and

(pp) Liens on proceeds of Indebtedness held in Escrow for so long as the proceeds thereof are and continue to be held in Escrow.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, if any Lien (or a portion thereof) would be permitted pursuant to one or more provisions described above, the Borrower may divide and classify such Lien (or a portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later divide and reclassify any such Lien so long as the Lien (as so divided and/or reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception as of the date of such reclassification.

SECTION 7.02 Investments. Make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;

(b) loans or advances to officers, directors, managers, partners and employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or such direct or indirect parent) (provided that, the proceeds of any such loans and advances shall be contributed by such parent entity to, or applied to a transaction resulting in a return of net cash proceeds in a substantially similar amount to, the Borrower, as the case may be; provided, further that such contribution or return, as applicable, shall not constitute an equity contribution that may be utilized for other baskets (including the Available Amount) in this Article VII) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at the time made not to exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(c) asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) and the licensing or contribution of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Investments (i) by any Loan Party in any other Loan Party, (ii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party, (iii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (iv) by any Loan Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that, in the case of this clause (iv), the aggregate amount of such Investments by a Loan Party shall either (x) be made in the ordinary course or consistent with past practice or (y) not exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(e) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments permitted (other than, in each case, by reference to this Section 7.02) under Section 7.01, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, Section 7.05 and Section 7.06, respectively; (h) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(g);

 

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(g) [reserved];

(i) promissory notes and other noncash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05;

(j) the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person by the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (including as a result of a merger or consolidation) (each, a “Permitted Acquisition”); provided that (i) after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition and (A) subject to the LCT Provisions, no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with Section 6.16 and (ii) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall become Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall become Guarantors, in each case in accordance with Section 6.10;

(k) the Transactions;

(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practice;

(m) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers from financially troubled account debtors or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(n) Investments as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, in an amount not exceeding the Available Amount; provided that at the time of making any such Investment, with respect to any Investment made utilizing amounts specified in clause (b) of the definition of “Available Amount,” no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(p) loans and advances to the Borrower in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other such loans or advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such direct or indirect parent in accordance with Section 7.06; provided that any such loan or advance shall reduce the amount of such applicable Restricted Payment thereafter permitted under Section 7.06 by a corresponding amount (if such applicable provision of Section 7.06 contains a maximum amount);

(q) Investments held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a corporation or company merged into the Borrower or merged or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

(r) Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business; (s) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than any Cure Amount or “Cure Amount” (as defined in the ABL Facility)); provided that, any amounts used for such an Investment or other acquisition that are not Qualified Equity Interests shall otherwise be permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02;

 

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(t) other Investments in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding:

(i) the greater of (x) $275,000,000 and (y) 45.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; plus

(ii) (A) the greater of (x) $215,000,000 and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the most recently ended Test Period minus (B) the amount of prepayments of Junior Debt made pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iii)(A); plus

(iii) (A) the greater of (x) $215,000,000 and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the most recently ended Test Period minus (B) the amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(j);

(u) [reserved];

(v) Investments in JV Entities and Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding the greater of (i) $150,000,000 and (ii) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(w) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of the Borrower;

(x) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such Investments were not entered into in contemplation of such redesignations;

(y) other Investments; provided that, at the time of such Investment, the Total Leverage Ratio of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 6.75:1.00;

(z) Investments existing or contemplated on a Closing Date (x) with an individual value not in excess of $5,000,000 or (y) set forth on Schedule 7.02 and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02 is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(aa) Investments in connection with any Reorganization;

(bb) Investments in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash contributions made after the Closing Date to the Borrower in exchange for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower, except to the extent utilized in connection with any other transaction permitted by Section 7.06 or Section 7.08, and except to the extent such amount increases the Available Amount, constitutes a Cure Amount or a “Cure Amount” (as defined in the ABL Facility); (cc) Investments in a Similar Business after the Closing Date in an aggregate amount for all such Investments not to exceed, at the time such Investment is made and after giving effect to such Investment, the sum of (i) an amount equal to the greater of (x) $425,000,000 and (y) 70.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period as of such time plus (ii) the aggregate amount of any cash repayment of or return on such Investments theretofore received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date;

 

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(dd) the forgiveness or conversion to equity of any intercompany Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the cancellation or forgiveness of any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower (or any parent entity) or a Subsidiary from any members of management of the Borrower (or any parent entity) or any Subsidiary, in each case permitted by Section 7.03;

(ee) to the extent that they constitute Investments, purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials or equipment or purchases, acquisitions, licenses or leases of other assets, intellectual property, or other rights, in each case in the ordinary course of business; and

(ff) Investments (i) in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, if any Investment (or a portion thereof) would be permitted pursuant to one or more provisions described above, the Borrower may divide and classify such Investment (or a portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later divide and reclassify any such Investment so long as the Investment (as so divided and/or reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception as of the date of such reclassification.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary make any Investment of Material Intellectual Property in any Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Investment is in connection with transition services agreements or non-exclusive licenses, in each case, in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents;

(b) the (i) Senior Secured Notes, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount under this clause (i) not to exceed $1,250,000,000 (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof), (ii) Stepped Up Notes, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount under this clause (ii) not to exceed $1,901,500,000 (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof) and (iii) Indebtedness (x) under the ABL Facility in an aggregate outstanding principal amount under this clause (iii) not to exceed the sum of (I) as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, $175,000,000 plus (II) any incremental facility, protective advances and/or over advances permitted under the ABL Facility as in effect on the date hereof and (y) in respect of Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Agreements (each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (or any equivalent term under any documentation governing any ABL Facility)), and, in each case of this clause (iii), any Permitted Refinancing thereof; (c) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof (x) with an individual value not in excess of $5,000,000 or (y) listed on Schedule 7.03(c) and in each case of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

 

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(d) Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted hereunder (except that a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may not, by virtue of this Section 7.03(d), guarantee Indebtedness that such Subsidiary could not otherwise incur under this Section 7.03); provided that, (x) if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to the Loan Obligations, such Guarantee Obligation shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Loan Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness and (y) Guarantee Obligations made by a Loan Party with respect to Indebtedness of a Non-Loan Party must be permitted pursuant to Section 7.02;

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to the subordination terms set forth in Section 3.02 of the Guaranty (but only to the extent permitted by applicable law and not giving rise to material adverse tax consequences);

(f) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Capitalized Leases) financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets (provided that such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within two hundred seventy (270) days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement), (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of Permitted Sale Leasebacks and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness (including without limitation Attributable Indebtedness, but excluding Attributable Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (ii)) under this Section 7.03(f) does not exceed, at the time of the incurrence thereof, the greater of (x) $140,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(g) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts not for speculative purposes (i) entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual or anticipated exposure (other than those in respect of shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary), (ii) 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 Subsidiary and (iii) entered into to hedge commodities, currencies, general economic conditions, raw materials prices, revenue streams or business performance;

(h) obligations of non-wholly-owned Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(i) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower (or any parent entity) and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Indebtedness to future, present or former directors, officers, members of management, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 7.06(f); (k) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;

 

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(l) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower (or any parent entity) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisitions and/or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;

(m) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, cash pooling arrangements, purchase card and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course;

(n) Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;

(p) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(q) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit;

(r) Indebtedness (whether secured or unsecured) (i) in an unlimited amount, of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary) after the date hereof and/or any other Indebtedness otherwise assumed in connection with an acquisition or any other Investment not prohibited hereunder, to the extent in the case of this clause (i), such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or other Investment and such Indebtedness constitutes the obligations of only such newly acquired Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited hereunder, in an aggregate principal amount for this clause (ii), not to exceed, at the time of the incurrence thereof, (A) the Fixed Incremental Amount (taking into account any amounts already incurred in reliance thereon) plus (B) an additional unlimited amount so long as after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto (x) in the case of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of (1) 5.00:1.00 and (2) the First Lien Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period, (y) in the case of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of 5.25:1.00 and the Secured Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period and (z) in the case of Indebtedness that is unsecured or secured by assets that are not Collateral, either, at the Borrower’s option, (X) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of 8.25:1.00 and the Total Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period or (Y) in the case of unsecured indebtedness, the Interest Coverage Ratio is no less than the lesser of 2:00:1.00 and the Interest Coverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period and (iii) incurred for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement, in an aggregate principal amount for clause (iii), not to exceed an unlimited amount so long as after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto (x) in the case of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 5.00:1.00 (or, to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.00:1.00 and the First Lien Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period), (y) in the case of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Collateral that ranks junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not 5.25:1.00 (or, to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 5.25:1.00 and the Secured Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period) and (z) in the case of Indebtedness that is unsecured or secured by assets that are not Collateral, either, at the Borrower’s option (X) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 8.25:1.00 (or, to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the greater of 8.25:1.00 and the Total Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period) or (Y) in the case of unsecured indebtedness, the Interest Coverage Ratio is no less than 2:00:1.00 (or, to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with any acquisition or similar investment not prohibited by this Agreement, the lesser of 2.00:1.00 and the Interest Coverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period); provided that, such Indebtedness incurred under clauses (ii) and (iii), (1) shall be subject only to the applicable Required Debt Terms and (2) any such Indebtedness of any Subsidiaries that are non-Loan Parties shall not exceed, in the aggregate at the time of incurrence thereof, the greater of (X) $200,000,000 and (Y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

 

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(s) Indebtedness incurred by a Non-Loan Party, and guarantees thereof by any Non-Loan Party, (x) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at the time of the incurrence thereof, the greater of (i) $375,000,000 and (ii) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period and (y) under working capital lines, lines of credit or overdraft facilities (to the extent such Indebtedness are not secured by assets constituting Collateral and are non-recourse to the Loan Parties) in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Incremental Equivalent Debt;

(u) additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at the time of the incurrence thereof, the greater of (x) $240,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(v) [reserved];

(w) (i) Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or loans) incurred by the Borrower to the extent that 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are, immediately after the receipt thereof, applied solely to the prepayment of Term Loans or the replacement of Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(iii); provided that (A) if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to such Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, or is unsecured, such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date with respect to the relevant Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, being refinanced, (B) other than Inside Maturity Loans, such Indebtedness shall not mature prior to the Maturity Date of the Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, being refinanced and, as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness (other than revolving loans) shall not be shorter than that of then-remaining Term Loans being refinanced, (C) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor which shall have previously or substantially concurrently guaranteed the Obligations, (D) subject to clause (h) of the “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets not securing the Obligations unless such assets substantially concurrently secure the Obligations, (E) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, call protection, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Loans being refinanced) shall be either, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders providing such Indebtedness, in their capacity as such or, solely in the case such Indebtedness is refinancing the Term Loans, be on market terms at the time of the establishment of such Indebtedness (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Borrower) (except for (x) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest maturity date of the relevant Loans being refinanced or (y) to the extent any more restrictive covenant or provision is added for the benefit of (A) with respect to any such Indebtedness incurred as term B loans, such covenant or provision is also added for the benefit of each Facility remaining outstanding after the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness or (B) with respect to any revolving facility or Customary Term A Loans, such covenant or provision (except to the extent only applicable after the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility) is also added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility to the extent it remains outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness; it being understood and agreed that in each such case, no consent of the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender shall be required in connection with adding such covenant or provision), and (F) such Indebtedness shall not be in a principal amount in excess of the amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, so refinanced except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid and unused commitments, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

 

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(x) Indebtedness with respect to any Qualified Securitization Financing;

(y) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Exchange Securities incurred pursuant to a Permitted Exchange in accordance with Section 2.17 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(z) any CCOH Preferred Stock and any Replacement CCOH Preferred Stock;

(aa) [reserved]; and

(bb) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest, capitalized interest or interest otherwise payable in kind), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in the foregoing clauses of this Section 7.03.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described above, the Borrower may classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (a) of this Section 7.03, (ii) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Notes will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (b)(i) of this Section 7.03, (iii) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Stepped Up Notes will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (b)(ii) of this Section 7.03 and (iv) all Indebtedness outstanding under the ABL Facility will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (b)(iii) of this Section 7.03.

The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.03.

 

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SECTION 7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, amalgamate, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Borrower may merge or amalgamate with any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that when any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is merging or amalgamating with another Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be a continuing or surviving Person, as applicable, or the resulting entity shall succeed as a matter of law to all of the Obligations of such Loan Party);

(b) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (ii) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate, dissolve or wind up, and (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may change its legal form, in each case, if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (iii) the Borrower may change its legal form if it determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and the Administrative Agent reasonably determines it is not disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (x) the transferee must be a Loan Party or (y) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 7.02 and Section 7.03, respectively;

(d) other than during the Liquidity Testing Period and so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or amalgamate with any other Person or, assign all of the obligations hereunder to another Person; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower or in connection with any such assignment to another Person (any such Person under this clause (ii), the “Successor Company”), (A) the Successor Company shall be an entity organized or existing under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (B) the Successor Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) the Successor Company shall cause such amendments, supplements or other instruments to be executed, delivered, filed and recorded (and deliver a copy of same to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent) in such jurisdictions as may be required by applicable law to preserve and protect the Lien of the Collateral Agent on the Collateral owned by or transferred to the Successor Company, together with such financing statements as may be required to perfect any security interests in such Collateral which may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC of the relevant states, (D) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have confirmed that its Guaranty shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (E) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement and other applicable Collateral Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Loan Documents, (F) the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information about the Successor Company that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act and (G) at the time of such merger or consolidation, shall be in pro forma compliance with the Financial Covenant; provided, further that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement; (e) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or amalgamate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.10;

 

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(f) any Reorganization may be consummated;

(g) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, amalgamation, dissolution, winding up, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05, may be effected (other than pursuant to Section 7.05(e)); and

(h) so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, dissolution, liquidation or consolidation, in each case, by and among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, the purpose of which is to effect a Reorganization.

SECTION 7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) Dispositions of inventory and immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights to lapse or be abandoned in the ordinary course of business);

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

(d) Dispositions of property to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party, (ii) to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02, or (iii) such Disposition shall consist of the transfer of Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary to any other Foreign Subsidiary;

(e) Dispositions permitted (other than by reference to this Section 7.05(e)) by Section 7.04 and Section 7.06 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01;

(f) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

(g) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(h) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events;

(i) Dispositions of Investments in JV Entities or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the parties to such JV Entity or shareholders of such non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries set forth in the shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, organizational documents or similar binding agreements relating to such JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (j) Dispositions of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

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(k) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

(l) Permitted Sale Leasebacks;

(m) so long as no Event of Default would result therefrom, Dispositions not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.05 (including any Sale Leasebacks and the sale or issuance of Equity Interests in a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that (i) such Disposition shall be for fair market value as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, (ii) with respect to any Disposition under this clause (m) for a purchase price in excess of the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, as reasonably determined by the Borrower at the time of such Disposition, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.0% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents for such Dispositions (provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (m)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities contingent or otherwise of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the valid release of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, by all applicable creditors in writing, from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Disposition, (B) securities, notes or other obligations received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the transferee that are converted by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of such Disposition, (C) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition, to the extent that the Borrower and each of the other Restricted Subsidiaries are released from any Guarantee of payment of the Borrower in connection with such Disposition and (D) aggregate non-cash consideration received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for all Dispositions under this clause (m) having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents received in respect of any such non-cash consideration) and (iii) the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.05;

(n) any Disposition not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.05 in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $45,000,000 and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(o) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may surrender or waive contractual rights and leases and settle or waive contractual or litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Dispositions of assets (including Equity Interests) acquired in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted hereunder, which assets are obsolete or not used or useful to the core or principal business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or which Dispositions are made to obtain the approval of any applicable antitrust authority in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;

(q) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets of comparable or greater fair market value useful to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Borrower; (r) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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

(t) Dispositions conducted in connection with any Reorganization;

(u) [reserved];

(v) Dispositions conducted in connection with a REIT Conversion Transaction for so long as the Borrower (or its applicable parent entity) is pursuing a REIT Election in good faith and the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement has been satisfied; and

(w) any Disposition by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Equity Interests of, or indebtedness owned by, a Foreign Subsidiary to any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Reorganization.

To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be authorized to take and shall take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary Dispose of any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Disposition is in connection with transition services agreements or non-exclusive licenses, in each case, in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) [reserved];

(b) (i) the Borrower may redeem in whole or in part any of its (or a parent entity’s) Equity Interests for another class of its Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests, provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby and (ii) the Borrower may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests;

(c) [reserved];

(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted (other than by reference to Section 7.06) by any provision of Section 7.02, or Section 7.04; (e) repurchases of Equity Interests in the ordinary course of business in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

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(f) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, in good faith, pay (or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower to allow the Borrower to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of it or of the Borrower held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager, officer or consultant (or any Affiliates, spouses, former spouses, other immediate family members, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee, management, director or manager equity plan, employee, management, director or manager stock option plan or any other employee, management, director or manager benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, director, manager, officer or consultant of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that such payments do not exceed at the time made the greater of (x) $45 million and (y) 7.50% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period) in any calendar year; provided that any unused portion of the preceding basket for any calendar year may be carried forward to the next succeeding calendar year, so long as the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 7.06(f) in any calendar year (after giving effect to such carry forward) shall not exceed at the time made the greater of (x) $75 million and (y) 12.5% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided, further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from members of management of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Agreement;

(g) The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to any parent entity (or, in the case of clauses (viii) and (ix), to any Person):

(i) for any taxable period for which the Borrower (or applicable parent entity) is not intended to be treated as a REIT and is a member of a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group (including if the Borrower is an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of which any parent entity is the common parent (or a disregarded entity, partnership or other pass-through entity that is wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) by such a tax group), to pay the consolidated, combined or similar income tax liability of such tax group that is attributable to the income of the Borrower and/or its applicable Subsidiaries included in such group that the Borrower or Subsidiaries have not otherwise paid; provided that (x) no such payments shall exceed the amount of such taxes that the Borrower and/or applicable Subsidiaries would have paid had such entity(ies) been a stand-alone corporate taxpayer (or stand-alone corporate group) for all taxing years ending after the date of this Agreement (less any amount in respect thereof actually paid by such Persons directly), and (y) any such payments attributable to an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be limited to the amount of any cash paid by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any of its respective Restricted Subsidiaries for such purpose;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay such equity holder’s operating costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, other overhead costs and expenses and fees (including (v) administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties, (w) trustee, directors, managers and general partner fees, (x) any judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or other costs and expenses in respect of any claim, litigation or proceeding, (y) fees and expenses (including any underwriters discounts and commissions) related to any investment or acquisition transaction (whether or not successful) and (z) payments in respect of indebtedness and equity securities of any direct or indirect holder of Equity Interests in the Borrower to the extent the proceeds are used or will be used to pay expenses or other obligations described in this Section 7.06(g)) which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of the Borrower attributable to the direct or indirect ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) and fees and expenses otherwise due and payable by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and permitted to be paid by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary under this Agreement;

 

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(iii) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay franchise and excise taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain its organizational existence;

(iv) to finance any Investment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) the Borrower shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be held by or contributed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into it or a Restricted Subsidiary in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.10;

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary costs, fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering permitted by this Agreement;

(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of the Borrower to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(vii) Public Company Costs;

(viii) for so long as the Borrower (or its applicable parent entity) is pursuing a REIT Election in good faith and the REIT Conversion Transaction Requirement is satisfied giving effect to such Restricted Payments, make dividends and distributions, whether in cash or in kind, to its shareholders in the amount required (as determined in good faith by the Borrower or applicable parent entity) in order to qualify the Borrower (or the applicable parent entity) as a REIT and effect the distribution of the Borrower’s (or the applicable parent entity’s) earnings and profits in connection with or in anticipation of the Borrower’s (or the applicable parent entity’s) REIT Election, including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash dividends or distributions to satisfy the requirements of Section 857(a)(2)(B) of the Code, or any successor provision, and any subsequent “true-up” payments to correct for recalculation of the appropriate amount; and

(ix) following the REIT Election, with respect to any taxable year for which the Borrower (or any parent entity) is intended to be treated as a REIT, subject to no resulting Specified Event of Default, notwithstanding any other limitation under this Agreement (except as set forth in this clause (ix)) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount equal to (x) the taxable income of the Borrower (or the applicable parent entity) as determined for purposes of Section 857 of the Code, or applicable successor provision and (ii) any additional amounts as may be necessary for the Borrower (or the applicable parent entity) to (A) qualify and remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under U.S. federal income (and, as applicable, any comparable version of state, local, and non-U.S.) Tax law and/or (B) avoid entity level income Tax or excise Tax (or any penalty or addition to tax) (for the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph (ix) shall permit the Borrower (or the applicable parent entity) to make cash distributions of 100% of its “real estate investment trust table income,” as defined under Section 857(b)(2) of the Code); (h) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may pay any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement (it being understood that a distribution pursuant to this Section 7.06(h) shall be deemed to have utilized capacity under such other provision of this Agreement);

 

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(i) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (b) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

(j) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed at the time made the greater of (i) $215,000,000 and (ii) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, minus (A) the amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(t)(iii);

(k) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount; provided that at the time of any such Restricted Payment, with respect to any Restricted Payment made utilizing amounts specified in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Available Amount,” no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no less than 2.00:1.00;

(l) (i) any Restricted Payment by the Borrower to pay listing fees and other costs and expenses attributable to being a publicly traded company which are reasonable and customary and (ii) Restricted Payments not to exceed at the time made 6.00% per annum of the Market Capitalization of the Borrower;

(m) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may make additional Restricted Payments; provided that, at the time of such Restricted Payment, the Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 6.50:1.00 and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(n) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that in each case the principal assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary are not cash and Cash Equivalents received as Investments from the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(o) The Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may pay any dividend or distribution on any Disqualified Equity Interests incurred in accordance with Section 7.03(h);

(p) payments made or expected to be made in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options or warrants and the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units;

(q) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees, sales contributions and other transfers of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation, in each case in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; (r) distributions or payments by dividend or otherwise, among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Reorganization;

 

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(s) any Restricted Payment made in connection with paying dividends (in cash or additional shares) and any accrued unpaid interest or premium thereon with respect to (i) the CCOH Preferred Stock or (ii) any preferred stock with an aggregate liquidation preference or equivalent amount not exceeding that of the CCOH Preferred Stock issued as a replacement therefor so long as the terms of such securities are not materially adverse to the Lenders, in their capacity as such, taken as whole, as compared to the terms of the CCOH Preferred Stock that is being replaced (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) (the “Replacement CCOH Preferred Stock”); and

(t) any Restricted Payment to any holder of the CCOH Preferred Stock paying (x) for the repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, or otherwise acquire or retire for value of all or any portion of the CCOH Preferred Stock or any Replacement CCOH Preferred Stock; provided that the aggregate amount paid in accordance with this clause (x) shall not exceed $45,000,000 plus (y) accrued and unpaid interest or premium thereon to the redemption date thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, dividends, premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, underwriting discounts, fees, costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) related thereto.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or divide such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later divide and reclassify any Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) so long as the Restricted Payment (as so divided and/or reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception or exceptions as of the date of such reclassification.

SECTION 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than any transaction having a fair market value not in excess of the greater of (x) $60,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period in a single transaction), whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than:

(a) transactions between or among the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(b) transactions on terms not less favorable to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;

(c) any Reorganization and the payment of fees and expenses related to any Reorganization;

(d) the issuance of Equity Interests to any officer, director, manager, employee or consultant of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any parent entity in connection with the Transactions;

(e) any transaction with a Securitization Subsidiary effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing, any disposition or repurchase of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing; (f) equity issuances, repurchases, redemptions, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted under Section 7.06;

 

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(g) loans and other transactions by and among the Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under this Article VII;

(h) employment and severance arrangements between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;

(i) without duplication, payments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements among the Borrower, any parent entity and its Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any parent entity in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on a Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect;

(l) dividends and other distributions permitted under Section 7.06 and/or Investments permitted under Section 7.02 (in each case, other than by reference to this Section 7.07);

(m) transactions with the Parent and/or its subsidiaries in the normal or ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(n) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the redesignation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13; provided that such transactions were not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation;

(o) [reserved];

(p) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint ventures, purchasers or sellers of goods or services or providers of employees or other labor entered into in the ordinary course of business, which are fair to the Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary in the good faith determination of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(q) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses related to registration rights and customary indemnities provided to shareholders under any shareholder agreement;

(r) any intercompany loans made by the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that all such intercompany loans of any Loan Party owed to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to the subordination terms set forth in Section 3.02 of the Guaranty (but only to the extent permitted by applicable law and not giving rise to material adverse tax consequences);

 

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(s) any issuance, sale or grant of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower or any parent entity of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; (t) (i) any collective bargaining, employment or severance agreement or compensatory (including profit sharing) arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with their respective current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors, (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors and (iii) transactions pursuant to any employee compensation, benefit plan, stock option plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors or any employment contract or arrangement; and

(u) any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing stating that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary than might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate.

SECTION 7.08 Prepayments, Etc., of Indebtedness.

(a) Optionally prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner prior to the date that is one year prior to the scheduled maturity date thereof any Junior Debt with an outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest and “AHYDO” payments under any such Junior Debt Documents shall not be prohibited by this clause), except for (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Cash Proceeds of any Equity Interest (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) or Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing), (ii) the conversion thereof to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower or any parent entity, (iii) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount at the time made not to exceed (A)(1) the greater of, at the time made, (x) $215,00,000 and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period minus (2) the amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(t)(ii) plus (B) the Available Amount (provided that, at the time of any such payment, with respect to any prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments made utilizing amounts specified in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Available Amount, no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no less than 2.00:1.00), (iv) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity (provided that, at the time of such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 6.75:1.00), (v) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity as part of an applicable high yield discount obligation catch-up payment, (vi) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash contributions made after the Closing Date to the Borrower in exchange for Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower, except to the extent utilized in connection with any other transaction permitted by Section 7.02, Section 7.03 or Section 7.06, and except to the extent such cash contributions increase the Available Amount, constitute a Cure Amount or “Cure Amount” (as defined in the ABL Facility) and (vii) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity with respect to intercompany Indebtedness among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted under Section 7.03, subject to the subordination provisions applicable thereto.

 

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(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, taken as a whole, in their capacity as such, any term or condition of any Junior Debt Documents without the consent of the Required Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and excluding any such amendment or modification that would not be prohibited under the definition of “Permitted Refinancing” with respect to such Junior Debt.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.08, in the event that a prepayment, redemption, purchase or other satisfaction of Junior Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or divide such prepayment, redemption, purchase or other satisfaction of Junior Debt (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and may later divide and reclassify any prepayment, redemption, purchase or other satisfaction of Junior Debt (or any portion thereof) so long as the prepayment, redemption, purchase or other satisfaction of Junior Debt (as so divided and/or reclassified) would be permitted to be made in reliance on the applicable exception or exceptions as of the date of such reclassification.

SECTION 7.09 Financial Covenants.

(a) First Lien Leverage Ratio. Except with the written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, the Borrower will not permit the First Lien Leverage Ratio of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the last day of a Test Period (commencing with the Test Period ending on or about December 31, 2019 but excluding any Test Period ending during the Relief Period) to exceed (a) prior to the Step-Down Date, 7.60:1.00 and (b) from the Step-Down Date, 7.10:1.00 (this clause (a) being referred to herein as the “Financial Covenant”); provided that the provisions of this Section 7.09(a) shall not be applicable to any such Test Period if on the last day of such Test Period (x) to the extent the Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 6.50:1.00, the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and/or L/C Exposure (excluding up to $10,000,000 of undrawn Letters of Credit and other Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or Backstopped) does not exceed $0 or (y) to the extent the Total Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 6.50:1.00, the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and/or L/C Exposure (excluding up to $10,000,000 of undrawn Letters of Credit and other Letters of Credit which have been Cash Collateralized or Backstopped) does not exceed 35% of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.

(b) Liquidity.

 

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(i) Except with the written consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, the Borrower will not permit Liquidity as of the last day of any calendar month ending during the Liquidity Testing Period to be less than $150,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) within fifteen (15) calendar days of the end of each calendar month ending during the Liquidity Testing Period, a certificate in the form of Exhibit N hereto (the “Minimum Liquidity Certificate”), executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating Liquidity as of the last day of such calendar month and compliance with the Liquidity Covenant and (y) within twenty-two (22) calendar days of the end of each calendar month ending during the Liquidity Testing Period, a thirteen-week liquidity forecast in a form agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; provided that, if, after the Borrower delivers any Minimum Liquidity Certificate to the Administrative Agent demonstrating Liquidity of less than $250,000,000, then until the Borrower delivers a Minimum Liquidity Certificate demonstrating Liquidity of at least $250,000,000, the Borrower shall, at the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, furnish to the Administrative Agent (on not more than a weekly basis) a certificate setting forth Liquidity as determined by the Borrower in its reasonable judgment.

(c) Specified Events. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, during the Liquidity Testing Period, (x) the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take any of the actions that are a Specified Event and (y) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing promptly following the occurrence of any Specified Event.

For purposes of this Section 7.09:

“Relief Period” means the period from the first day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the First Amendment Effective Date and ending on (but not including) the Relief Period Termination Date.

“Relief Period Termination Date” means the earlier of (i) the last day of the fiscal quarter ending on or about March 31, 2022 and (ii) the date of occurrence of any Specified Event.

“Specified Event” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) the Borrower shall, or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries shall, optionally prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof any Junior Debt in reliance on Section 7.08(a)(iii) or (iv) and the Borrower shall not have delivered a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that, after giving effect thereto, Liquidity shall be at least $250,000,000;

(b) the Borrower shall, or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries shall, make any Restricted Payment in reliance on Section 7.06(f) (in amounts in any calendar year greater than the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 4.20% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period), (g)(iv), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n) or (o);

(c) the Borrower shall make a REIT Election; or

(d) the Borrower shall, or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries shall, repay, prepay, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof any unsecured or junior lien third party indebtedness for borrowed money (including the Stepped Up Notes and the 2020 CCIBV Note) from cash on hand or the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loans or “Revolving Credit Loans” (as defined in and under the ABL Credit Agreement) and the Borrower shall not have delivered a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that, after giving effect thereto, Liquidity shall be at least $250,000,000.

 

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SECTION 7.10 Amendments or Waivers of Organizational Documents. Except in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 7.04, the Borrower shall not agree to any material amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, or waiver of its Organization Documents, in each case in a manner that has a material adverse effect on the Lenders (taken as a whole), in their capacity as such, in each case after the Closing Date without in each case obtaining the prior written consent of Required Lenders to such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver.

SECTION 7.11 Restrictions on Subsidiaries’ Distributions. The Borrower shall not, nor shall the Borrower permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that limits the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to make or repay intercompany loans and advances to the Borrower or any Guarantor; provided that this Section 7.11 shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i)(x) exist on a Closing Date and are listed on Schedule 7.11 hereto and (y) are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, further, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that are binding on a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition or (v) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such joint venture entered into in the ordinary course of business.

ARTICLE VIII

Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following events referred to in any of clauses (a) through (k) inclusive of this Section 8.01 shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, (ii) within three (3) Business Days of when required to be paid herein, any amount required to be reimbursed to an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) or (iii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or (b) Specific Covenants.

 

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The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in (i) any of Section 6.03(a)(i) or Section 6.04 (as it relates to the Borrower), Article VII (other than Section 7.09) or (ii) Section 7.09; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default under Section 7.09(a) shall be deemed to have occurred until the date that is fifteen (15) Business Days after the date the financials for the relevant fiscal quarter are required to be delivered hereunder if the Borrower then has a Cure Right under Section 8.05(a) – (c) with respect to the applicable breach and has delivered notice thereof, (ii) any Event of Default under Section 7.09(a) shall be subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05(a) – (c), (iii) no Default or Event of Default under Section 7.09(b)(i) shall be deemed to have occurred until the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the Minimum Liquidity Certificate is required to be delivered for the relevant fiscal month if the Borrower then has a cure right under Section 8.05(d) with respect to the applicable breach and (iv) any Event of Default under Section 7.09(b)(i) shall be subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05(d); provided further that, with respect to any Default or Event of Default under Section 7.09(a) or (b)(i) subject to cure, during the period commencing on the date such financials are required to be delivered in the case of Section 7.09(a) or the date such Minimum Liquidity Certificate is required to be delivered for the relevant fiscal month, until the earlier of the exercise of the relevant cure right and the expiration of the relevant cure period, (x) the Lenders shall not be required to make any Credit Extension and (y) no action hereunder, the taking of which is subject to no Default or Event of Default having occurred or be continuing, shall be permitted) and (v) no Default or Event of Default under Section 7.09 shall constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to any Loans or Commitments hereunder, other than the Revolving Credit Loans and the Revolving Credit Commitments, until the date on which all Loans under each Revolving Credit Facility have been accelerated and all Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated as a result of such breach, in each case, by the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders have not rescinded such acceleration; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made and such incorrect or misleading representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact, if capable of being cured, remains so incorrect or misleading for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

(e) Cross-Default. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) with an outstanding principal amount (or, in the case of a Swap Contract, Swap Termination Value) of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness with an outstanding principal amount (or, in the case of a Swap Contract, Swap Termination Value) of not less than the Threshold Amount, or any other event occurs (other than (i) with respect to such Indebtedness consisting of Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts and (ii) any event requiring prepayment pursuant to customary asset sale provisions), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, all such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem all such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due (or requires an offer to purchase) as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; provided, further that any failure described under clause (i) or (ii) above is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any termination of the commitments or acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Article VIII; provided, further that no event described in this Section 8.01(e) arising from any financial covenant breach under the ABL Facility shall constitute an Event of Default unless the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) has caused, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem all such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; or

 

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(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money with an individual amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third party insurance) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(i) Invalidity. Any material provision of any Guarantee or any Collateral Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or the satisfaction in full of all the Loan Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments, ceases to be in full force and effect or in the case of any Collateral Document, ceases to create a valid lien on the Collateral covered thereby; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Guarantee or any Collateral Document (other than in an informational notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent); or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Guarantee or any Collateral Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Loan Obligations, termination of the Aggregate Commitments or release of the applicable Guarantee), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Guarantee or any Collateral Document, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from (x) the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates or other possessory collateral actually delivered to it representing securities or other collateral pledged under the Collateral Documents or the Collateral Agent’s failure to file or maintain any filings required for perfection (including the filing of UCC financing statement or continuations, filings regarding IP rights or similar filings) and/or (y) a release of any Guarantee or Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof and, except as to Collateral consisting of Material Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied or disclaimed in writing that such losses are covered by such title insurance policy; (j) Change of Control.

 

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There occurs any Change of Control; or

(k) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its Withdrawal Liability under ERISA and the Code under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is being terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and as a result of such termination the aggregate annual contributions of the Loan Parties and the ERISA Affiliates to all Multiemployer Plans that are then being terminated have been or will be increased over the amounts contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the plan years of such Multiemployer Plans immediately preceding the plan year in which such termination occurs by an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) a termination, withdrawal or noncompliance with applicable law or plan terms or other event similar to an ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Plan that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

With respect to any Default or Event of Default, the words “exists,” “is continuing” or similar expressions with respect thereto shall mean that the Default or Event of Default has occurred and has not yet been cured or waived. If, prior to the taking of any action under Section 8.02 (or the occurrence of any event set forth in the proviso thereto), any Default or Event of Default occurs due to (i) the failure by any Loan Party to take any action (including any action by a specified time), such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have been cured at the time, if any, that the applicable Loan Party takes such action or (ii) the taking of any action by any Loan Party that is not then permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to be cured on the date on which such action is unwound (in each case giving effect to any amendments or waivers under Section 10.01; provided that, subject in all respects to subsection (iv) of the immediately succeeding paragraph, an Event of Default resulting from the failure to deliver a notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall cease to exist and be cured in all respects if the Default or Event of Default giving rise to such notice requirement shall have ceased to exist and/or be cured (including pursuant to this paragraph).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.01, an Event of Default (the “Initial Default”) may not be cured pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph:

(i) if the taking of any action by any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is not permitted during, and as a result of, the continuance of such Initial Default directly results in the cure of such Initial Default and the applicable Loan Party or Subsidiary had actual knowledge at the time of taking any such action that was not permitted that the Initial Default had occurred and was continuing;

(ii) in the case of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(i) that directly results in material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Lenders and Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents and that is incapable of being cured;

(iii) in the case of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(c) arising due to the failure to perform or observe Section 6.06 that directly results in a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under any Loan Document to which the Borrower or any of the other Loan Parties is a party; (iv) in the case of an Initial Default for which (i) the Borrower failed to give notice to the Administrative Agent of such Initial Default in accordance with Section 6.03(a) of this Agreement and (ii) the Borrower had actual knowledge of such failure to give such notice; or

 

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(v) if the Initial Default had a material adverse effect on the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such.

SECTION 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing (subject, in the case of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(b)(ii), to the proviso thereto and the Cure Right set forth in Section 8.05 and the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of, and shall, at the request of, the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize or Backstop the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

provided that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Borrower, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize or Backstop the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

SECTION 8.03 Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default has occurred under clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary or at such time could, upon designation by the Borrower, become an Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause unless the Consolidated Total Assets of such Subsidiary together with the Consolidated Total Assets of all other Subsidiaries affected by such event or circumstance referred to in such clause, shall exceed 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

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SECTION 8.04 Application of Funds. If the circumstances described in Section 2.12(g) have occurred, or after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized or Backstopped as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), including in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent, subject to any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Loan Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Loan Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Loan Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest (including, but not limited to, post-petition interest), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal, Unreimbursed Amounts or face amounts of the Loans, L/C Borrowings and Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations and for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize or Backstop that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize or Backstop the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrower.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) amounts received from the Borrower or any Guarantor that is not a “Eligible Contract Participant” (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act) shall not be applied to the obligations that are Excluded Swap Obligations (it being understood, that in the event that any amount is applied to Obligations other than Excluded Swap Obligations as a result of this clause (a), to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrative Agent shall make such adjustments as it determines are appropriate to distributions pursuant to clause Fourth above from amounts received from “Eligible Contract Participants” to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to obligations described in clause Fourth above by the holders of any Excluded Swap Obligations are the same as the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to other obligations pursuant to clause Fourth above) and (b) Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as applicable. Each Cash Management Bank and Hedge Bank not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

SECTION 8.05 Right to Cure.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01(b), in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the Financial Covenant, from the last day of the Test Period until the expiration of the fifteenth Business Day after the date on which financial statements with respect to the Test Period in which such covenant is being measured are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, the Borrower may designate any direct equity investment in the Borrower in cash in the form of common Equity Interests (or other Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) made during the Test Period until the end of such time period as a Cure Amount (the “Cure Right”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of net cash proceeds corresponding to the exercise of the Cure Right (the “Cure Amount”), the Financial Covenant shall be recalculated, giving effect to a pro forma increase to Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period in an amount equal to such Cure Amount; provided that (x) such pro forma adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA shall be given solely for the purpose of determining the existence of a Default or an Event of Default under the Financial Covenant with respect to any Test Period that includes the fiscal quarter for which such Cure Right was exercised and not for any other purpose under any Loan Document (including, without limitation, for purposes of determining pricing, mandatory prepayments and the availability or amount permitted pursuant to any covenant under Article VII) for the quarter with respect to which such Cure Right was exercised and (y) there shall be no reduction in Indebtedness in connection with any Cure Amounts for determining compliance with Section 7.09(a) and no Cure Amounts will reduce (or count towards) the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio or the Total Leverage Ratio for purposes of any calculation thereof, in each case, for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Cure Right was exercised, except that with respect to fiscal quarters thereafter, such reduction may apply but only to the extent the proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.05(a).

 

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(b) If, after the exercise of the Cure Right and the recalculations pursuant to clause (a) above, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenant during such Test Period (including for purposes of Section 4.02), the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 that had occurred shall be deemed cured; provided that (i) the Cure Right may be exercised on no more than five (5) occasions, (ii) in each four (4) consecutive fiscal quarter period, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in respect of which no Cure Right is exercised and (iii) with respect to any exercise of the Cure Right, the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the Financial Covenant.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, following the delivery by the Borrower of a written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to exercise the Cure Right (x) the Lenders shall not be permitted to exercise any rights then available as a result of an Event of Default under this Article VIII on the basis of a breach of the Financial Covenant so as to enable the consummation of the Cure Right as permitted under this Section 8.05 and (y) the Lenders shall not be required to make any Credit Extension and the L/C Issuers shall not be required to make any L/C Credit Extension unless and until the Borrower has received the Cure Amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the Financial Covenant.

(d) In the event the Borrower fails to comply with the Liquidity Covenant as of the last day of any calendar month (the date on which the Minimum Liquidity Certificate is required to be delivered for the relevant fiscal month, the “Liquidity Covenant Trigger Date”), any direct equity investment in the Borrower in cash in the form of common Equity Interests (or other Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) made during the period commencing on the Liquidity Covenant Trigger Date and through and including the tenth (10th) Business Day immediately following the Liquidity Covenant Trigger Date (the “Liquidity Cure Period”) will be included in the calculation of Liquidity for purposes of determining compliance with the Liquidity Covenant for the applicable calendar month to the extent (i) such amount is held in cash in an amount not less than the amount necessary to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with Section 7.09(b)(i) after giving effect thereto and (ii) such amount is designated as a “Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution” by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent (any such equity contribution so designated and included in the calculation of Liquidity, a “Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution”).

 

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Upon receipt and designation by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of the applicable Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution, (i) the breach of the Liquidity Covenant shall be deemed retroactively cured with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply with the Liquidity Covenant, (ii) any Default or Event of Default arising as a result of a breach of Section 7.09(b)(i) shall be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (iii) none of the Administrative Agent nor any Revolving Credit Lender may exercise any rights or remedies (including any rights or remedies under this Agreement (including under Section 8.01) or any other Loan Document or with respect to acceleration of the Loans, termination of Commitments, the imposition of cash interest at the Default Rate or otherwise) on the basis of any actual or purported Default or Event of Default arising as a result of a breach of Section 7.09(b)(i) until and unless, by 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of the expiration of the Liquidity Cure Period, the Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution shall not have been so received and designated.

It is agreed that (i) the amount of any Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution shall constitute a “Cure Amount” for all purposes under this Agreement other than for purposes of clauses (a)-(c) of this Section 8.05, (ii) no Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution shall constitute the exercise of a “Cure Right” for purposes of clauses (a)-(c) of this Section 8.05, and no exercise of a Cure Right shall constitute a “Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution” for purposes of Section 7.09(b)(i) and (iii) notwithstanding anything contained in Section 7.09 or in this Section 8.05 to the contrary, no Specified Liquidity Equity Contribution shall be included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for purposes of calculating compliance with the Financial Covenant, if then in effect, for any Test Period.

SECTION 8.06 Change of Control. Notwithstanding the definition of a Change of Control:

(a) a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control solely as a result of the Borrower becoming a direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a holding company if:

(i) (A) the direct or indirect holders of the voting Equity Interests of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Borrower’s voting Equity Interests immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no Person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting Equity Interests of such holding company; and

(ii) in the case of the direct parent of the Borrower that becomes such a holding company (“Holdings”), (A) the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information about Holdings that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act, (B) Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (C) on or prior to the consummation of such transaction, (1) Holdings and the Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to add a passive holdings covenant substantially in the form of Exhibit M hereto and to effect an accession of Holdings as a Loan Party party to this Agreement (which amendment shall only require the consent of only the Administrative Agent notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 10.01) and (2) Holdings shall enter into a Guaranty and shall cause such agreements, amendments, supplements, stock certificates or other instruments to be executed, delivered, filed and recorded (and deliver a copy of same to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent) in such jurisdictions as may be required by applicable law to create and perfect the Lien of the Collateral Agent on all of the Equity Interests issued by the Borrower and all other Collateral owned by Holdings, together with such financing statements as may be required to perfect any security interests in such Collateral which may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC of the relevant states; and

 

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(b) the right to acquire voting Equity Interests (so long as such Person does not have the right to direct the voting of the voting Equity Interests subject to such right) or any veto power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of voting Equity Interests will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.

ARTICLE IX

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

SECTION 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents.

(a) Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of, and among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and each L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall be bound by or have rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions (except to the extent such rights are set forth herein, including with respect to such rights in Section 9.09).

(b) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

 

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(c) Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes DBNY to act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, Swingline Lender, L/C Issuer (if applicable) and a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest, charge or other Lien created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Lender and such L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) and Article X as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 9.02 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may perform any and all of their duties and exercise their rights and powers under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this Article IX (including this Section 9.02 and Sections 9.03 and 9.07) and Section 10.05 shall apply to any Affiliates of the Administrative Agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent. All of the rights, benefits, and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Article IX (including this Section 9.02 and Sections 9.03 and 9.07) and Section 10.05 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were named herein.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of Loan Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and not to any Loan Party, Lender or any other Person and no Loan Party, Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub-agent.

SECTION 9.03 Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby, including their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for (or shall have any duty to ascertain or inquire into) (A) any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or made in any written or oral statements or in any financial or other statements or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (B) the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, (C) the financial condition or business affairs of any Loan Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any Obligations or (D) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral or the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein or that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent have been properly or sufficiently created, perfected, protected, enforced or entitled to any particular priority, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no Agent-Related Person shall have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans or the L/C Obligations or the component amounts thereof or shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. No Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that such Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law.

 

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No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The exculpatory provisions of this Article IX shall apply to any such Affiliates, agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact, such sub-agents, and their respective activities in connection with the syndication of credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 9.04 Reliance by Agents.

(a) Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, request, consent, certificate, instrument, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders. 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 communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons, and shall be entitled to rely and shall be protected in relying on opinions and judgments of attorneys (who may be attorneys for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), accountants, experts and other professional advisors selected by it; 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 under any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance).

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

SECTION 9.05 Notice of Default. None of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Subject to the other provisions of this Article IX, the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

SECTION 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide (and shall not be liable for the failure to provide) any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

 

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SECTION 9.07 Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it in its capacity as an Agent-Related Person; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, if any. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Loan Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 9.08 Agents in their Individual Capacities. DBNY and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though DBNY were not the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of (nor any duty to accept therefor to) the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, DBNY or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, DBNY shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include DBNY in its individual capacity.

 

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SECTION 9.09 Successor Agents. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States, which appointment of a successor agent shall require the consent of the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, which successor may not be a Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent,” as applicable, shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent and/or supplemental agent, as described in Section 9.01(c), and the retiring Administrative Agent’s or retiring Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation, as applicable, hereunder as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement is satisfied, the Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the retiring Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall, to the extent not previously discharged, be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

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The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent or the successor Collateral Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent, as applicable, and its agents and sub-agents in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent, as applicable, was acting as Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable.

SECTION 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.09 and Section 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and

(c) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Administrative Agent under Section 2.09 and Section 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

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The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the secured Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (h) of Section 10.01 of this Agreement, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (iv) 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 canceled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

SECTION 9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer and each other Secured Party irrevocably agrees that:

(a) any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Loan Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable), the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit with no pending drawings (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or Backstopped or as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer have been made) and any other obligation (including a guarantee) that is contingent in nature), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than any other Loan Party, (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) below and/or (v) if the property subject to such Lien becomes Excluded Property;

 

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(b) the Collateral Agent is authorized to (and each Secured Party irrevocably requires the Administrative Agent to promptly) release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(e), 7.01(f), 7.01(g), 7.01(i), 7.01(m), 7.01(o), 7.01(p), 7.01(q), 7.01(t), 7.01(v), 7.01(w) (as it relates to Section 7.01(i) and 7.01(o)), 7.01(aa) (to the extent the relevant Lien is of the type to which the Lien of the Collateral Agent is otherwise subordinated under this clause (b) pursuant to any of the other exceptions to Section 7.01 that are expressly included in this clause (c)) and/or 7.01(oo); provided that the subordination of any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent shall only occur with respect to any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(i), 7.01(q), 7.01(aa) and/or 7.01(oo) to the extent that the Lien of the Collateral Agent with respect to such property is required to be subordinated to the relevant Permitted Lien in accordance with the documentation governing the Indebtedness that is secured by such Permitted Lien; and

(c) if any Subsidiary Guarantor becomes an Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary the Borrower elects to maintain as a Subsidiary Guarantor) or is transferred to any Person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder (as certified in writing delivered to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer), (x) such Subsidiary shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty and (y) any Liens granted by such Subsidiary or Liens on the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (to the extent such Equity Interests have become Excluded Equity or are being transferred to a Person that is not a Loan Party) shall be automatically released; provided that (i) no such release shall occur if such Subsidiary Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Senior Secured Notes or any Permitted Refinancing thereof, the ABL Facility or any Permitted Refinancing thereof or any Junior Debt unless and until such Subsidiary Guarantor is (or is being simultaneously) released from its guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness, (ii)(A) solely in the case of any election to maintain a Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor as a Subsidiary Guarantor, consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required prior to such election, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned (it being understood that such consent may be withheld if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction (1) where the amount and enforceability of the contemplated guarantee that may be entered into by a Person organized in the relevant jurisdiction is materially and adversely limited by applicable law or contractual limitations, (2) where the security interests (and the enforceability thereof) that may be granted with respect to assets (or various classes of assets) located in the relevant jurisdiction are materially and adversely limited by applicable law or (3) that is not a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or is the target of any Sanctions; provided that no such consent shall be required for the Borrower’s election to maintain an Excluded Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor if such Excluded Subsidiary was already a Guarantor and has not changed its jurisdiction of organization and/or is organized under the laws of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and (B) unless previously provided with respect to such Non-U.S. Discretionary Guarantor, the Administrative Agent shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to such election all documentation and other information in respect of such Excluded Subsidiary as has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in writing that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act (and, upon any request made by a Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent will provide the Lenders with all such information made available to it in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement) and (iii) the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Documents solely as a result of such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary of the type described in clause (l) of the definition thereof shall only be permitted if, at the time such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes such an Excluded Subsidiary, (A) no Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) such Subsidiary Guarantor so becomes such an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a joint venture or other strategic transaction permitted hereunder entered into for a bona fide operating business purpose.

 

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Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent will promptly (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11; provided that, upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the transactions giving rise to such request have been consummated in accordance with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Any such certificate delivered by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 9.11 shall be conclusive and binding. Each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to rely on any such certificate without independent investigation and release its interests in any Collateral or release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Loan Documents (including, in each case of the foregoing, by filing applicable termination statements and/or returning pledged Collateral); it being acknowledged and agreed by each Secured Party that the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall have no liability with respect to relying on such certificate and taking actions to evidence such release

Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral (including through any right of setoff) or to enforce the Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under any of the Loan 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 hereof and thereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure or similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code), 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 otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code) may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be entitled, upon instructions from the Required Lenders, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale or disposition, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.

The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 9.12 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders, the Agents, the Lead Arrangers, or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “joint lead arranger and bookrunner,” “co-documentation agents” “managers” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

SECTION 9.13 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents.

(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Administrative Agent” and, collectively, as “Supplemental Administrative Agents”).

(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Administrative Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and of Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent and/or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.

 

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(c) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.14 Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable Law (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Loan Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service 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 for any reason (including 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 that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any penalties, additions to Tax or interest and together with all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.14. The agreements in this Section 9.14 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 9.14, include any L/C Issuer and (2) this Section 9.14 shall not limit or expand the obligations of the Loan Parties under Section 3.01 or any other provision of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.15 Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.04, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender (if applicable) and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each of its directors, officers, employees, or agents, to the extent not reimbursed by the Loan Parties, against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent or its directors, officers, employees, or agents in connection with such provider’s Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements; provided, however, that no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any such provider, as applicable, any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Guarantor under the Loan Documents. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each such Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank shall be deemed to have appointed the Collateral Agent as its agent and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 9.15.

SECTION 9.16 [Reserved].

SECTION 9.17 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

  (i)

such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,

 

  (ii)

the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

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  (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 either (1) subclause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with subclause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01 Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

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(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders) (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 (other than a waiver thereof without the consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders in connection with a Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility) or the waiver of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Section 2.07 or Section 2.08, fees or other amounts without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders), it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) (i) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest and (ii) the MFN Provisions or other “most favored nation” provisions and the application thereof shall not constitute a postponement or reduction of the amount of interest or other amounts;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders), it being understood that (x) any change to the definition of any financial ratio (including the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio and/or the Interest Coverage Ratio) or in each case, the component definitions thereof and/or (y) any amendment, supplement, modification and/or waiver of the MFN Provisions shall, in each case of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees or other amounts payable; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents (including any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 and/or Section 7.05), without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees in any transaction or series of related transactions except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents (including any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05), without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) solely to the extent such change would alter the ratable sharing of payments, change any provision of Section 2.13 or Section 8.04 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

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(h) change the stated currency in which any Lender or L/C Issuer is required to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit or the Borrower is required to make payments of principal, interest, fees or other amounts hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender and L/C Issuer directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the Required Lenders); or (i) contractually subordinate in right of payment the Obligations or contractually subordinate the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent securing the Obligations with respect to all or a material portion of the Collateral to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money, except (A) Indebtedness that is permitted to be senior in right of payment to such Obligations and/or be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is senior to such lien under this Agreement as in effect on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, (B) any “debtor in possession” facility or (C) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money so long as the opportunity to participate in such Indebtedness is offered ratably (on substantially the same terms, other than bona fide backstop, arrangement or similar fees and reimbursement of counsel fees and other expenses in connection with the negotiation of the terms of such transaction) to each directly and adversely affected Lender (based on the amount of obligations that are directly and adversely affected thereby held by each such Lender) at the time of the consummation of such transaction, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

and provided, further that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) [reserved] (v); Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; (vi) any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) will require only the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders; (vii) the definition of “Letter of Credit Sublimit” may be amended or rights and privileges thereunder waived with the consent of the Borrower , each L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders; (viii) an amendment described in Section 8.06 may be effected with the consent of the Borrower, Holdings and the Administrative Agent; (ix) the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 to a Credit Extension of Term B Loans on the Closing Date may be amended or rights and privileges thereunder waived only with the consent of the Term Lenders holding more than 50.0% of the Term B Commitments on such date; (x) the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 to a Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility on the Closing Date and/or the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 to a Credit Extension under the Revolving Credit Facility after the Closing Date, in each case, may be amended or rights and privileges thereunder waived only with the consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders and, in the case of a Credit Extension that constitutes the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer; and (xi) only the consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall be necessary to amend, modify or waive the terms and provision of the Financial Covenant and/or Liquidity Covenant set forth in Section 7.09 (and any related definitions as used in such Section, but not as used in other Sections of this Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Loans, the Incremental Term Loans, if any, and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and, if applicable, the Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.01, any guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to correct or cure (x) ambiguities, errors, mistakes, omissions or defects, (y) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature or (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; it being agreed that in the case of any conflict between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control (except that in the case of any conflict between this Agreement and an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, such Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement shall control).

 

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Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower (without the need to obtain any consent of any Lender), (i) any Loan Document may be amended to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects, (ii) any Loan Document may be amended to add terms that are favorable to the Lenders (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent), (iii) this Agreement (including the amount of amortization due and payable with respect to any Class of Term Loans) may be amended to the extent necessary to create a fungible Class of Term Loans (including to add provisions that are more favorable to the relevant Class of Lenders holding such Term Loans, but not provisions that are adverse to such Class of Lenders) and (iv) this Agreement (and any other Loan Document) may be amended to the extent necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of clause (h) of the “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders have (A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, any Lender (other than (x) any Lender that is a Regulated Bank and (y) any Revolving Lender as of the Effective Date) that, as a result of its interest in any total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments (each, a “Net Short Lender”) shall, unless the Borrower otherwise elects (in its sole discretion), have no right to vote any of its Loans and Commitments and shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders.

 

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For purposes of determining whether a Lender has a “net short position” on any date of determination: (i) derivative contracts with respect to the Loans and Commitments and such contracts that are the functional equivalent thereof shall be counted at the notional amount thereof in Dollars, (ii) notional amounts in other currencies shall be converted to the Dollar Equivalent thereof by such Lender in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate (determined on a mid-market basis) on the date of determination, (iii) derivative contracts in respect of an index that includes any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments, so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index, (iv) derivative transactions that are documented using either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions (collectively, the “ISDA CDS Definitions”) shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such derivative transaction and (x) the Loans or the Commitments are a “Reference Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a “Standard Reference Obligation” on the most recent list published by Markit, if “Standard Reference Obligation” is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner), (y) the Loans or the Commitments would be a “Deliverable Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction or (z) any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties (or its successor) is designated as a “Reference Entity” under the terms of such derivative transactions, and (v) credit derivative transactions or other derivatives transactions not documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers the Lender protection in respect of the Loans or the Commitments, or as to the credit quality of any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties other than, in each case, as part of an index so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index. In connection with any such determination, each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing that it is a Net Short Lender, or shall otherwise be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on each such representation and deemed representation).

SECTION 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.

(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

  (i)

if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

 

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  (ii)

if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swingline Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mail, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by e-mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(b)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swingline Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person during the person’s normal business hours. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.

 

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In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swingline Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agents from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the non-”PUBLIC” 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 Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.

 

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The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, each Lender and the Agent-Related Parties of each of the foregoing from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower other than those arising as a result of such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment).

(f) Notice to Other Loan Parties. The Borrower agrees that notices to be given to any other Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be given to the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.02 with the same effect as if given to such other Loan Party in accordance with the terms hereunder or thereunder.

SECTION 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

SECTION 10.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees (a) to the extent the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the L/C Issuers for all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with the syndication of the Term B Loans and Revolving Credit Loans and the preparation, execution and delivery, administration, amendment, modification, waiver and/or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), including all Attorney Costs of one primary counsel and one local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which to the extent necessary, may include a single special counsel acting for multiple jurisdictions) and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, each L/C Issuer and the Lenders (taken as a whole) for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any workout or restructuring in respect of the Loans, all such fees, costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all Attorney Costs of one firm of outside counsel to the Administrative Agent (and one local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which to the extent necessary may include a single special counsel acting for multiple jurisdictions)) (and, in the case of an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, where the Person(s) affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of the existence of such conflict, one additional firm of counsel for all such affected Persons)).

 

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The foregoing fees, costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

SECTION 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender, each L/C Issuer, each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents, advisors, and other representatives and the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing (without duplication)(collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages and claims (collectively, the “Losses”), and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable Attorney Costs of one primary firm of counsel for all Indemnitees and, if necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which to the extent necessary, may include a single special counsel acting for multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees (and, in the case of an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of the existence of such conflict, one additional firm of counsel for all such affected Indemnitees)), but no other third party advisors without the Borrower’s prior consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of any such Indemnitee arising out of, resulting from, or in connection with, any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) relating to this Agreement, the Transactions or any related transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, the Facilities or any use of the proceeds thereof (any of the foregoing, a “Proceeding”), regardless of whether any such Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether or not such Proceedings are brought by the Borrower, its Affiliates or creditors or any other third party Person in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), or (c) any actual or alleged presence or Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or (d) any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Losses and related expenses resulted from (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision), (y) a material breach of the Loan Documents by such Indemnitee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (z) disputes solely between and among such Indemnitees to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than, to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, with respect to a claim against an Indemnitee acting in its capacity as an Agent or Lead Arranger or similar role under the Loan Documents unless such claim arose from the exceptions specified in clauses (x) and (y) (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision)).

 

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No Indemnitee, nor any other party hereto shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement and, without in any way limiting the indemnification obligations set forth above, no Indemnitee or Loan Party shall have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date); provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the Borrower’s indemnification and reimbursement obligations hereinabove to the extent such damages are included in any third party claim in connection with which an Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification or reimbursement hereunder. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, managers, partners, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty days after demand therefor (together with reasonably detailed backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final judicial decision in a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification or contribution rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Loan Documents, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes other than Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, etc., with respect to a non-Tax claim.

It is agreed that the Loan Parties shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding (or any expenses related thereto) effected without the Borrower’s written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with the Borrower’s written consent or if there is a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in any such Proceeding, the Borrower agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from and against any and all Losses and reasonable and documented or invoiced legal or other out-of-pocket expenses by reason of such settlement or judgment in accordance with and to the extent provided in the other provisions of this Section 10.05.

 

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The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of any Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, it being understood that the withholding of consent due to non-satisfaction of any of the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this sentence shall be deemed reasonable), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding, (ii) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability, wrongdoing or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnitee, and (iii) contains customary confidentiality provisions with respect to the terms of such settlement.

SECTION 10.06 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or any Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 10.07 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that, except as otherwise provided herein (including without limitation as permitted under Section 7.04), the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(e), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(g) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(h) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(e) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, after the Closing Date with respect to any Facility, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (“Assignees”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Facility (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

(A) the Borrower, provided that, no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment (1) of any Term Loan to any other Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender or any Approved Fund or made by MS to the extent that such assignments are made in the primary syndication and to whom the Borrower has consented on or prior to the Closing Date, (2) of any Revolving Credit Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments to any other Revolving Credit Lender or any Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender or (3) if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to any Assignee; provided, further that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans unless the Borrower shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after a Responsible Officer having received written notice thereof;

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to another Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(C) each L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender at the time of such assignment, provided that no consent of such L/C Issuers or Swingline Lender shall be required for any assignment of a Term Loan.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility) or $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan) unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption;

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any documentation required by Section 3.01(f);

(D) the Assignee shall not be a natural person, Defaulting Lender, a Disqualified Lender, (other than as set forth in Section 2.05(d) or clause (F) below) any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates; provided that the list of Disqualified Lenders shall be made available to the Lenders; and (E) the Assignee shall not be a Defaulting Lender; and

 

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(F) in case of an assignment to an Affiliated Lender, (1) no Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments shall be assigned to or held by any Affiliated Lender, (2) no proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans shall be used, directly or indirectly, to consummate such assignment, (3) any Loans assigned to an Affiliated Lender shall be canceled promptly upon such assignment, (4) any purchases by Affiliated Lenders shall require that such Affiliated Lender clearly identify itself as an Affiliated Lender in any Assignment and Assumption executed in connection with such purchases or sales and (5) no Affiliated Lender may purchase any Loans so long as any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities other than 2024 Refinancing Term Loan Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.

(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(d) and receipt by the Administrative Agent from the parties to each assignment of a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits and obligations of Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note (if any), the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(e). For greater certainty, any assignment by a Lender pursuant to this Section 10.07 shall not in any way constitute or be deemed to constitute a novation, discharge, recession, extinguishment or substitution of the existing Indebtedness and any Indebtedness so assigned shall continue to be the same obligation and not a new obligations.

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).

 

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No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register pursuant to this Section 10.07(d). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Agent and any Lender (with respect to its own interests only) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties intend and shall treat the Loans (and any participation made pursuant to Section 10.07(e)) as being at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender. The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent, acting in its capacity as a non-fiduciary agent for purposes of maintaining the Register, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates, shall constitute “Indemnitees” under Section 10.05 hereof.

(e) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or a Defaulting Lender) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swingline Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 10.01(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(f), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04 (through the applicable Lender), subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections (including Section 3.01(f) and Sections 3.05 and 3.06), to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (it being agreed that any documentation required to be provided under Section 3.01(f) shall be provided solely to the participating Lender).

 

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To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant complies with Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Any Lender that sells participations and any Lender that grants a Loan to a SPC shall maintain a register on which it enters the name and the address of each Participant and/or SPC and the principal and interest amounts of each Participant’s and/or SPC’s participation interest in the Commitments and/or Loans (or other rights or obligations) held by it (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error, and the Borrower and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation interest or granted Loan as the owner thereof for all purposes notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent, acting in its capacity as a non-fiduciary agent for purposes of maintaining the Participant Register, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates, shall constitute “Indemnitees” under Section 10.05 hereof. In maintaining the Participant Register, such Lender shall be acting as the non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower solely for purposes of applicable U.S. federal income tax law and undertakes no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Borrower (without limitation, in no event shall such Lender be a fiduciary of the Borrower for any purpose). No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of a 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 its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish in connection with a Tax audit that such commitment, loan, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Section 1.163-5(b) of the Proposed Treasury Regulations (or any amended or successor version) or, if different, under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code.

(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.03 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent or to the extent such entitlement to a greater payment results from a Change in Law after the Participant became a Participant.

(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or similar central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04, subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections (including Section 3.01(f) and Sections 3.05 and 3.06), to the same extent as if such SPC were a Lender, but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.03 or 3.04) except to the extent any entitlement to greater amounts results from a Change in Law after the grant to the SPC occurred, (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable and such liability shall remain with the Granting Lender, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee Obligation or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

 

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(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer and the Swingline Lender may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, shall have identified, in consultation with the Borrower, a successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender. In the event of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lender resigns as Swingline Lender, as the case may be, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as applicable, hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans (as the case may be) outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto and obligations with respect to the Swingline Loans, as applicable (including, as applicable, the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in the Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges an duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as applicable, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to such L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(k) [Reserved].

(l) Disqualified Lenders. (i) No assignment shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Lender as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the applicable Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment as otherwise contemplated by this Section 10.07 (without giving effect to any deemed consent by the Borrower), in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Lender for the purpose of such assignment).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Lender at any time after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Lender”), (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) for purposes of assignments subsequent to such time, the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Lender. Any assignment in violation of this clause (l)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (l) shall apply.

(ii) If any assignment is made to any Disqualified Lender without the Borrower’s prior consent in violation of clause (i) above, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Lender and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Revolving Credit Commitment of such Disqualified Lender and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Lender in connection with such Revolving Credit Commitment, (B) in the case of outstanding Term Loans held by Disqualified Lenders, prepay such Term Loan by paying the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof, (y) the current trading price of such Term Loans and (z) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such Term Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and/or (C) require such Disqualified Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.07), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement and related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and other the other Loan Documents; provided that (i) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws, (ii) such assignment shall be accompanied by any assignment fee and (iii) in the case of clause (B), the Borrower shall not use the proceeds from any Loans to prepay Term Loans held by Disqualified Lenders.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Lenders (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Lender will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws (“Plan of Reorganization”), each Disqualified Lender party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan of Reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Lender does vote on such Plan of Reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan of Reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

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(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right to provide the List of Disqualified Lenders to each Lender requesting the same.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance by other parties with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or prospective Lender is a Disqualified Lender or whether a Lender is a Net Short Lender or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.07, there shall be no restrictions on the ability of the Administrative Agent to make assignments pursuant to the credit bidding provision in last paragraph of Section 9.10 and such assignment such be made without regard to (without limitation) any transfer or assignment fee, any restrictions on Eligible Assignees or minimum assignment amounts.

SECTION 10.08 Confidentiality.

 

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Each of the Agents (on behalf of themselves and any Agent Related Person), L/C Issuers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and to not use or disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, managers, administrators, limited partners, trustees, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information or who are subject to customary confidentiality obligations of professional practice or who are bound by the terms of this paragraph (or language substantially similar to this paragraph)); (b) to the extent required or requested by any Governmental Authority including any self-regulatory authority such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; provided that, other than with respect to requests or requirements by such Governmental Authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function over such Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender (or their affiliates) for purposes of clauses (b) or (h), such Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender shall (i) give the applicable Loan Party written notice prior to disclosing the information to the extent permitted by such requirement, (ii) cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a protective order or similar confidential treatment (or, in the case of any requests or requirements by a Governmental Authority pursuant to its oversight or supervisory function, inform such Governmental Authority of the confidential nature of such information), and (iii) only disclose that portion of the Information as counsel for such Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender advises such Person it must disclose pursuant to such requirement; (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations, or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(g) or 10.07(i), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that the identity of Disqualified Lenders may be disclosed to any assignee or participant, or prospective assignee or participant), and to the extent required by a potential or actual insurer or reinsurer or credit risk mitigation coverage under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to this Agreement; (f) with the written consent of the Borrower; (g) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08 or (y) is or was received by any Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such party’s knowledge, subject to contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligations owing to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner regulating any Lender; (i) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); or (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or their business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent, L/C Issuer or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08, including, without limitation, information delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03 hereof.

SECTION 10.09 Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, subject to the exclusive right of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to exercise remedies under Section 9.11, each Lender and its Affiliates and each L/C Issuer and its Affiliates is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and the Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, but excluding any payroll, trust, or tax withholding accounts) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness (in any currency) at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Loan Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Loan Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Lender or its Affiliates and no L/C Issuer or its Affiliates shall have a right to setoff and apply any deposits held or other Indebtedness owing by such Lender or its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer or its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of any Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Foreign Holding Company. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, such Lender and such L/C Issuer may have.

SECTION 10.10 Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

The words “execution,” “execute”, “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby (i) agree that, for all purposes, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto) shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (ii) waive any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.

SECTION 10.11 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

SECTION 10.12 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Loan Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding. The provisions of Sections 10.14 and 10.15 shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Loan Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

SECTION 10.13 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.14 GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN).

 

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(b) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH, ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (PROVIDED THAT IF NONE OF SUCH COURTS CAN AND WILL EXERCISE SUCH JURISDICTION, SUCH EXCLUSIVITY SHALL NOT APPLY), AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO.

(c) NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT, THE L/C ISSUER OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION (I) FOR PURPOSES OF ENFORCING A JUDGMENT, (II) IN CONNECTION WITH EXERCISING REMEDIES AGAINST THE COLLATERAL IN A JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED, (III) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PENDING BANKRUPTCY, INSOLVENCY OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION OR (IV) TO THE EXTENT THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER SUCH LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING OR THE PARTIES OR PROPERTY SUBJECT THERETO.

 

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SECTION 10.15 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 10.16 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender and L/C Issuer that each such Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

SECTION 10.17 [Reserved].

SECTION 10.18 Lender Action. Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Section 10.18 are for the express benefit of the parties hereto and may be enforced by the Loan Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing does not prevent or limit a Hedge Bank from exercising any rights to close out and/or terminate any Secured Hedge Agreement or transaction thereunder to which it is a party or net any such amounts in each case pursuant to the terms of such Secured Hedge Agreement.

SECTION 10.19 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and the Guarantors, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and the Guarantors and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower and the Guarantors in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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SECTION 10.20 Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements.

(a) Each Lender (and, by its acceptance of the benefits of any Collateral Document, each other Secured Party) hereunder (a) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent and/or the Administrative Agent to enter into any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, as Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent hereunder, as applicable, and on behalf of such Lender or other Secured Party.

(b) The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders or noteholders (or any agent, trustee or other representative thereof) party to such Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement to extend credit to the Borrower and such Persons are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions.

SECTION 10.21 Obligations Absolute. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, all obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

(a) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Loan Party;

(b) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto against any Loan Party;

(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Loan Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(d) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Loan Obligations;

(e) any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect hereof or any Loan Document; or

(f) any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Loan Parties.

SECTION 10.22 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Lender or Lead Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lead Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

 

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To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

SECTION 10.23 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 10.24 ABL Intercreditor Agreement; First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into each of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower or to acquire any notes or other evidence of any debt obligation owing from the Borrower and such Lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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SECTION 10.25 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(b) As used in this Section 10.25, the following terms have the following meanings:

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

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